Project Facts
- On average, more than 15,000 vehicles use this stretch of SR 20 every day.
- Construction will take two summers and will be complete fall 2009.
- This section of highway has a history of collisions. In the last five years there were 156 collisions that killed two people and injured 100 others.
July 2008
***Speed limit reduction***
As of July 18, the speed limit has been reduced to 40 mph between Miller/Gibraltar Road and Meadow Creek to protect drivers and crews during construction. The reduction will remain in place for the duration of the project. Remember, traffic fines double in work zones and fines cannot be reduced, suspended or waived.
- We opened the new bridge at Meadow Creek to traffic on June 1.
- Crews are working near the highway between Meadow Creek and Miller/Gibraltar Road. Watch for truck traffic entering and exiting the work zone.
- Would you like SR 20 project updates sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for e-mail updates and we'll keep you posted on upcoming lane closures, delays and construction projects that may affect your commute or neighborhood.
Overview
We will improve safety and traffic flow south of Anacortes along State Route 20, between Meadow Creek (by the Shrimp Shack) and the Miller Road/ Gibralter Road intersection by widening, realigning, closing an intersection, and adding turn lanes.
Why is WSDOT
making safety improvements to State Route 20?
A significant number of collisions have occurred on certain sections of SR 20 between Meadow Creek and Sharpes Corner. By making safety improvements we will reduce the number of collisions and imrove traffic flow.
The End Result
When construction is complete, traffic lanes and shoulders will be wider; hills and sharpe curves that limit sight distance will be corrected, allowing drivers to see further; an intersection with sharp angles will be closed; and new left turn lanes will help prevent rear-end collisions. We will increase safety and reduce collisions.
Stage 1: We started stage 1 construction in summer 2007. We are:
- Widening SR 20 from near Meadow Creek to South Lake Campbell Road to 12 foot lanes and 4 foot shoulders,
- Closing the intersection of SR 20 at Deception Road,
- Building left turn lanes at the Lunz Road intersection,
- Replacing the culvert at Meadow Creek with a bridge to support wider lanes and improve fish passage.
Stage 2: We will start stage 2 construction in summer 2008. We will:
- Widen SR 20 between South Lake Campbell Road and the Miller/Gibraltar Road intersection to 12 foot lanes and 4 foot shoulders,
- Limit traffic at the northern intersection of Lunz Road to right turns from Highway 20,
- Provide a left turn lane at the Almida Vista Road intersection for vehicles heading westbound on SR 20,
- Provide a left turn lane at the northern intersection of Miller Road for vehicles heading eastbound on SR 20,
- Limit the southern intersection of Miller Road to right turns out of Miller Road to SR 20.
Project Benefits
- Safety - We are closing one intersection and building new left turn lanes to improve motorist safety.
- Collisions - Building new left turn lanes and improving motorist's sight distance will help prevent rear-end collisions.
- Environmental - The new bridge over Meadow Creek will improve fish passage by returning the stream to its natural width.
What is the project timeline?
- Fall 2009 - Complete construction Stage 2
- Summer 2008 - Complete construction Stage 1.
- Summer 2008 - Begin Construction Stage 2
- May 5, 2008 - WSDOT awarded Scarsella Brothers, Inc. of Kent the contract for stage 2 of the project.
- Oct. 18, 2007 - Crews switch drivers to the temporary alignment by the Shrimp Shack (Lunz Road) so they can build a bridge to replace the culvert.
- July 23, 2007 - Begin construction Stage 1.
- June 25, 2007 - Project awarded to Marshbank Construction for stage 1
- May 7, 2007 - We advertised Stage 1 to contractors.
- Spring 2006 - Started buying necessary property.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Contact Dave Chesson for more details on project or if you have questions or concerns.
Environmental Protection
We are building a bridge over Meadow Creek to replace an existing culvert to improve fish passage and allow for a wider, safer roadway. Drainage features in this project such as culverts and ditches will be upgraded or replaced to help alleviate possible erosion in large storm events. A wetland will be constructed to mitigate impacts that might occur in surrounding wetlands. Several storm water treatment ponds and bioswales will be constructed to treat highway runoff as well.
As part of this project we restored a wetland located on the northwest corner of SR 20 and March Point Road next to Fidalgo Bay. The site had some existing wetlands on it, though a lot of fill was previously placed at this location. We removed that fill material and restored the wetland. Crews began excavating the fill material in early October, 2007. Once the excavation was complete, the area was planted with various species of native wetland plants.
WSDOT makes every effort to assess and minimize environmental impact from our projects. During project design, WSDOT will work to reduce the impact to wetlands, creeks and rivers in the project area. We completed a detailed analysis of the project's environmental impacts and an appropriate plan for mitigation of impacts was developed and documented as part of the Environmental Documentation and Environmental Permitting processes.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
Widening, realigning and leveling the highway will improve motorists' sight distance. Closing three intersections and adding left and right turn lanes will help reduce rear-end collisions. Widened shoulders will increase bicycle safety. WSDOT will implement all necessary traffic management and safety measures during the construction phase of this project.
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.
WSDOT is coordinating with the Samish Indian Nation to install a left turn lane on SR 20 at the Almida Vista Lane intersection. The Samish Nation is paying for the left turn lane design and construction.
Section 106 consultation was initiated in March 2000 with the Swinomish, Samish, and Upper Skagit Tribes. Consultation was re-initiated in April 2004 with these same three Tribes, plus the Tulalip and Kikiallus. Follow-up calls were made to each of the federally recognized Tribes (Kikiallus is not). When the Cultural Resource Survey is completed they will be sent a copy and asked to review and comment on it.
Financial Information
The project was divided into two stages due to budget shortfalls. WSDOT picked the most critical areas to improve first, to allow for construction to begin sooner. Now the project is fully funded.
This project is funded through the following fund sources:
- 2003 Gas Tax (Nickel Funding) - $22,800,000
- Existing Funds - $11,500,000
- Total Funding Available From All Sources - $34,300,000
For project schedule and updates, please see the
Quarterly Project Report.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Project Construction Engineer Dave Crisman
1109 E. Hickox Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
Phone: 360-757-848-7103
E-mail: crismad@wsdot.wa.gov
Project Design Engineer Dawn Yankauskas
WSDOT Mountlake Terrace Project Office
6505 216th Street SW, Suite 200
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
Phone: 425-744-5103
E-mail: YankaDR@wsdot.wa.gov
Communications Dave Chesson
WSDOT Mt. Baker Headquarters
1043 Goldenrod Road, Suite 101
Burlington, WA 98233-3415
Phone: 360-757-5970
E-mail: chessod@wsdot.wa.gov
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