Lowest bid received for Sodo tunnel interchange

The lowest bid for the Sodo section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement scheme was submitted this week and was nearly USD 40M lower than Washington State’s estimate.

Skanska USA reportedly made the bid of USD 114.6M.

The Department of Transportation (DoT) expects to award the contract to the winning bidder in the next week or two.

All six bidders were below the state engineers' estimate of USD 153M.

The project, from South Holgate Street to South King Street, features a large interchange that connects the two sports stadiums to the planned tunnel, as well as tourist and shipping destinations on Elliott Bay.

The project will create about 600 construction jobs, the DoT said.

When complete in late 2013, the south end of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be replaced with a new side-by-side roadway that meets earthquake standards, has wider lanes and improves mobility for people and goods in the Seattle area, said the DoT. It will connect to any future replacement of the viaduct's central waterfront section, including the proposed bored tunnel.

The old south-end section, which is near the sports stadiums, will be torn down in 2012. The central waterfront section of the old viaduct would stay in place until a proposed USD 1bn tunnel is finished through the centre of the city.