Four contractors have bid on a City of Tacoma project that would bring $1.2 million in recreational improvements to areas near Lake Cushman.

According to bid documents prepared by City of Tacoma staff, the project — which is located at the north end of Lake Cushman, near Hoodsport, in Mason County — calls for improvements to four areas owned by Tacoma Power and the United States Forest Service.

When the project is completed, visitors to the Big Creek Campground will be able to enjoy new picnic shelters and tables, campsite fire rings, cooking grills, signs, kiosks, an interpretive walking trail with a bench, and campsite markers. This campground is an operable campground, but Tacoma Power is upgrading it as mitigation for a hydroelectric project. Visitors to any of the five day-use areas will notice new stairs, signs, and picnic tables. Bear Gulch and Dry Creek Trailhead will feature new signs, a kiosk, and a picnic bench. Finally, visitors to the Lake Cushman Viewpoint will also notice new signs, a kiosk, and a picnic bench.

A pre-bid meeting was held on Fri., June 27, at 11 a.m., at the Cushman No. 2 Project Office, located at 21451 Highway 101, in Shelton, Wash. The bid deadline expired on Tues., July 8, at 11 a.m. The project is expected to be completed by Fri., May 15, 2015.

The contractors that submitted bids are NOVA Contracting, Inc. (Olympia, Wash.) — $1,965,040.00; Wiseman Utilities, Inc. (Olympia, Wash.) — $2,340,753.00; Stan Palmer Construction (Bremerton, Wash.) — $1,937,208.00; and Boettcher & Sons, Inc. (Eatonville, Wash.) — $1,464,066.00.