Project Title & Location

SR 20 Fredonia to I-5

Project Description
This project will improve approximately 5 miles of State Route 20 in Skagit County, from the intersection of SR 536 (Fredonia) to Interstate 5 (Burlington). This portion of SR 20 is currently a two-lane undivided highway, which this project would upgrade to a four-lane divided highway. In addition, realignment of the southbound I-5 ramps and modifications to the northbound ramps will improve movement at the SR 20/I-5 interchange.

Contractor/Consultant
Project not yet advertised or awarded.

Recent Progress

·     Letter of Understanding with the City of Burlington and Skagit County for coordination with the City's Nevitt Road project has been signed by all parties.  By signing the agreement, the City will be signing a Stipulation and Order of Dismissal which will formally end the City's Administrative Appeal to the Board of Review.

·     The Environmental Assessment Finding of No Significant Impact is at FHWA awaiting approval of the Access Point Decision Report (APDR).

·     Final APDR comments have been addressed and forwarded to FHWA.

·     Right of Way appraisals and negotiations in progress. 

·     A wetland mitigation site adjacent to Gages Slough has received preliminary acceptance from the permitting agencies.  Ground water monitoring is in progress, Draft Conceptual Mitigation Report has been prepared, and sundry site plan is being reviewed at OSC.

·     Construction estimate updated with current unit bid item prices.

Design Construction Impacts

·     The Department will construct this project under two stages to mitigate for delays in the Access Hearing process that have caused delays to right of way acquisition.   Stage one will begin at the SR 536/SR 20 intersection and continue past the Higgins/Airport Way intersection.  The ad date for Stage one is October 23, 2006.  Stage two will construct the remainder of the project improvements and will go to bid advertisement in January of 2008.

·     Right of way acquisition for properties within the SR 20/I-5 southbound interchange area, which are affected by the City's Nevitt Road project are on hold until January 2006.  The City has hired a consultant to prepare the design for the city street improvements.  Magnitude of impacts to properties should be known in January.

·     This project changes access rights and traffic movements to right-in/right-out only for all properties adjacent to the highway.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance

· The project will impact 6.33 acres of wetlands.  Wetland impacts will be mitigated by creating 8.35 acres of new wetlands and enhancing 0.69 acres of existing wetlands adjacent to Gages Slough.

Impacts to Traffic

· Moderate daily traffic delays are expected due to normal construction activities such as trucks entering and exiting the roadway etc.

· Detours will be required.

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)

Nickel funds included in above costs

2005 Transportation Partnership Account