Jan. 23, 2003

A special publication of DJC.COM



Top Hard Bid Public Projects



Top Alternative Bid Projects



Where have all the highway jobs gone?

By BENJAMIN MINNICK
Journal Construction Editor

Top Projects Tile

Out of nearly three dozen projects profiled in this year’s Washington State Top Public Projects special, only one — the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge — is a road project. That compares to seven last year.

“We've been frustrated in our attempts to raise funds for road projects,” said Bob Adams, vice president at Guy F. Atkinson Construction and last year’s Associated General Contractors of Washington president.

Adams said business has been slow for his company, which derives about 90 percent of its revenues from transportation projects. The low volume of work has forced his company to transfer and layoff workers here.

Adams said there is little money available from existing sources to fund new transportation projects in the state’s current biennium.

But, there may be some good news down the road. Adams said legislative leaders told him they might be able to get some sort of transportation funding package put together in the current legislative session, which is scheduled to end in late April.

That could include a gas tax. Adams said the tax would likely be half the 9 cent increase that failed on last November’s ballot. He also said there has been some talk about alternative funding sources, such as charging single drivers a fee to use the HOV lanes.

This summer Sound Transit is expected to kick off its $2.5 billion Central Link light rail project. It involves building a 15-mile rail line from Seattle to Sea-Tac Airport. Most of the track will be in operation by 2009.

A Sound Transit spokesman said he anticipates a number of contracts will be let this year, depending on federal funding.

-- Benjamin Minnick, Lina Korsmo, David Wise and Trista Allen edited this special section.




Hard Bid Projects

1.
Sea-Tac Airport Central Terminal expansion, Package 2
$70.56 million
2.
New Mt. Tahoma High School, Phase II
$52.80 million
3.
Henderson/Martin Luther King Jr. CSO project
$41.76 million
4.
Rocky Reach juvenile fish bypass installation — forebay pile
$39.83 million
5.
FY02 whole barracks renewal, Fort Lewis
$35.31 million
6.
Kelso High School addition and modernization
$27.66 million
7.
New Arlington High School, Phase 2
$25.76 million
8.
WWU Communications Facility
$22.19 million
9.
T-91-Pier 90 Berths 1, 3, 5 and 7 demolition and apron rehab
$20.61 million
10.
Kamiakin High School modernization
$19.53 million
11.
SR-433, Lewis and Clark Bridge 433/1 deck rehabilitation
$17.94 million
12.
Rocky Reach juvenile fish bypass installation — bypass conduit
$17.53 million
13.
Terminal 46 apron strengthening and electrical upgrade
$17.38 million
14.
New middle school No. 11, Tacoma School District
$17.22 million
15.
WWU Student Recreation Center
$17.18 million
16.
Centralia Wastewater Treatment Plant
$16.90 million
17.
Marshall Avenue auto facility site improvements
$16.61 million
18.
Gray Army Airfield Aviation Support Facility
$16.32 million
19.
Elliott West CSO Control Facility
$16.24 million
20.
New Mason Middle School
$15.68 million
21.
New Hockinson High School
$15.35 million
22.
Keechelus Dam modification
$15.31 million
23.
Columbia Junior High School and Dacca Community Park
$14.30 million



Alternative Bid Projects


1.
SR-16 Second Tacoma Narrows Bridge
$615 million
2.
Snohomish County Campus Redevelopment Initiative
$105 million
3.
Legislative Building rehabilitation and addition
$69 million
4.
King County Courthouse seismic upgrades
$60 million
5.
Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center
$52 million
6.
Everett Regional Events Center
$50 million
7.
Cedar River Water Treatment Plant
$40 million
8.
Holly Park Hope VI Redevelopment, Phase III
$40 million
9.
University of Washington Tacoma Campus, Phase 2b
$27 million
10.
Army Corps MCA Deployment Facilities
$32 million (total cost)






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