City seeks bids on South 17th Street re-alignment project near UW Tacoma

The City of Tacoma is accepting bids on a public works project that aims to make it a little easier to navigate the streets of downtown Tacoma near the University of Washington campus.

In December, Tacoma City Council approved a resolution allowing the City to enter into an agreement with the University of Washington Tacoma for the design and construction of the re-alignment of South 17th Street between Jefferson Avenue, Broadway, and South Commerce Street. For anyone familiar with the area, South 17th Street is cut off between Broadway and South Commerce Street by a small greenspace, forcing cars and pedestrians to head south on Broadway for a half-block, then backtrack a half-block north on Jefferson Avenue, before reconnecting to South 17th Street.

According to a report prepared by City of Tacoma staff, University of Washington Tacoma officials approached City officials to discuss the idea of turning South 17th Street into a through street. After a series of meetings, a re-alignment was proposed that would connect the two segments of South 17th Street, preserve a portion of the greenspace, and terminate Jefferson Avenue at Broadway. The two groups drafted an agreement whereas the City would manage the project while the University of Washington Tacoma would pay for the project.

According to a legal notice published this week in the Tacoma Daily Index, the project will extend South 17th Street from Broadway to Commerce Street; re-align the intersection of Jefferson, Broadway, and South 17th Street; improve pedestrian amenities; construct a reinforced concrete wall, new sidewalk, bulb-outs, and ADA ramps; remove and replace asphalt and concrete pavements; and add new channelization, crosswalks, street lights, and a raised mid-block crossing. The project will also include significant utility work, such as a new storm drain system; a 60-inch diameter storm transmission segment; and a water supply main replacement.

The project budget is estimated at $1.55 million. A pre-bid meeting will be held on Mon., Aug. 11, at 9 a.m., at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Room 248, in downtown Tacoma. The bid deadline expires on Tues., Aug. 19, at 11 a.m.

For anyone familiar with the area, South 17th Street is cut off between Broadway and South Commerce Street by a small greenspace, forcing cars and pedestrians to head south on Broadway for a half-block, then backtrack a half-block north on Jefferson Avenue, before reconnecting to South 17th Street. (PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

Design plans for the South 17th Street re-alignment project near the University of Washington Tacoma. (IMAGE COURTESY CITY OF TACOMA)

South 17th Street in downtown Tacoma is cut off between Broadway and South Commerce Street by a small greenspace, (PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

University of Washington Tacoma and City of Tacoma officials have proposed a plan to connect two segments of South 17th Street, preserve a portion of existing greenspace, and terminate Jefferson Avenue at Broadway. The plan aims to make it a little easier to navigate the streets of downtown Tacoma near the university. (IMAGE COURTESY CITY OF TACOMA)

***UPDATE Thurs., Aug. 14, 2014 @ 3 p.m. — The bid deadline has been revised to expire on Tues., Aug. 26, at 11 a.m.

To read the Tacoma Daily Index‘s complete and comprehensive coverage of the South 17th Street re-alignment project, click on the following links: