City Considers High Drive Guardrail Bid Too Lofty

Plans to put a guardrail along High Drive are on hold while the city of Spokane tries for new bids.

City engineers estimated that adding the guardrail would cost about $65,000, but the only bid on the project came in at $82,000.

The City Council on Monday directed Brad Blegen, construction services director, to ask for new bids.

The city wants to install the guardrail along High Drive in spots where the width is less than 14 feet between the edge of the payment and the dropoff.

The vertical drop from the top of the ridge to the bottom of the bluff is 500 to 550 feet.

City engineers plan to remove 120 concrete posts because they pose a danger to motorists.

Once in place, the guardrail is designed to bend in an accident, reducing the risk of injury.

Plans call for installing 1,015 feet of guardrail in the narrow sections from Manito Boulevard to 29th Avenue.

Money from the project will come from federal road dollars aimed at safety improvements.

Also on Monday, the council:

Established a local improvement district to pave, curb and add sidewalks along Crestline Street from First to Second avenues.

Established a local improvement district to pave Madelia Street from First to Second avenues.

Established a local improvement district to pave, curb and add sidewalks to Lee Street from Second to Pacific avenues.

, DataTimes