Skanska has won a significant $1.4 billion contract from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to undertake the reconstruction of Seattle’s Portage Bay Bridge. The project aims to upgrade the bridge to meet current seismic resiliency standards.
The design-build agreement with WSDOT involves replacing the aging Portage Bay Bridge and constructing a landscaped lid over the highway, connecting the Roanoke Park and North Capitol Hill neighborhoods. Construction is slated to commence later this year and wrap up by 2030.
James Bailey, Executive Vice President of Skanska USA Civil’s West Coast operations, expressed enthusiasm about delivering this critical infrastructure piece. He highlighted the significance of the Portage Bay Bridge replacement as part of broader improvements to the SR 520 corridor, a key transportation route in the Puget Sound region.
This project is part of WSDOT’s extensive $5.69 billion SR 520 Replacement and HOV Program, slated for completion in 2032. It aims to overhaul the corridor from Bellevue to Seattle, with the Portage Bay Bridge segment completing the transit and HOV enhancements between Redmond and Seattle.
The current four-lane bridge, constructed in the 1960s, is vulnerable to seismic events due to its support structure. It will be replaced by two parallel, seismically stronger bridges, with the eastbound span extending the regional bicycle and pedestrian SR 520 Trail across Portage Bay, integrating it with Seattle’s non-motorized trail network.
Skanska’s bid of $1.73 billion was selected as the best value, despite being 72 percent higher than the state engineer’s estimate. After negotiations, Skanska was awarded the contract in March, following concerns about funding gaps.
In response to budget constraints, WSDOT is exploring cost-cutting measures through value engineering, while ensuring the project’s core objectives are maintained. Despite potential refinements, elements such as the Roanoke Lid, integral to the project’s purpose, will remain intact.
The Portage Bay Bridge reconstruction underscores a commitment to enhancing safety, regional mobility, and non-motorized travel options, demonstrating a concerted effort towards modernizing critical infrastructure in the Seattle area.
