Low Bids Mean More Projects For Washington

A news release out of Governor Gregoire's office says that low construction bids are resulting in more construction projects in Washington.

On Friday, Gregoire and Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond announced the state will deliver more highway projects with stimulus funds than first envisioned. That's due to the recent trend toward lower construction bids.

As of June 1, WSDOT has awarded 15 state stimulus contracts worth $64 million- averaging 21% below estimates. Between July 1, 2008, and April 30, 2009, WSDOT awarded 115 construction contracts, 100 of which came in an average of 29.5 percent below cost estimates.

To date, 63% of the local recovery funding has been obligated, with 15 projects awarded and 43 projects now being advertised for bids.

The transportation department will begin applying federal stimulus funds to a secondary list of more than $80 million in projects identified by Gregoire and the Legislature as projects that WSDOT could advance if stimulus funding became available.

Travel Back In Time On Vintage Train

Remember that episode of Star Trek where Kirk and the gang travel back in time to the 1920's? Well you'll be able to do a little time travel yourself when a restored locomotive and vintage rail cars visit Spokane in July. Tickets are on sale now for day trips on the train, which is apparently quite a big deal for rail enthusiasts.
Here's more information from the Spokesman-Review.

More Of Alberta And Cochran Streets Open To Traffic

Alberta and Cochran streets have reopened to traffic from Garland to Wellesley avenues today; but remain closed from Wellesley to Francis avenues, including the streets’ intersection with Rowan Ave.

Both streets are being rehabilitated as part of a City of Spokane Street Bond project.

City Council Wants Your Opinion In Online Survey

The Spokane City Council wants to hear from you. The Council has developed an on-line survey designed to gauge opinions about the community and how satisfied citizens are with services provided by the City of Spokane. The Council will use the information to help develop their work plans and areas of focus.

I just took the survey and it only takes a few minutes to do. It contains a lot of questions about road conditions, sidewalks, ease of walking and bicycling in Spokane.

To take the survey, click here.

The Cranky Bureaucrats Have Good Showing For BTW

Results are in from Bike to Work Week Spokane... sort of. They're not posted on the BTW website yet, but a couple emails were sent out to participants yesterday with results.

SRTC's team, the Cranky Bureaucrats, tied for second place in the overall category for percentage of new commuters. We also took first place for percentage of new commuters in the public agency category.

Spokane Company Fined For Bridge Collapse

A Spokane company is being fined by OSHA for the collapse of a bridge under construction last summer in southwestern Idaho.

The company is contesting the fines though, saying it's not their fault. Here's the Spokesman-Review Story.

Eastbound I90 Very Slow Going Coming Into Downtown

You may want to avoid I90 near the Sunset Hill for a little while this afternoon. Eastbound traffic from the hill into downtown is bumper-to-bumper and stop and go due to two multiple vehicle accidents.

Both accidents were in the left-hand lane, according to Washington State Patrol troopers.

We know there is at least one injury but don't have further details at this point.

Sections Of Alberta/Cochran Reopened

Progress is being made on the Alberta/Cochran project in north Spokane. Both Alberta and Cochran streets have reopened from Northwest Boulevard to Garland Avenue. They both remain closed from Garland to Francis though.

The project is rehabilitating Alberta Street from Northwest Boulevard to Francis Avenue and Cochran Street from Northwest Blvd. to Alberta St.

The $3.8 million project is being funded by the City of Spokane's 10-Year Street Bond.

This isn't transportation related, but I thought I should explain why I'll be blogging less and less in the future. My neighbor must have sold a bodily organ because he bought this toy. Everyday when I get up in the morning, I just can't see myself going to work and sitting in front of a computer every day. Glenn, I'm not feeling so well (cough cough).

Chalk & New Sidewalks; Come To Hillyard This Weekend

Here's an event that has a couple things I really like; chalk drawings and new sidewalks.

Hillyard will host it's 13th annual Chalk Art Walk this Saturday. This is the last time the current sidewalks will be used as canvases for chalk artists because the 2009 streetscape project (to renew the historic Market Street district) will replace the old damaged sidewalks with new ones. Work on that project is scheduled to begin within the next few weeks.

In the meantime, the sidewalks will be used for this free competition. Starting at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, contestants get their own sidewalk square and chalk. They have until mid-afternoon to complete their picture before judging. For more information, or to enter the contest, here's a link.

