Date:
Friday, August 11, 2006
Contact:
North Central Region Project Engineer, Bob Romine (509) 667-2880,E-mail: RomineR@wsdot.wa.gov
North Central Region Communications Manager Jeff Adamson, (509) 667-2815, (509) 669-8778 Cell. E-mail: adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov
WENATCHEE – Central Washington Asphalt Co. Inc. has been awarded a contract for $14.6 million to expand the last three mile, two lane segment of SR 17 in Moses Lake to four lanes between the Port of Moses Lake and Interstate 90. Construction is scheduled for later this month and will be completed by fall of 2007.
The project is particularly important to improve highway service for freight haulers and shippers. There are 900 acres of industrial property located at the airport three miles north of the project and 350 additional acres of industrial property located just east of the project in the Wheeler Industrial Corridor. Significant growth is occurring in these areas. The project will reduce shipping time and improve access for freight, while also assuring a safer highway for everyone who uses it.
Expanding this segment of SR 17 to four lanes was recommended in a 1997 study. The project will cross major intersections at Nelson Road, Wheeler Road and Broadway Avenue in Moses Lake, as well as a railroad crossing near Stratford Road. A new bridge will also be constructed across Parker Horn of Moses Lake.
WSDOT computer modeling estimates that if this project was not built, the average afternoon travel speed would be 15 mph by 2020. By comparison, when the project is completed, the average afternoon travel speeds in 2010 and 2020 will be 42 mph and 39 mph, respectively. The current average afternoon travel speed is 30-mph.
The legislature, in April 2005, approved $13 million for construction of this project. An additional $2.5 million was secured in mid June of this year, so the project could go out for bid June 26th. Three bids were opened on August 3rd, evaluated, and contract #7191 was awarded on August 11th, 2006, to the low bidder, for $14,606,805.49.
Visit the project web page for more information. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR17/MosesLakePioneerWay/
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