WSDOT - SR 539 - I-5 Improved Access - December 2007 Quarterly Project Report

SR 539 - I-5 Improved Access
*Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending December 2007*

Project Title & Location SR 539 - I-5 Improved Access Project Bellingham, Washington	Project Description We are studying traffic patterns on the Guide Meridian (SR 539) and evaluating ways to relieve congestion, enhance safety and improve freight mobility on the Guide Meridian, north of the I-5 interchange.
Contractor/Consultant Consultant Team: H.W. Lochner, DKS Associates, and, EnviroIssues
Recent Progress The analysis of current and future traffic conditions and needs for SR 539 (Guide Meridian) was completed in May 2007. Several alternatives to enhance safety, relieve congestion and improve freight mobility on SR 539 between the I-5 interchange and Smith Road were evaluated and documented in a May 2007 Report. The findings indicate little or no benefit in congestion relief, freight mobility or safety, on the segment of SR 539 between the I-5/SR 539 interchange and the SR 539/Smith Road intersection, from a new or improved east/west connection to a conceptual new interchange on I-5 at Smith Road. The Executive Summary of the May 2007 report is available on this website. Further analysis and development of improvements to address the needs in this corridor will be included in work currently underway on the I-5/Fairhaven to Slater Interstate Master Plan. The I-5/Fairhaven to Slater Interstate Master Plan will result in a master plan for needed improvements along the I-5 corridor between Fairhaven (milepost 250) and the Slater Rd Interchange (milepost 260). Information regarding progress on the Interstate Master Plan can be found at the following WSDOT website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/FairhavenToSlater/
Design Construction Impacts This project is funded for planning-level analysis and design only. There are no design construction impacts anticipated at this time.
Environmental Impacts / Compliance This project is funded for planning-level analysis and design only. There are no environmental impacts or compliance issues anticipated at this time.	Impacts to Traffic There will be no impacts to traffic during the course of work on this planning-level project.

Project Milestones	Scheduled	Attained	Milestone Outlook
Phase One: Indentify existing and future corridor needs	December 2006	May 2007	Completed
Phase Two: Develop and analyze options to address corridor needs	June 2008		Phase Two work will be incorporated into the I-5/ Fairhaven to Slater Interstate Master Plan scheduled for completion in June 2008.
Complete an Interchange Justification Report (IJR)	April 2008		IJR work would commence subsequent to completion of the Interstate Master Plan for improvement projects identified in the Master Plan.

Project Cost Summary:	Dollars in millions	Percent of Total	Planned vs. Actual Expenditures (Total Project Cost)
Preliminary Engineering	$2.0 m	100%
Right-of-Way	$0.0 m	0%
Construction	$0.0 m	0%
Funded Project Costs	$2.0 m	100%

Nickel funds included in above costs	$2.0 m	100%
2005 Transportation Partnership Account

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