Sehome Hill Communications Tower Replacement

​​​​​​Project Overview: EK-0001 

This project involves the replacement of the communications tower located in the Sehome Hill Arboretum. A new tower and shelter were installed at the south end of the existing Arboretum parking lot. After all communications equipment has been transferred to the new tower site, the existing tower will be decommissioned and removed. The tower at this site supports various critical communications facilities owned by several public entities, including Police, Fire, Public Works, Port of Bellingham, and Western Washington University. Telecommunication companies also lease antenna space on the tower and within the equipment shelter, providing cellular/wireless communications for local residents. 

The existing communication tower was evaluated, and due to equipment revisions and code criteria changes, further equipment modifications or additions could not be performed on the existing structure. Various structural modifications have been performed over the life of the structure to increase structural capacity, and options for additional modification of the existing tower have been exhausted. The new tower provides the needed space and capacity to safely house and support all existing equipment and provides for future expansion and communication needs into the future. 

Project Status – February 2021

Accomplishments: The project has been completed with one year of plant establishment.

Next Milestones: Plant establishment and warranty period.

  • Status: Plant establishment period
  • Demo Contract Awarded: July 6, 2020
  • Demo Contract Amount: $434,582.60
  • Demo Contractor: IMCO/TKK Joint Venture
  • Completion Date: January 29, 2021
  • Vicinity ​Map

Related Links ​​

Contacts

Aric Smathers, P.E. 

Project Engineer
Phone: (360) 778-7942
Email: arsmathers@cob.org
Public ​Works Contacts

Participating Departments

Affected Neighborhoods