Spokane St. Viaduct project updates – including lower bids

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SDOT has just sent one of its periodic updates on the Spokane Street Viaduct (basically the stretch between the high-rise bridge and I-5) widening (etc.) project – which incidentally is considered to be one of the components in the overall Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement work. Among the toplines: Bids are in for the actual widening work, and SDOT says three of the bids were less than $62 million – for a project that was estimated to cost up to $80 million. Read on for the full update:

Old “Weave” over, done with, fini

Traffic on lower westbound Spokane was restored to its normal lanes between
6th and 4th Avenues last month, eliminating the “weave” that allowed
westbound traffic to continue to flow using the (otherwise closed) eastbound
lanes. With westbound traffic returned to the westbound lanes, the
eastbound lanes between 4th and 6th are now being completely rebuilt with
new storm drains, curbs, sidewalk and concrete street surface.

This newly rebuilt section of lower Spokane will be reopened in August to
eastbound bus traffic from the E-3 Busway and to pedestrians, but other
vehicles will need to keep using the current detour longer than expected due
to a safety issue. The scaffolding that is needed to build the new exit
ramp where it passes over 4th Avenue will be in such close proximity to
vehicles turning right from northbound 4th Avenue onto eastbound Spokane
that concerns for worker safety will take precedence over driver convenience
until January.

In the meantime, a signed detour route along Industrial Way between 4th and
6th Avenues provides a ready alternative for drivers needing to get to
eastbound Spokane from 4th Avenue.

New “weave” begins

Another “weave” of westbound traffic on lower Spokane will be used for night
time traffic this week – between 7PM and 5AM on the block between 2nd Avenue
(just after the RR crossing) and 1st Avenue.

Eastbound Spokane between East Marginal Way and First

The current closure of eastbound lower Spokane to through traffic will soon
be extended to include the stretch between East Marginal Way and 1st Avenue.
Local access will be maintained for businesses in this area, but a detour
route will be established using East Marginal Way to Hanford to First Avenue
on the north. (An alternative route using East Marginal Way and Dawson or
Lucile is also available for those headed south.)

This closure is needed to allow installation of a new under-street water
main and storm drains and for completely rebuilding the street in this
section, similar to the work now being finished near Sixth Avenue. The
detour may go into effect as soon as next week and is expected to continue
through October.

Please note that eastbound traffic using the First Avenue exit from the
Spokane Street Viaduct will NOT be affected by this closure.

Widening bids in (& low)

On June 24, five bids from contractors interested in the contract for
widening the upper viaduct were opened. Three of the bids were under $62M,
lower than the estimated range of $68M to $80M. Review of the bids is
underway, and a contract is expected to be awarded in time for work to begin
in September.

1 Reply to "Spokane St. Viaduct project updates - including lower bids"

  • Save Our Streets Seattle July 14, 2009 (5:42 pm)

    I wonder which of Grace Crunican’s relatives will get the contract.

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