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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bid selected to replace Sullivan Road bridge

The aging Sullivan Road bridge carrying southbound traffic over the Spokane River is getting replaced.

Max J. Kuney Co. was selected by Spokane Valley from a field of four bidders for the estimated 18- to 22-month project. The Spokane-based company’s $12.31 million bid was the lowest of the four.

The bridge, built in 1951, is considered a critical commerce route but authorities imposed weight restrictions in 2011 because of deterioration, then spent about $350,000 on temporary repairs a year later while seeking state and federal grants to help pay for its eventual replacement. About a quarter of the nearly 30,000 daily vehicle crossings are commercial trucks, many of them traveling between industrial areas north of the river and Interstate 90.

The city and the company are still sorting out specific scheduling but work is expected to begin by late summer or early fall, with estimated completion in 2016. Total cost of the project, including earlier expansion of nearby Sullivan Park, is $15.6 million, of which about $13.3 million is being covered by state and federal transportation grants.

Spokane Valley Public Works Director Eric Guth said the winning bid was below the city’s estimated project cost.

Also bidding for the project was Garco Construction Inc., $12.35 million; West Company Inc., $12.85 million; and Apollo Inc., $13.44 million.

The city sought two rounds of bidding on the project after what was described as a clerical error in the low bid invalidated the first round in June. The Spokane Valley City Council approved the Kuney bid last week.