DOT seeks bids second phase of massive I-90 project

The state Department of Transportation is seeking bids on the second construction contract to rebuild sections of Interstate 90 east of Snoqualmie Pass.

The construction contract for the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East — Hyak to Keechelus Dam project is estimated to cost between $100 and $150 million and will call for about 1,500 jobs over the next three years.

"This contract calls for a major overhaul of I-90 just east of Snoqualmie Pass," said I-90 project director Randy Giles. "This is an important step toward making I-90 a safer, more reliable transportation corridor for freight and the traveling public."

Set to break ground in spring, this contract calls for making improvements to the first three miles of a five-mile-long project corridor, starting at Hyak (milepost 55.1) and ending near the Lake Keechelus Snowshed (milepost 58.1). Improvements include:

• Adding a new lane in each direction

• Replacing deteriorated pavement on existing lanes and shoulders

• Adding and replacing bridges and culverts

• Stabilizing rock slopes

• Extending chain-up and -off areas

• Adding lights, traffic cameras and variable message signs

Next fall the DOT will advertise the third construction contract of the I-90 Project, which will continue making improvements on the remaining two project miles from the snowshed to Keechelus Dam. The contract is estimated to cost about $200 million.

Meanwhile, DOT and contractor crews from KLB Construction of Mukilteo have completed planned work on the first construction contract of the I-90 Project. DOT and crews have built a long-term detour bridge over Gold Creek that will be used next year to detour traffic around the construction area. Crews also excavated approximately 265,000 cubic yards of material from Keechelus Lake to mitigate for the project's future impacts on reservoir water storage. The materials excavated from the lake will be recycled into future construction projects. This $3.3 million contract supported more than 25 jobs.

The DOT received $595 million from the Washington State Legislature's 2005 Transportation Partnership Account to design and construct the first five miles of the 15-mile long I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Corridor program.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com