Public works committee forwards WSDOT reimbursable agreement for Tumwater Boulevard/I‑5 interchange to council consent calendar
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Summary
The Tumwater Public Works Committee heard a briefing March 5 on a reimbursable agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation for phased improvements at the Tumwater Boulevard/I‑5 interchange, including two roundabouts. Staff estimated $100,000 in WSDOT review costs per roundabout (about $200,000 total) and said larger interchange work would be phased because full buildout could cost $23–30 million.
The Tumwater Public Works Committee on March 5 reviewed a reimbursable agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) that will cover WSDOT review and inspection for improvements at the Tumwater Boulevard and I‑5 interchange and voted to place the agreement on the March 17 city council consent calendar with a recommendation to approve and authorize the mayor to sign.
Ryan Blazer, an engineer with the transportation engineering department, told the committee the project is broken into phases: a northbound roundabout (phase 1), a southbound roundabout (phase 2) and future bridge improvements (phase 3). He said the work sits inside WSDOT right‑of‑way and will require close coordination with the agency.
Blazer said the draft reimbursable agreement is WSDOT’s standard form and covers reimbursement for WSDOT’s time in reviewing and inspecting the city’s design and construction. "We estimated about a $100,000 per roundabout on the east and west side," he said, adding the agreement for phases 1 and 2 is roughly $200,000 and includes a 25% exceedance provision that has been reviewed by legal staff.
Committee members asked why the city is approaching the work in phases rather than building the full interchange now. Blazer cited cost and schedule constraints, saying phase 1 is partially through design and staff expect to be under construction contract by the end of the year, with phase 2 potentially under contract within a year or two after design.
A staff member identified in the presentation as Brandon said the full interchange, if built at once, would likely cost "in the 23 to $30,000,000 range," and that the city has been charging developers for their pro rata share of impacts as part of the financing strategy. He described the current approach as "bite‑sized projects" intended to match realistic funding opportunities and noted the bridge widening is a longer‑term item that will move forward if grant opportunities arise.
After the briefing and brief questions, Councilmember Jefferson moved to place the reimbursable agreement on the March 17 council consent calendar with a recommendation to approve and authorize the mayor to sign; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.
The agreement will next appear on the March 17 city council consent calendar for final action and execution by the mayor.
