Project Facts
- The completed tunnel will be 959 feet long.
- The project is on schedule to be complete in spring 2009.
- Tri-State Construction, Inc. is the contractor.
October 2008
Read this week's construction activity and traffic impacts report.
'Kiss and Ride' relocations are in place for the duration of the project.
A signed detour route diverts traffic around the work zone until work on the project is complete.
Current work includes:
- Continued tunnel wall constuction with installation of precast panels.
- Installation of electrical systems and fire alarms.
- Installation of a new sidewalk on Burwell Street.
- Construction of the Washington State Ferries administration buiding.
Why is WSDOT
building a vehicle tunnel?
Periodic surges of ferry traffic interfere with pedestrian and local traffic flow. To increase safety and decrease congestion, WSDOT is building a tunnel to separate off-loading ferry traffic from downtown Bremerton pedestrian traffic.
The End Result
The end result is a 959-foot-long tunnel connecting the BTC to Burwell Street, removing about 65 percent of off-loading ferry traffic from Washington Street. Diverting ferry traffic away from downtown streets improves pedestrian safety and reduces congestion.
Additional improvements include continued access for off-loading local ferry traffic headed to the Manette Bridge and improved access to the BTC for incoming traffic.
Our Partners
This project is in partnership with the City of Bremerton, Kitsap Transit, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. Other organizations have also participated in its development, including the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and local emergency services.
Project Benefits
- Safety. This project increases safety for pedestrians and motorists by diverting off-loading ferry traffic away from downtown Bremerton streets.
- Congestion Relief. By diverting approximately 65 percent of off-loading ferry traffic directly onto Burwell Street, congestion is reduced in the Washington Street waterfront area.
- Improved Incoming Ferry Traffic Management. Improvements designed to better manage incoming ferry traffic include an additional lane on Pacific to accommodate transit and vanpool traffic, a larger vehicle holding area at the BTC, and repositioned toll booths that can accomodate oversized vehicles in any lane.
- Environment. This tunnel project was coordinated with the City of Bremerton combined sewer overflow (CSO) project.
What is the project timeline?
WSDOT awarded the $30.7 construction contract to Tri-State Construction, Inc. in May 2007. Construction started July 2007 and is on schedule to be complete in spring of 2009.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. If you have questions about the project, please contact the project engineer, Brenden Clarke, 360-874-3010.
Environmental Protection
WSDOT completed an environmental assessment which included analysis of air, noise, water quality, streams, rivers, wetlands, traffic and construction impacts and a biological assessment. The Federal Highway Administration approved a Finding of No Significant Impact.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
We are working to improve transportation safety across the state. Learn more about WSDOT's commitment to safety.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
No designated tribal lands are involved. Even so, the project team consulted with the Suquamish Tribe to determine whether the site is of historic importance to the tribe and to assess the potential of finding archaeologically significant resources on site.
For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison website.
Financial Information
Funding for this project comes from multiple sources including Congressional earmarks, federal National Highway System program funds, federal Surface Transportation Program funds, the City of Bremerton and federal grants.
Estimated costs at completion:
Preliminary Engineering - $6 million
Right of Way - $4.4 million
Construction - $43.5 million
Total project cost - $53.9 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Brenden Clarke, Project Engineer
WSDOT Port Orchard Project Office
8293 Spring Creek Road
Port Orchard, WA 98367
360-874-3010
back to top