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Spokane Valley council rejects all bids for Pines Road BNSF grade‑separation project, orders re-bid
Summary
Council voted 5-1 to reject all bids for the Pines Road BNSF grade separation after staff flagged multiple bid irregularities and a pending protest; staff plans to re-advertise with a target award in August and a September groundbreaking.
The Spokane Valley City Council voted 5-1 Tuesday to reject all bids for the Pines Road BNSF grade‑separation project and authorize a new call for bids, city staff said.
The move comes after review of four submitted bids found “irregularities” and the city received multiple bid protests, Robert Blagan, Spokane Valley public works director, told the council. At least one bidder has signaled intent to seek redress in court, which staff said could delay the project beyond this construction season and increase cost and public inconvenience.
“If council approves rejection of all bids, staff plans to publish the bid notification in the paper tomorrow morning and advertise the project on Friday, July 18,” Blagan said, adding that the city would open bids on Friday, Aug. 8, and target award at the Aug. 19 council meeting. He said a successful award would shift groundbreaking into September.
Members of the public asked for more detail before the vote. “It would really be nice as part of the citizenry here just to know what these irregularities might have been,” Mike Dolan said during public comment. City Manager John Homan told the council the project is “well along in the process,” and that there is no risk to project funding.
The council approved the rejection motion 5-1. Councilmembers did not read individual roll‑call votes into the record; the council clerk recorded the 5‑1 tally.
Because of the protests and at least one stated intent to pursue legal options, staff recommended re‑advertising rather than proceeding with award and risking litigation that could delay construction and raise costs. The resolution authorizing rejection and re‑advertisement directs staff to relaunch the bidding process and return to council for award.
The project is intended to provide a rail grade separation on Pines Road at the BNSF crossing; council and staff said the work would also eliminate the existing highway signal at that crossing once completed. The council did not set a new construction start date beyond the schedule laid out by staff.
Council discussion was limited; the motion passed after public comment and staff explanation. Councilmembers did not attach additional conditions to the re‑bid schedule.
