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Issaquah accelerates Newport Way upgrades after additional PSRC construction funds become available
Summary
Issaquah will advance design to combine phases 1 and 2 of the Newport Way (SR 900–SE 54th) corridor project to accept PSRC construction funds and reduce combined construction costs by roughly $7–8 million; council approved a design supplement and funding direction.
The Issaquah City Council authorized a design contract supplement on Aug. 3 to accelerate phase 2 design for the Newport Way corridor project (SR 900 to SE 54th) so the city can accept Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) contingency construction funds and build phases 1 and 2 together in 2027–2029.
Senior transportation engineer Marina Bridal said combining the two phases reduces total construction cost from roughly $27 million (if built separately) to about $20 million and shortens overall construction by approximately one year; she noted the schedule will be constrained and that design, right‑of‑way and permitting will need to move quickly. The improvements include full‑width bike lanes, a 12‑foot multi‑use trail, rechannelization at SR 900 to add two dedicated left‑turn lanes and stormwater and fish‑passage work.
Bridal highlighted grant prospects (PSRC design and right‑of‑way grants awarded earlier) and pending applications for additional grant programs that could cover much of construction. The council unanimously approved a motion to authorize the mayor to execute design supplement No. 4 and to include $548,883.76 in a future Transportation Benefit District budget amendment.
Quotable: “If we had constructed the project in two phases, each phase would take likely about a year and 0.5 to construct. Now that we’re combining them together, overall, the whole project will take approximately two years to construct,” Bridal said.
