Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Officials report phased repairs as Lowell Creek tunnel design moves toward 100%
Summary
City staff told the Seward City Council that the new 18‑ft tunnel is at design milestones with 100% design due in August; $185 million in funding has been secured but full project estimates reach about $400 million, so the Army Corps will phase repairs and do immediate repairs on the existing tunnel in winter months.
City staff updated the Seward City Council on June 22 about the Lowell Creek tunnel project and near‑term work on the existing tunnel.
Public works staff said the proposed new tunnel is an 18‑foot diameter structure (compared with the existing 10‑foot tunnel) and that 100% design is expected in August with a senior review in July. While about $185 million in federal funding has been secured, staff said a full tunnel replacement is estimated near $400 million, so the Army Corps is pursuing a phased approach: repairs to the existing tunnel will be done in the winter months (January–February) when conditions allow, with the larger construction to follow when funding is available.
Council members sought clarification about whether current repair spending comes from the $185 million and how long repaired sections might last without the new tunnel. Staff said the repairs are within the original project scope and that longevity depends on weather and damage; past repairs in 2018–19 were a multi‑year effort.
Staff said the Army Corps’ operations and maintenance responsibility for the tunnel was extended through 2032, avoiding immediate transfer of operations to local government. The city will continue to follow design milestones and funding developments.
