WSDOT - US 12 McDonald Rd to Walla Walla - March 2005 Quarterly Project Report

US 12 - Frenchtown Vicinity to Walla Walla - Add Lanes
*Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending March 2005*

Project Title & Location US 12/McDonald Road to Walla Walla - Add Lanes Walla Walla County	Project Description This project is phase six of eight phases that improve US 12 from SR 124 (Burbank) to Walla Walla. This approximately eight mile project will reconstruct US 12 from McDonald Road to Walla Walla as a four lane divided highway, with improved capacity and enhanced safety.
Contractor/Consultant David Evans and Associates was hired to prepare the Resource Reports.
Recent Progress The US Highway 12 Coalition recently announced that Representative McMorris earmarked $4.3 million of federal funds from the House proposal for the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU) for the US 12 corridor. The Findings and Order was submitted to HQ in January 2005. A Value Engineering Team reviewed the project and developed eight recommendations for improvement. Six of the eight recommendations were adopted, one was modified and one recommendation was rejected. WSDOT will construct an interchange at the US 12/Pine Street intersection. At the request of the City of College Place, the public, and local businesses, the State is considering constructing an intersection in the vicinity of Last Chance Road.
Design Construction Impacts In response to concerns about the location of the Frenchtown Cemetery and associated battles, WSDOT will hire a consultant to collect oral histories of the area and will conduct ground-penetrating studies of the area. The interchange at US 12 and Pine Street is a recent development that will require additional study.
Environmental Impacts / Compliance The Interagency Project Team (IPT) discussed a spring-fed wetland located near the Pine Street intersection. David Evans and Associates completed the Draft Resource Studies.	Impacts to Traffic

Project Milestones	Scheduled	Attained	Milestone Outlook
Environmental Documentation	May 05		Additonal research for the Spring fed wetlands and interchange will delay the completion of documentation until late summer of 2005.
Design Documentation	May 05		Delay in Environmental Documentation will delay the Design Documentation.
Environmental Permits	Oct 06
Right of Way	Oct 06
Contract Advertisement	Nov 06		The construction phase is currently unfunded.

Project Cost Summary:	Dollars in millions	Percent of Total	Planned vs. Actual Expenditures (Total Project Cost)
Preliminary Engineering	$ 3.1	7%
Right-of-Way	$ 6.2	14%
Construction	$ 35.7	unfunded
Funded Project Costs	$ 9.3	21%

Nickel funds included in above costs	0
2005 Transportation Partnership Account

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

Kerry Grant, WSDOT Project Engineer @ (509) 577-1760 or E- Mail: grantk@wsdot.wa.gov