ST/Fairbank/Ecology/Rush

Seattle’s Sound Transit tunneling bid was under the engineers estimate, saving money toward other projects or contingencies.

Light Rail Bids $20 mil Below Engineers Estimate

Patients at the American Lake Veterans Hospital near Tacoma will soon be using a new building with some fees and materials donated by contractors. (Photo courtesy of Rush Commerical)

Seattle - Bids to drill a 3,700 ft tunnel that will extend the Seattle light rail line came in at $153.6, $20 million under the engineers estimate. JCM-U-Link Joint Venture, a collaboration between Jay Dee Contractors, Lovonia, Mich., and Frank Coluccio Construction, Seattle, was the apparent low bidder on the project.

The second closest bid, submitted by Kenny/Shea joint Venture, formed by Kenny Construction of Northbrook, Ill. and J.F. Shea Construction of Walnut, Calif., came in at $154.1 million The engineer’s estimate was $174 million.

The contractor will use an earth-pressure balance tunnel boring machine.

Money for this phase of the project came from a Federal Transit Authority grant. When completed, the spur will connect downtown Seattle and the University of Washington.

Private School Project To Be Ready Next Summer

Bainbridge - Fairbank Construction is building a new 23,000 sq ft building at St. Cecilia Faith Education Center on Bainbridge Island.

The 23,000 sq ft multi-use facility is designed to provide a larger home for St. Cecilia Catholic School’s first through eighth grade and preschool programs, and the general St. Cecilia community with space for meetings, events and religious instruction for grammar and high school students, as well as house parish administrative offices.

The project will take eleven months to complete and the new facility should be ready for use by St. Cecilia’s by the first week of next June.

Meng Strazzara is the project architect.

Ecology Adopts Wetland Mitigation Banking Rule

Olympia – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has adopted a new rule that establishes criteria and a certification process for wetland mitigation banks across the state.

Lauren Driscoll, who oversees Ecology’s wetland mitigation banking program, said the final rule contains provisions to ensure mitigation bank sites comply with and support local shoreline regulations as well as support local salmon recovery, surface water recovery, and watershed management plans.

The availability of wetland credits doesn’t eliminate or change state and federal regulations requiring developers to avoid and minimize wetland damage. Wetland mitigation banks allow developers to provide compensation before harming a wetland at another site. Developers can purchase “credits” from the banks – subject to regulatory approval – to offset wetland losses that cannot be avoided.

Wetland mitigation banks are an important strategy for engaging the private sector and power of the marketplace to sustain Washington’s remaining wetlands.

American Lake Building Due for Makeover

American Lake - Rush Commercial of Gig Harbor, WA has been selected to deliver complete design/build services to bring the Rehabilitation-Learning Center’s original conceptual drawings to life with viable construction plans. Services and materials are being delivered at a reduced fee, in addition to the generous donations, discounts and gifts-in-kind granted by participating suppliers and vendors.