Project Title & Location
SR 539: Horton Road to Tenmile Road Widening

Project Description
Widening Guide Meridian Road to five lanes will increase safety and traffic capacity along this heavily-traveled traffic corridor. This widening work will also provide an additional lane of traffic in each direction along a major freight corridor between Bellingham and Aldergrove, British Columbia.

Contractor/Consultant
KPFF is the primary design consultant

Recent Progress

Real Estate acquisition began in June 2001 and is currently 70% complete.

Contract Plans and Specifications (PS&E) for the overall project are currently 90% complete.  Present focus is on the completion of PS&E for the limited work to be done in Phase 1 (see below for more details).

Design Construction Impacts

A portion of the work has been broken out in advance of the 2007 ad date - this Phase 1 contract (consisting mainly of select clearing and earthwork, the construction of 4 stormwater ponds and 1 wetland mitigation site, as well as other preparatory work) will go to advertisement late spring 2005, avoiding a costly redesign triggered by stormwater standard changes which take effect at the end of the '05-'07 biennium. Phase 1 funding is pending final approval at this time, with full authorization expected shortly.

The omission/underestimation of some bid items from previous construction estimates, as well as underestimation of wetland buffer impacts, have increased the projected funding required for project build-out.  Unexpected delays and tasks in the design process have also added somewhat to the overall project budget.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance

This project will provide storm water detention and treatment ponds.  New wetlands will also be constructed to mitigate  for impacts during construction at  Deer Creek, Ten Mile Creek and Four Mile Creek.

Environmental permitting for the entire project is being aggressively pursued at present, in order to have permits in place for construction of Phase 1 next year.

Impacts to Traffic

Staged construction will minimize traffic impacts.  During construction, one lane of traffic will be open at all times. Detour routes will be provided when side roads are closed. 

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)

Nickel funds included in above costs

2005 Transportation Partnership Account