Shoreline council OKs roughly $7.5 million increase for 140th/5th Street corridor construction contract

The Shoreline City Council on June 2 unanimously approved an increase in the city manager’s change‑order authorization for the construction contract with Johansen Construction Company for the 140th Street/5th Avenue corridor and I‑5 interchange project, authorizing an additional $7,476,067.40 and setting a new contract ceiling of about $49.8 million.

The approval follows staff presentations that described cost and schedule impacts during the 2024 construction season caused by unforeseen utility conflicts, permitting and staging changes, and other on‑site conditions. Project staff said they are pursuing reimbursement from utility partners and grant programs but that the city may still face a multi‑million dollar shortfall.

City planning and public‑works staff told the council the project originally went to bid with the low construction bid of $38.2 million and an initial total council authorization of $42.3 million (which included roughly $4.1 million set aside for change orders). Since construction began in April 2024 the city has negotiated about $3.8…