Committee recommends additional spending for Sapp Road culvert in Tumwater

The Tumwater Public Works Committee has recommended increasing the budget for a culvert currently being built in Percival Creek at Sapp Road. 

At a meeting on Aug. 20, the committee backed the Tumwater Transportation & Engineering Department’s request to grant its director the authority to raise the contract amount. 

The additional money would increase Active Construction Inc.’s contract by 20 percent to $2,317,166 from $1,930,930.

With the committee’s approval, the department’s request for additional money will now go to the Tumwater City Council for review. 

The new culvert replaces a smaller 5-foot diameter culvert, which was determined to be a barrier to fish passage. The project involves the installation of a wider culvert, on-stream features to replicate natural stream flow, and the reconstruction of Sapp Road with new sidewalks and bike lanes. 

City of Tumwater Engineer Ryan Blasersaid the project necessitated the rerouting of utility lines before the project could start on June 15. Crews also diverted the stream to excavate the site and remove the old culvert.  

Blaser added the new culvert has been installed, and crews are now working to construct the wall around it.  

He said while project costs remain on track, the additional money would cover potential expenses for additional streambed enhancements, backfill adjustments and oil price escalations. 

Council member Eileen Swarthout, a member of the committee, asked if the project was on track to be completed by October.

Blaser confirmed the timeline, saying crews are expected to reintroduce the stream by the end of the month and subsequently focus on rebuilding Sapp Road in the next two months. 

The project is funded by a $2 million grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation and a $257,550 grant from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board within the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.