Date:  Friday, August 21, 2009

Contact: Stacy Trussler, Eastside Corridor Deputy Director, (425) 456-8563 Susan Hoffman, WSDOT Communications, (425) 877-6033

BOTHELL – The Washington State Department of Transportation is moving forward to ease congestion and improve safety on I-405 by selecting Kiewit Pacific Co., of Renton to design and build a new northbound freeway lane in Bothell. Crews will build the lane between NE 195th Street and SR 527, where afternoon commuters face severe backups daily.

This project is funded in part by the 2005 Washington state gas tax package, and the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The federal ARRA funding means the project will be completed three years ahead of schedule. “This project was ready for construction,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “Stimulus funds allow us to move the delivery schedule up significantly so we can put about 400 people to work, and complete needed improvements early.”

Kiewit Pacific Co. submitted the apparent best value proposal with a bid amount of $19,263,000 to complete the design and construction of the project. This represents 36 percent less than the available funds, which is $30 million. Over the last year, WSDOT has seen a trend in construction bids coming in lower than the budgeted amount, and has started applying the extra funds toward other ARRA eligible projects within Washington State.

“We’re pleased to work with Kiewit Pacific on this design-build project,” said Kim Henry, Eastside Corridor Project Director. “Kiewit Pacific provided an excellent proposal that included the shortest overall construction time which allows for the earliest project completion. This approach provides motorists congestion relief earlier than anticipated while still minimizing impacts to the public.”

Besides addressing afternoon congestion, the I-405 Bothell widening project also will help drivers accessing the University of Washington Bothell campus and business parks at NE 195th Street. WSDOT conducted a benefit-cost analysis and found this project to exceed a 4 to 1 benefit-cost ratio, which means the congestion relief and safety benefits far outweigh project costs.

The new auxiliary lane will improve traffic flow in a section of I-405 where more than 100 collisions have occurred in the past three years. Eighty-four percent of the collisions are congestion related, and of those collisions 60 percent occur in the outside lane as a result of stop-and-go and weaving traffic entering and exiting the freeway between the NE 195th Street and SR 527 interchanges. New capacity between these highly traveled interchanges will help alleviate these congestion-related collisions in this outside lane

Other project benefits include:

• Increasing travel speeds by 25 mph to 30 mph during peak hours.
• Improving HOV lane operation for carpools, vanpools and transit users.
• Easing transit access to the Canyon Park Park and Ride.
• Enhancing storm water treatment on new and existing pavement.

WSDOT and Kiewit Pacific Co. expect to sign a contract giving notice to proceed in the next few weeks, and motorists can expect construction to begin later this fall. The project will be complete and open to traffic within one construction season. The project is currently scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2010.

For more information on the “I-405 - NE 195th to SR 527 - Northbound Auxiliary Lane” project, please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/NE195thToSR527NB/
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Washington State is administering the Recovery Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire has created a new Web site, www.recovery.wa.gov/, enabling every Washingtonian to see where their tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden, a proven and aggressive Inspector General, to oversee all state’s recovery efforts and root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted.

WSDOT's mission is to keep people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/newsfor pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/or by dialing 511.

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