The transformation of downtown Oak Harbor from its traditional, paved, two-way street into a wide, dirt-strewn path happened quickly. Dignitaries used golden shovels to symbolize the start of the project  March 1, and by March 12 the area between City Beach and Dock Street has been completely torn up by heavy equipment. The best viewing place for the knothole gang was inside Jo Jo’ Harbor Light Tavern where onlookers, beer in hand, could watch the destruction unfold.

By Thursday, March 17, the stretch from City Beach to Dock Street looked like Dodge City. Fortunately, there was no rain storm this particular day so there was no need for gallant men to help the ladies across the street. Inevitably, though, the dirt street will turn to mud and we’ll need cowboys to pack ladies across the street to protect their petticoats, or Sir Walter Raleigh-typs to lay their coats across the mud puddles for the ladies to walk across. Since chivalry died, however, our cowboys will likely face sexual harassment lawsuits. They can take comfort in the fact that at least they will keep their heads, which is more than can be set for Sir Raleigh, who lost his in an unrelated matter in 1618.

Those seeking gallantry in Oak Harbor will have to a city office at SE Pioneer Way where project manager Larry Cort will hold court, along with part-time communication specialist Lesley McConnell. With city hall only two blocks up the street and email a universal way of communication, we doubt the city needs a physical presence downtown to keep people informed. Cort, however, should make sure he has an overcoat sufficient for puddle crossing.

In actuality, the city is spending $167,000 to “market” downtown during the nine-month construction project. It is public relations money unnecessarily spent, because the construction project itself will attract more people downtown than usual simply because it’s always fun to watch others work, and the construction machinery is fascinating. We also admire the stores that remain open during construction and hope them financially success during the inconvenient project. We’re betting that in the long run no one will regret the long-awaited project. At the end we’ll have new infrastructure and a lot more people who have become accustomed to venturingdowntown just to see what’s going one. When the contractors are gone, the merchants will simply have to come up ways to keep it interesting. The city is doing its share right now.