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SR 543 Boblett Street Signalization

Schedule: Good The 40-day contract time was used in its entirety, but was not exceeded. Cost: Good Engineer's estimate: $664,069 Contractor's bid amount: $723,233 Anticipated final payment: $608,000 The variance from the engineer’s estimate is due to roadway repairs not being as extensive as anticipated and the implementation of a revised traffic control plan eliminated the cost for temporary striping.

This signal project was initiated by state and local officials' desire to make the intersection safer. On many days, trucks waiting to clear Canadian customs backed up on SR 543 well beyond the Boblett Street intersection. The back-up obscured the view of the highway for those entering from the nearby high school, and for other motorists entering or crossing SR 543. In a five-year span, there were 32 incidents in that vicinity.

Increased safety to local motorists and pedestrians is the greatest benefit of the project. WSDOT is anticipating a significant reduction in incidents as a result of the signal.

WSDOT managers promised state and local officials that traffic signals would be installed and turned on by the beginning of the 2002-03 school year. WSDOT delivered, activating the signal on the second day of school.

Other notes:
This project gained attention, not only because of the on-budget and on-schedule achievements, but also the fact that the community and legislators in the area were pleased with WSDOT's "can do" attitude towards the project.

Contractor: Potelco, Inc.

Contact: Jack Bartman, Project Engineer
Phone: 360-788-7402

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