Drivers using Betz Road and Washington Street should be ready soon to follow a mantra sometimes used by the state Department of Transportation — expect delays.
At its July 12 meeting, the Cheney City Council unanimously approved awarding an $881,307 contract to Shamrock Paving for arterial street preservation work on both projects. Because most of the work is being funded by federal dollars, Public Works Director Todd Ableman said both projects were subsequently tied together under one bid.
Cheney was awarded $493,400 for Washington and $302,900 for Betz under the Surface Transportation Program. Shamrock’s bid for Washington came in at $414,977 while Betz was at $466,330.
“I intend to work with our funding agency SRTC (Spokane Regional Transportation Council) to request the extra funds be considered filling the gap for the underfunding, now that the bids are in and the costs are known,” Ableman said in an email.
It’s the third bid award for Shamrock from the city of Cheney this summer. At the June 28 meeting, council awarded the Airway Heights’ company the $419,605 contract for paving and preservation work on Cheney-Spokane Road from First Street to the city limits.
Work on Betz Road runs from SR 904 to North Sixth Street while Washington Street work takes place from Betz to Oakland Street. Once started, both projects should wrap up in September.
Last Tuesday, the council also approved a pair of supplemental engineering contracts for the Betz and Washington projects with Taylor Engineering, Parametrix. The contracts total $80,061, and will provide quality control oversight on both projects.
Council also approved a request for distribution of lodging tax funds from Eastern Washington University alumni 50-year reunion organizers. The reunion takes place Oct. 7 – 9, coinciding with Homecoming, and should attract alumni and their families from 11 states.
According to city documents, the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommended full funding of the organization’s request for $2,950 to help augment their estimated budget of $10,550, the rest of which will be made up with matching funds. The award brings the amount awarded this year from the lodging tax fund to $11,300.
Councilman Doug Nixon, who also is a member of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, said awarding the EWU 50-year reunion organization is exactly how the lodging tax revenue is to be used.
“We always say put heads in beds and this really does it,” he said, adding they expect one more award to be made to another group.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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