Bids opened for Moses Lake downtown resurfacing project

Key points:  

1. Snoqualmie contractor is an apparent low bidder to resurface downtown Moses Lake streets. 
2. Low bid was $1.39 million. 
3. Project is scheduled to start in July, with completion in September.

MOSES LAKE — Some streets in Moses Lake’s downtown area that are now two lanes in each direction will be reconfigured to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane as part of a resurfacing project. The chip-seal project is tentatively scheduled to begin in July. 

“Striping will be reconfigured in select locations to add two-way left turn lanes, wider shoulders, angled and parallel parking and bike lanes,” wrote city engineers in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. 

City officials opened bids June 17, with Dolittle Construction, Snoqualmie, the apparent low bidder. Moses Lake City Council members will vote to award or reject the bid Tuesday. If the bid is accepted, construction is scheduled to begin in July with completion in September.  

Dolittle bid $1.39 million. The cost was estimated at $1.3 million. 

The project area runs along West Third, West Fourth and West Fifth avenues from West Broadway Avenue to South Pioneer Way. It also includes all connecting streets within the project area from Holly to Chestnut. South Division Street from Sixth Avenue to West Broadway will also be chip-sealed.  

The project also includes East Wheeler Road from South Pioneer Way to Road N Northwest, East Hill Avenue from South Division Street to South Clover Drive, East Bud and East Weiser lanes. A roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of East Wheeler Road and Road L Northeast. That’s funded separately from the chip-seal project, with an estimated cost of about $465,000.  

Seal coat is a mix of rock and oil applied to an existing surface, as opposed to tearing out the existing surface and replacing it with new asphalt.  

Sections of the roads within the project area, including South Division Street, will be reconfigured from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction plus a left turn lane. Levi Bisnett, city design engineer, said in an earlier interview that studies show that one lane in each direction is safer than two, both for drivers and pedestrians.  

“Four lanes have relatively higher crash rates,” he said.   

One lane in each direction also makes it easier for drivers to see pedestrians, he said. 

Angled parking will be added to some sections, including Fourth Avenue in front of the Surf ‘n Slide water park. Sections of Third Avenue are also scheduled to get angled parking; Bisnett said business owners requested additional downtown parking. 

The project area has some pretty tight spaces, and engineers are urging drivers to pay attention to the construction crews that will be working in the area.  

“Please stay alert, reduce speed and follow flagger directions,” engineers said. 

    Two lanes in each direction on sections of Fourth Avenue will be replaced with one lane in each direction and a left turn lane as part of a Moses Lake street project.