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Snohomish County Council OKs $3.96 million award for Swamp Creek Bridge replacement
Summary
The council voted 5-0 to authorize the county executive to award a $3,958,000 contract to Johansen Construction for the Swamp Creek Bridge No. 503 replacement; the award exceeds the engineer's estimate by 26.84% and requires special council approval under county code.
Snohomish County Council on Jan. 14 approved a motion authorizing the county executive to accept a $3,958,000 bid from Johansen Construction Company for the Swamp Creek Bridge No. 503 replacement, a structure that carries Locust Way across Swamp Creek east of Bridal. The vote was 5-0.
Council staff said the bid, filed as PW24-301, was the lowest responsive offer among 10 bidders but exceeded the project engineer's estimate by 26.84%, triggering the county's special-approval requirement. Deb Evanston Bell, council staff, told the council the procurement must follow Snohomish County Code 3.04.0.165 because the recommended award is more than 10% over the engineer's estimate and that departmental justification for the higher award is included in the ECAF (electronic clerk authorization form).
The staff report said the project appears in the county's adopted 2025–2032 capital program under project number F54. The replacement includes federal Department of Transportation funding; staff reported the Federal Highway Administration has approved 100% funding of the federal-aid portion of the work with the increased bid amount. Johansen Construction was described in the staff presentation as the lowest responsive bidder meeting all procurement requirements.
A council member moved and seconded the motion to approve motion 25-048. After a brief call for discussion, the council voted in favor; the clerk counted the vote as 5 to 0 in favor. The roll call at the start of the session showed Council Chair Nearing, Vice Chair Dunne, Council Member Lowe, Council Member Mead and Council Member Peterson present.
The county executive is authorized to sign the bid award recommendation and proceed with contract award under the terms presented to the council. The staff report and ECAF include the departmental justification for awarding over the engineer's estimate; the transcript does not specify construction start dates or the portion of project costs covered by federal versus local funds.
