Cost to go up for sidewalk project along Linwood Avenue in Tumwater

The cost is going up for a sidewalk improvement project along Linwood Avenue in Tumwater.

The Tumwater City Council authorized the city’s engineering director to increase the contract amount for Northwest Cascade Inc., which the city hired to work on the project, to $1.74 million from $1.45 million. The city council made the decision on Tuesday, April 1.

Since the requested increase was 20% more than the original contract amount, the matter had to go to the council for approval. The city’s municipal code only allows staff to approve change orders of not more than 10%. 

The project involves the construction of pedestrian and bicycle facilities along the avenue from Susitna Lane and 2nd Avenue, as some of the roads along the segment do not have sidewalks.  

The project also covers pavement repairs, asphalt inlay, intersection improvement, drainage, relocation of utilities and road markings. 

The requested increase would fund the continuation of the work.

Construction Manager Colby Fletcher said in a previous briefing while all of the sidewalk improvements have been completed, paving work still remains as the city was not able to complete the work within the allowed window period last year. 

The city has already resumed the work this year, as pavement repairs along Linwood Avenue started on Tuesday. 

Another factor why city staff if requesting additional funds is that they spent on unanticipated intersection improvements for 7th Avenue, as Intercity Transit wanted to move a route toward the road. 

Fletcher also mentioned that they had to deal with unknown obstructions during the construction, as well as additional road restoration work. 

Funding for the increased costs will be sourced from the city’s capital facilities fund.