This project — for most of the section of The Bridge between 99 and I-5 — is considered a key component of the road improvements that will keep West Seattle from being stuck in total gridlock when Alaskan Way Viaduct work starts in earnest – so the contract is big news – read on for the announcement (plus, here’s the project page on the city website, and here’s our archive of project coverage):

The city of Seattle today announced that the employee-owned firm of PCL has been awarded the South Spokane Street Viaduct widening project. The contract marks a significant milestone for work that will nearly double the width of the elevated roadway and improve access between I-5, south of downtown and West Seattle. One of four bidders on the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) project, PCL’s bid came in at $60 million.

This portion of the Spokane Street Viaduct work will add an additional 41 feet to allow adequate shoulders and merge lanes, a third eastbound lane between SR99 and Fourth Avenue S, and westbound collector lanes for traffic entering and leaving the roadway. A new on- and off-ramp at First Avenue S for westbound travel will replace the outdated ramp at Fourth, and the lower roadway will be rebuilt in concrete with pedestrian and bicycle improvements. In addition to this, SDOT is already constructing a new eastbound off-ramp at Fourth Avenue S for the viaduct.

Once completed, the project will provide Seattle commuters and the freight community significantly improved traffic flow and safety on this key east-west route for decades to come. The $168 million viaduct effort, SDOT’s largest project currently in construction, began in February 2009 with Fourth Avenue S ramp work and is expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2011.

The Spokane Street Viaduct project is funded in part by the Bridging the Gap program, which supports much-needed work by the Seattle Department of Transportation such as roadway paving, sidewalk construction as well major projects.