Shoreline awards contract for next section of Aurora

City of Shoreline awards contract N 185th Street to N 192nd Street segment of Aurora contract to Johansen Excavating

--from the office of the Shoreline City Manager

At its December 13 meeting, the Shoreline City Council awarded the construction contract for the N 185th Street to N 192nd Street segment of the Aurora Corridor Project to Johansen Excavating.

The City’s original cost estimate for the project was $9.1 million. Johansen Excavating, based in Buckley, was the second lowest of nine bidders, winning the contract at $8.2 million. The lowest bidder was found to be non-responsible and its bid was rejected. Construction will begin in January, 2011. The improvements are expected to be complete by winter 2012, weather permitting.

The Aurora Corridor Improvement Project is Shoreline’s project to redesign and redevelop the three miles of Aurora Avenue N that runs through Shoreline. The City completed improvements to the first mile, between N 145th to N 165th Streets, in 2007. In January of this year, construction began on the second mile with enhancements of improved and continuous sidewalks, street and pedestrian lighting, natural storm water treatments and a landscaped center median with left- and U-turn pockets. These improvements will be completed by spring 2011.

This next segment of Aurora from N 185th Street to N 192nd Street will continue many of the same improvements found in the first two miles. New to this segment will be “green” retaining walls and a plaza located at the northeast corner of the King County Metro Park & Ride on N 192nd Street. Green retaining walls incorporate living elements such as climbing plants. Due to the topography within this segment, retaining walls are necessary on both the east and west sides of Aurora.

The total estimated cost for this segment including the construction, right-of-way acquisition, construction management, contingencies, design and environmental is $15.5 million. Shoreline’s share of those costs is about 10%, which is at a level consistent with the City’s leveraged funding for the first two miles. The other 90% comes from Shoreline’s funding partners on this project, including the Federal Government, the State and King County.

Improvements continue the City’s vision for Aurora and promote economic development, improve safety, ease congestion and enhance environmental quality and pedestrian amenities along Aurora Avenue N.

For more information, visit the project website  or call the construction hotline at 206-801-2485. Enews subscribers will receive regular construction and project updates via email. To subscribe, simply enter your email in the Sign Up box on the lower right corner of the City’s website and follow the directions from there.