Date:  Thursday, January 14, 2010

Contact: Denys Tak, WSDOT Project Engineer, (800) 545-1393 (toll-free in Kelso)
Annie Linstrom, WSDOT Communications, (360) 601-1760 (Vancouver)

KELSO – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) today awarded the second tier Recovery Act contract for the I-5, North Kelso to Harrison Avenue – Paving and Safety project to Kerr Contractors, Inc. of Woodburn, Ore., with a winning bid of $6.1 million.

WSDOT added $2.7 million in federal funding to an existing safety and preservation project. Construction is expected to begin in February and be complete in late summer 2010. This project will support direct and indirect jobs in local communities.

Through this project, crews will pave approximately six miles of I-5 southbound between the Ostrander Creek Bridge and the SR 504 junction in Cowlitz County (mile posts 43 to 50) to extend the life of the roadway, reduce maintenance costs and provide motorists with a safer, smoother drive. Crews will also upgrade guardrail and signing to improve over 13 miles of I-5 in Lewis County.

Crews will also install guardrail in multiple locations along 20 miles of I-5, further increasing safety along the interstate corridor in Cowlitz and Lewis counties.
Preserving this heavily traveled section of I-5 will increase safety and mobility on the interstate corridor for years to come.

For more information, please visit the project Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/NKelsoToHarrisonPaving/

Washington State is administering the Recovery Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire has created a new website, 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/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/newsor by dialing 5-1-1.

< Go Back