Clock ticks on I-90 overpass project

$1.1 million needed before March

MOSES LAKE —The city's desire to have an improved bridge over Interstate 90 on Division Street is meeting with several hurdles.

Not only does it come with a hefty price tag, but time is running out to put the funds together.

The cost for the project is $4.5 million, Mayor Ron Covey said the city is willing to go with either an expansion of the existing bridge or a brand new overpass.

Regardless of which bridge, one thing is certain: "We need the money," Covey said.

The current overpass sits between four-lane Division Street and Potato Hill Road, which is two-lane. Gavinski said the development of the areas south of I-90 will require Potato Hill Road to become a four-lane road as well. Therefore, the idea of a two-lane overpass between two four-lane road is "ridiculous," he said.

The four-lane overpass, which would come with pedestrian and bike pathways, is necessary from several standpoints, Covey said, and would cost around 1.1 million more than a two-lane.

Many people travel that route daily, and given the developments taking place around it, traffic congestion is a concern as well.

"This city council is proactive in our attempts to plan for the future," Covey said. The traffic problems in downtown Moses Lake may not have taken place if decades ago this same approach had been taken, he added.

The city has met before with members of the Legislature, such as state Rep. Janea Holmquist, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Grant County Commissioners to find a way to gather funds.

"We are meeting with the legislature, seeing if there could be help from that area," Gavinski said, adding that nothing encouraging had been heard from the WSDOT.

The city is proposing splitting up the cost between the county, the city and the state, Gavinski said. The city would put up $300,000 from the water and sewer funds, the county would put up $100,000 from its Paths and Trails funds and the rest would come from the state.

LeRoy Allison, Grant County Commissioner, said that the topic would be discussed today among county authorities.

"(The project) sounds good," he said. "I am not sure we can do that," he added, referring to the money commitment. Allison fears the commitment would drain the Paths and Trails funds almost entirely. With about $250,000 in and several projects outlined, a $100,000 contribution to the overpass project may cause quite a dent.

"We already have a number of projects on the horizon," he said. "We support the four-lane bridge, but we are still deliberating."

Another hurdle is the different vision between state and city. The state, Covey said, has a 20-year horizon, meaning that they plan ahead to up to 20 years. The city wants to plan ahead to up to 50 years, hence the desire to turn the overpass from a two-lane into a four-lane road.

"It's not that they don't want to do it," Covey said of the WSDOT. "It's that they don't want to pay for it."

The state, Covey said, is saying that in 20 years, this area will not require a four-lane. That may be the case, he said, but that may not be so in 30, 40 or 50 years. However, the state laws forbid the WSDOT to look that far ahead, he added.

While talks take place, the clock is ticking, Gavinski said. A decision by the WSDOT is expected by early March, therefore, if the funds are to be gathered, it has to happen soon.

"We don't need to have the money, but the dedication of the money," Covey said. In other words, the commitment that the money will be there.

A proposed solution, Gavinski said, has been the acquisition of Broadway Avenue in exchange for landscaping of the interchange on the Exit 176 of the interstate and financial support of the overpass project.

For now, the city is hoping the county jumps on board and talking to state lawmakers.

"(Holmquist) appeared to be very responsive," Covey said. "She felt that a partnering effort between the city and the county could make the dealings with the state easier."

Holmquist agreed.

"They make my job a lot easier if they had a joint effort on it," she said. "It makes for a better sale at the state level."