Council extends Renton Avenue South bridge closure, approves corridor and seaplane‑base contracts

The Renton City Council on Monday approved a resolution extending the temporary full closure of the Renton Avenue South bridge over Interstate 405 until May 22, 2025, and concurred with committee recommendations to authorize several transportation and airport engineering contracts.

The actions, moved and seconded in committee and adopted by the full council, include a $331,154.68 supplemental agreement with Transpo Group USA for construction management on the South Street/South Seventh Street Corridor Improvement Project, and two engineering agreements with Mott MacDonald: $481,900.90 for dredging engineering services (the council noted FEMA will reimburse that work) and $293,600 for design of the dock and ramp at the Renton Municipal Seaplane Base damaged in the February 2020 flood.

The extension of the Renton Avenue South bridge closure was presented by the Transportation Aviation Committee as a windowed extension that moves the closure expiration from Feb. 28 to May 22. Council Member Garvin acknowledged the inconvenience to residents near the bridge and said officials are seeking a presentation from the Washington State Department of Transportation so the public can ask questions in March. "No one is excited about any form of extension, certainly not those who live on Renton Hill and are affected by this directly," Garvin said.

Committee motions to concur with staff recommendations were moved and seconded by council members in committee and were carried by voice vote at the council meeting; no roll‑call tallies were recorded on the meeting transcript. Council members emphasized that the corridor project is complex, that WSDOT cited drawing discrepancies and supply issues for delays, and that finishing the bridge work remains a priority for local traffic reliability.

The Mott MacDonald agreements were described as engineering services to repair seaplane‑base facilities damaged in the February 2020 flood; the transcript records council members stating FEMA will reimburse the dredging engineering cost. The Transpo Group supplemental agreement funds additional construction management for a corridor improvement intended to increase capacity and safety on South Street/South Seventh Street.

The council's motions were procedural endorsements of committee recommendations; specific contractor scopes and start dates were not specified in the meeting record. The council indicated it is working to arrange a WSDOT presentation in March for more detailed public information and questioning.

Aides to the council and city staff will process contract execution consistent with the council's concurrence.