SR 270 - Pullman to Idaho St Line - Additional Lanes

Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending September 2004

Project Title & Location
SR 270/Pullman to Idaho State Line.   East of Pullman in Whitman County.

Project Description
As Revised September 2004 - Constructs one additional lane in each direction with a two way turn lane between Pullman and the Idaho State line. The project will increase capacity and reduce travel times. Safety will be enhanced with the addition of a two way turn lane to provide separation between opposing directions of traffic. There are currently two lanes. There will be four through lanes when this project is completed.

Contractor/Consultant
Project not yet advertised or awarded

Recent Progress

Design work is focused on revising the environmental documentation, right of way needs, and contract plans.  This work will maintain the original cost expectation, as well as achieve improved roadway safety.  Project revisions will be presented to the public October 20th. 

Design Construction Impacts

Due to construction cost impacts related to soil conditions and frontage roads, this project was revised from a four-lane divided highway to a four-lane highway with a continuous center turn lane. As previously reported, design work effort is focused on revising the environmental documentation, assessing right of way needs, and contract plans. These changes will maintain the original cost expectations and improve roadway safety. Due to the design changes, the advertisement date has been delayed ten months to November 2005, and the open-to-traffic date will be delayed to November 2007. Deferred spending of $2.4 million from the 2003-2005 biennium into the 2007-2009 was approved by the Washington State Transportation Commission last quarter.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance

Revision to the environmental documentation has begun and is expected to be completed just prior to the revised contract ad of November 2005.

Impacts to Traffic
No significant impacts expected until the project is under construction.  Mitigation efforts include a comprehensive public awareness campaign.

Project Milestones Scheduled Attained Milestone Outlook
Start Project July 2003 July 2003  
Environmental Document October 2004   The revised schedule is tightly tied to the attainment timeline for these permits.
Right of Way November 2004   Previous offers have been rescinded and new appraisals have started.  The Findings and Order will be supplemented to address the change in right of way to Managed Access Control.
Contract Ad January 2005  

Revisions to the project have delayed the original Ad date by 10 months to November 2005.

Project Cost Summary: Dollars in
millions
Percent
of Total

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

Preliminary Engineering $ 2.4 8.0%
Right-of-Way $ 8.1 27.1%
Construction $ 19.4 64.9%
Funded Project Costs $ 29.9 100%

Nickel funds included in above costs

$28.5 95.3%

2005 Transportation Partnership Account

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

Glenn Wagemann, WSDOT Project Engineer @ (509) 324-6251 Or E-mail wagemag@wsdot.wa.gov