SR 20 - Fredonia to Interstate 5 - Additional Lanes

Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending June 2005

Project Title & Location

SR 20 Fredonia to I-5

Located on SR 20 in Skagit County near Burlington.

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

         

·     Comments collected during Environmental Assessment public comment period are being reviewed and the draft FONSI is being prepared.

·     The Findings and Order was adopted on May 27, 2005.  The Findings and Order was sent out to parties filing a Notice of Appearance on June 16, 2005.

·     Access Point Decision Report is being reviewed by FHWA.

·     Right of Way appraisals are beginning.

 

Design Construction Impacts

·     Delays in the Access Hearing process have caused a delay to the start of right of way acquisition.  As a result, the October 2006 bid advertisement date is at risk of being delayed.  To keep the project on track, the project team is proposing to stage the project.  Under this proposal, stage one would begin at the SR 536/SR 20 intersection and continue past the Higgins/Airport Way intersection.  The ad date for Stage one would be October 23, 2006.  Stage two would construct the remainder of the project improvements and would go to bid advertisement in January 2008.

·     This project changes access rights and traffic movements to residential, farm, and commercial property.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance

· Determined that project has 7.79 acres of wetland impact.  Will require 15.58 acres of wetland mitigation. Pursuing wetland banking to mitigate for wetland impacts.

Impacts to Traffic

· Moderate daily traffic delays due to normal construction activities (trucks entering and exiting the roadway etc.).

· Significant short-term delays will occur during new roadway and ramp connections. 

Project Milestones Scheduled Attained Milestone Outlook
Environmental Documentation Complete November, 2004 Expect completion of Findings of No Significant Impact by Summer 2005
Right-of-Way Certified October 2006 Access Hearing process has delayed acquisition phase.  Proposed Stage 1 certification expected October 2006.  Proposed Stage 2 certification expected December 2007.
Contract Advertisement Oct 2006 Delays in start of RW acquisition has jeopardized ad date.  Proposed stage 1 ad date is October 2006.  Proposed stage 2 ad date is January 2008.
Open to Traffic Summer 2009 Based upon proposed staging plan, expect open to traffic date to be delayed to Fall 2009.
   
Project Cost Summary: Dollars in
millions 		Percent
of Total

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)
Project Expenditure Chart

Preliminary Engineering $5.7 m 7.0%
Right-of-Way $20.7 m 25.4%
Construction $55.1 m 67.6%
Funded Project Costs $81.5 m 100%

Nickel funds included in above costs

 $76.3 m 93.6%

2005 Transportation Partnership Account

  For more information, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects

Dawn Yankauskas, WSDOT Project Engineer @ (425) 744-5103; or Yankadr@wsdot.wa.gov