Fifth & Maple Traffic Signal Repaired

The traffic signal at Maple St. and Fifth Ave. that was not working earlier today has now been fixed. The signal was damaged as a result of construction in the area.

Millwood Construction Project

If you've been through the Spokane Valley headed north recently, you've probably been through the Argonne Road revitalization project. And you've probably experienced at least a short wait due to construction.

The City of Millwood wants to remind you that the businesses in that area are still open, but if you're not using them, you may want to find a detour if you're just passing through on your way somewhere else.

The project to upgrade Argonne started in May and is slated to last all summer, but in the meantime you may want to save yourself some time and avoid the area. To help with the congestion problem, work is being done overnight, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. each day. Side streets are closed during the work to prevent traffic jams.

The project includes resurfacing a section of Argonne from Frederick to Riverway, installing a new concrete intersection at the juncture of Euclid and Empire and adding sidewalks and wheelchair ramps.

$1.3 million of the funds to pay for the project is provided by a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation. An additional $120,000 grant from the state Transportation Improvement Board will help with other pedestrian improvements. Welch-Comer Engineers has been contracted to manage this project.

Wellesley and Belt Intersection Open To Traffic

The project that replaced the existing traffic signal and added a left turn phase at the intersection of Wellesley Ave. and Belt St. is complete and the intersection is open to traffic. The $410,000 was funded with federal and City funds.

Plant-Based Jet Fuel Only Year Away; According To Airline Companies

A plant-based jet fuel could be only a year away from hitting the market, according to Boeing and other airline companies. An editorial in the Spokesman-Review today talks about a jet fuel made from a weed called camelina that delivers better mileage and leaves a smaller carbon footprint. Here's the editorial.

Bridge Rebuilding Project Blamed For Dangerous River Conditions

I've heard of construction projects causing a lot of congestion and traffic problems, but here's a new one- the Barker Road Bridge reconstruction project is being blamed for increasing danger on the river.

The bridge is supposedly snagging lots of logs and debris, causing a jam-up under it. This could cause people using the river to get stuck as well, as was the case with one rafter over the weekend. Here's the story from the Spokesman-Review.

New Border Restrictions Not Causing Backups

If you're travelling to Canada anytime soon- good news! Yesterday, stricter rules went into effect for U.S. citizens returning from Canada and Mexico, but no unusual backups were reported at area border crossings.

In fact, at the Peace Arch crossing in Blaine, WA, Customs and Border agents reported a compliance rate of 90%+ of American citizens showing passports or one of the new 'enhanced' IDs required for border crossings.

Here's more on this story.

Bridge Walk 2009 Registration Deadline Coming

A reminder that you only have a couple more days to register for Bridge Walk 2009. It takes place this Saturday, June 6, but you only have until Thursday to register.

The walk is a relaxing 4.5 mile loop-walk that crosses over 17 historic bridges in the heart of Spokane. Here's more information and the registration form.

US 2 Route Development Plan Public Meeting

The Washington State Department of Transportation has completed a route development plan for US 2 from the Lincoln County line to Interstate 90 near Spokane.

An informational open house meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, June 4 to update the public on the findings and suggested improvements for the corridor. WSDOT staff will be on hand to answer questions. Citizens are invited to drop by at any time between 5-7 p.m. at Sunset Elementary School, 12824 W. 12th in Airway Heights.

Route development plans identify deficiencies in the transportation system and propose potential improvements. Open house attendees will learn more about why we need a route development plan, what improvements were considered, how improvements are evaluated, and what the next steps will be for this highway section from just east of Reardan to I-90 in Spokane. Here's more information.

GM Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

As part of a plan to make General Motors more manageable and give a majority ownership stake to the government, GM today filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

President Obama has a scheduled speech for around noon to address GM’s future and it's impact on everyday people. Here's more.

In the meantime, an letter to the editor in today's Spokesman-Review says the answer to saving GM is for the company to start producing an electric car that company managers originally said would never work. Here's the letter.

Lots of Trail-Related Events For Nation Trails Day

Saturday, June 6 is National Trails Day and there will be a lot going on locally throughout the week to celebrate. You can voice your opinion on proposed trails for the Beacon Hill area, help build a new trail segment in the Dishman-Mica area, help clean up the Fish Lake Trail, or several other trail-related opportunities.

Here's a roundup of what will be happening from the Spokesman-Review.