Thanks to everyone for signing and sharing. A bidding milestone has been passed creating uncertainty for WSDOT regarding direction because the bids may exceed funds available. 

The petition text has been updated to reflect post bid and pre award conditions and to try to influence decision makers to reconsider allowing greater use of barges for construction.

WSDOT has recently received bids for the SR 520 Viaduct replacement which are significantly higher than the engineer's estimate. According to a public release from WSDOT - 

"Update on the contract bid openings for the Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project

WSDOT opened bids on Sept. 13 from the two teams that submitted contract proposals for the Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project. The bid prices in both proposals – from Kiewit/Stacy and Witbeck, a Joint Venture; and Skanska USA Civil West – are above the $812 million engineer’s estimate we calculated in 2022 to complete the design and build the project. We announced Skanska’s proposal as having the Apparent Best Value (ABV). Their $1.375 billion price proposal exceeds the engineer’s estimate by about 70%. This cost discrepancy reflects the challenging trends in the contractor bidding environment across the state and nation, including the recent I-405 Brickyard to SR 527 Project ABV (approximately 60% above the engineer’s estimate) and Washington State Ferries’ Electrification Program (approximately 25% above the engineer’s estimate).

WSDOT has until Nov. 20 to award the contract before the teams’ proposals expire. Over the next two months we will work with the leaders of the state Legislature’s transportation committees and the Governor’s Office to assess the best course for moving forward with the project’s important safety and mobility improvements."

Please also see the recent Seattle Times Article for a broader view of the current bidding environment.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/prices-skyrocket-on-wa-transportation-projects-and-fewer-contractors-want-the-jobs/

Thanks again for your support, the goal of this petition effort continues to be to support WSDOT and the legislature in their efforts to build 520 as quickly as possible with reduced impacts and lower costs by encouraging barge based construction.

Please share with any new groups and individuals that may support this petition effort.