Bridgeport adds projects to State Transportation Improvement Plan

BRIDGEPORT – The Columbia Avenue downtown renovation project that the Revitalization Committee has been pursuing in its latest meetings was among new projects added to or modified in the city’s six-year Washington State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) discussed during a city council public hearing on July 24.

The STIP report is a requirement to qualify for any state or federal funds to help pay for any city street or pedestrian projects. The city annually adds or modifies projects included in its STIP. Additions this year include:

Columbia Avenue Sidewalk Renovation

Superintendent of Public Works Stuart Dezellem told the council that he modified the Columbia Avenue project description to better represent what the Bridgeport Revitalization wants to do to upgrade that downtown space.

“I added the pedestrian-activated flashing lights,” Dezellem said.

16th Street Phase 2

 Replaced chip seal to an overlay at the recommendation of a Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) engineer.

Otta Seal Program

Otta seal is a new product developed by the Norwegian Road Research Laboratory in the Otta Valley, hence the name. Otta is stronger than similar street surfacing and is being used by both the TIB and the county. 

“Douglas County has done some of this,” said Dezellem. “It’s a different oil and different grade of rock, and you do not need a crack seal underneath it.”

Dezellem said the county is urging cities to put in large quantities of the new product. Bridgeport has 11 miles that qualify.

“We are going to submit 5.5 miles under this program,” said Dezellem. “That’s about $450,000 worth, and there is no match required.”

Citywide Crack Seal

“If we don’t get selected for the new-style chip seal, we are going to submit to have crack seal done on all our streets citywide,”

Foster Creek Avenue Pedestrian Lighting

The city adopted an ordinance establishing funding through TIB for the Smart Streets program, which is defined as the integration of technology and data to improve the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of urban transportation systems.

Pearl Hill Road Overlay

Dezellem explained that 1,400 feet of Pearl Hill Road is within city limits that extend to the entrance of the Corps of Engineers project. Douglas County previously maintained it until discovering it was a city street about a decade ago. 

“If we get on the Otta seal, we can include (Pearl Hill) in the 5.5 miles and get it chip sealed,” Dezellem said.

Among the remaining STIP projects are:

• 24th Street and Foster Creek Avenue Sidewalk Project.
• Tenth Street Pedestrian Trail.
• Sixteenth Street Phase 3.

Councilmember Jackie Hentges, who also manages the public pool, asked if a sidewalk could be added between 21st Street, which leads to the pool, and Foster Creek Avenue, three blocks north.
“There are a lot of kids that walk that link that I have noticed more this year,” Hentges said. 

From Foster, 21st crosses Douglas, Monroe, and Tacoma avenues to reach the pool.

Councilmember Matt Schuh also suggested a crosswalk at 21st and Monroe, a popular crossing, as an added safety measure.

“I know they walk up Monroe and then go up 21st,” Schuh said.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media