SR 20 - Fredonia to Interstate 5 - Additional Lanes

Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending September 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

·     FONSI at FHWA awaiting final Access Point Decision Report (APDR) approval.

·     Access Point Decision Report reviewed by FHWA.  Addressing final comments.

·     Right of Way appraisals and negotiations in progress. 

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 mitigate for schedule delays, as reported in June 2005, the Department is proposing to construct the project under two stages.  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.

·     Right of way acquisition for nine properties within Stage 2 are currently being affected by two appeals to the Access Hearings Findings and Order. 

·     Wetland bank site has not yet been approved by permitting agencies.  Looking into developing wetland mitigation site elsewhere.

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

Environmental Impacts / Compliance

· The project will impact 6.33 acres of wetlands.  Will require 9.55 acres of wetland mitigation. Wetland impacts will be mitigated by purchase of bank credits or development of a mitigation site within the project's sub-basin.

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 Findings of No Significant Impact may be delayed to Winter 2005 due to cultural resource survey/Section 106 Evaluation on new wetland mitigation site.
Right-of-Way Certified October 2006 June 2005  
Contract Advertisement Oct 2006 On schedule for stage 1 October 2006 ad date.  On schedule for stage 2 January 2008 ad date.
Open to Traffic Summer 2009 Based upon proposed staging plan, expect open to traffic date for stage 2 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