PORT ANGELES — City officials are asking for public input on two redesign options for the Laurel Street Stairs, a key pedestrian link between downtown Port Angeles and the waterfront.
The wooden stairs, built in the early 1980s, are worn, out of code and increasingly unsafe, according to city engineers. Officials cite uneven step heights, deteriorating handrails, hidden areas behind the structure, and winter ice buildup that has forced repeated closures over the years.
Two options are now under consideration.
The first is a large, centered “monumental staircase” designed as a downtown focal point. That version would require relocating an existing mural and carries an estimated cost of 3.6 million dollars, including design and construction.
The second option keeps the stairs closer to their current alignment, removes the fountain, and expands plaza space for community gatherings and events. That design comes in at about 1.8 million dollars — roughly half the cost.
Both designs would replace the existing wooden stairs with galvanized steel treads, allowing snow and ice to fall through instead of refreezing, improving safety and reducing long-term maintenance needs.
City staff outlined the two options during a presentation Thursday, noting that about 750 thousand dollars is currently available to fully design just one option. Construction funding would depend on future grants, meaning the project could still be several years away.
What’s next: Staff will use public feedback to decide which option to fully design before bringing a recommendation to the Port Angeles City Council. An online survey is expected out soon.