Frank Green, WSDOT project engineer, provides an update on the Chamber Way overpass during the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce forum at O'Blarney's in Centralia on Monday afternoon.
Construction of a new wider and taller Chamber Way overpass could begin as early as this summer as the state carries out a plan to replace the span as quickly as possible, according to an official from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Frank Green, WSDOT project engineer, provided an update on the project at the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce Forum on Monday afternoon at O’Blarney’s Irish Pub in Centralia.
The overpass was struck by an oversized load last year after several similar occurrences in previous years. The latest hit caused serious damage to the stability of the structure. A temporary steel bridge was installed over the southbound lanes after the damaged section was removed.
Green said WSDOT is utilizing a design build method to speed up the timeframe of the new bridge, which will include four lanes, 5-foot shoulders and an 8-foot-wide sidewalk. The bridge will be designed with the capacity for an Interstate 5 widening project that would include three lanes in each direction, scheduled under the Connecting Washington funding package slated for 2019 to 2023.
WSDOT will analyze three different proposals from contractors for the new bridge. The contractors are responsible for designing and constructing the bridge, while meeting certain qualifications and standards for WSDOT.
Those proposals are due by March 28. WSDOT will evaluate each proposal and will award technical credits to contractors who can complete the project the fastest with the smallest amount of traffic impacts, which in turn will increase the value of the proposal.
Green said the bridge is projected to be completed by October 2018. If a contractor can do it quicker, that’s even better, he said.
“If a contractor proposes a date that beats that, the value of the proposal will increase,” he explained.
Currently, WSDOT is expecting eight Interstate 5 closures and six Chamber Way closures for the work that needs to be completed, but again, if contractors can reduce that number, their bid will receive a higher ranking.
A contract is expected to be awarded May 31.
If the selected contractor does not meet its proposal for the completion date or amount of lane closures needed, Green said, they will be penalized with a fine.
Restrictions for when closures can occur are included so that the closures will not impact holiday shopping, the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, the Chehalis Garlic Fest or the Southwest Washington Fair.
Alicia Bull, executive director of the Chamber, said WSDOT has been completely open with the process and continues to keep the community informed on the project.
“I have the strong belief and faith they are going to do what’s best for us,” she said.
