SR 520 - Bridge Replacement and HOV Project

Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending December 2007

Project Title & Location
SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Project

Project Description
The overall project will replace the SR 520 floating bridge and associated approaches. This project is currently funded to complete the environmental review, including an Environmental Impact Statement through the Record of Decision, early right-of-way acquisitions, and design.

Contractor/Consultant
EIS – Parametrix, Public Involvement – EnviroIssues, General Engineering - HDR

Recent Progress
- Meditation for west side configuration planning underway.
- Planning advance construction of early pontoons for catastrophic failure recovery
- Submitted Draft High Capacity Transportation (HCT) Plan to Legislators and Governor
- Completed Draft Finance Plan
- Conducted Geotechnical/Hydrogeological Investigations on Eastside
- Conducted Catastrophic Failure Plan tabletop exercise
- Met with Centers for Disease Control on Health Impact Assessment

 

For more project information see the project web page at:

www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR520bridge

Design Construction Impacts
The anticipated start of major construction is 2013.  The project has received $52 million from the 2003 Nickel Package, $497 million from the 2005 Transportation Partnership Account, and $320 million of other State and Federal Bridge Replacement funds.  This money will be used for the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement, project design, right-of-way purchases and to begin construction.  Project construction depends on additional funding from potential tolling, and other sources.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance
 A Draft EIS with a thorough analysis of the project alternatives and options was issued in August 2006.  Project has started work on a Supplemental Draft EIS incorporating the 4+2 lane configuration as identified by the Governor and legislators.  The project will begin a Draft EIS for Early Pontoon Construction this winter.

Impacts to Traffic
Traffic impacts in the corridor have not yet been fully determined.  Pontoons for the new floating bridge will be constructed offsite and brought in through the Ballard Locks.  The new floating bridge will be built to the north of the existing bridge allowing traffic to continue use the exisiting bridge during construction.

Project Milestones Scheduled Attained Milestone Outlook
Start Project Design Spring 2006  Spring 2006 Spring of 2006 the project general engineering consultant team began the advancement of roadway and bridge design work. The design work on the project will continue through completion of plan preparation for construction contracts.
Issue Draft Environmental Impact Statement August 2006  August 2006 Draft EIS was issued in August 2006 followed by a public comment period ending in October 2006.
Environmental document complete (Record of Decision) Spring 2011   Development of a Supplemental Draft EIS is now underway.
Start Construction Summer 2013 Project construction is partially funded by the 2005 Transportation Partnership Account.  Additional revenue is needed to begin construction.  At this time construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2013.
Operationally complete (Floating Bridge open to traffic) Summer 2018
Project Cost Summary: Dollars in
millions
Percent
of Total

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)
Project Expenditure Chart

Preliminary Engineering 252.4 29%
Right-of-Way 122.2 14%
Construction 494.4 57%
Funded Project Costs 869.0 100.0%

Nickel funds included in above costs

52.3 6%

2005 Transportation Partnership Account

497.3 57%

  For more information, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects

 Julie Meredith, WSDOT Deputy Project Director @ (206) 770-3568 or E-mail: MeredJL@wsdot.wa.gov