By Theresa Goffredo
Herald Writer
EVERETT — City council members Wednesday approved spending $6 million on a controversial overpass intended to speed traffic to and from the waterfront by extending Everett Avenue over railroad tracks.
Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in about two weeks.
The council accepted the low bid from Spokane contractors Max J. Kuney Co. The $6 million covers just the construction costs. The total cost of the project is about $10 million.
The project will create new access to the Port of Everett’s Terminal and Kimberly-Clark complex, and also eliminate at-grade railroad crossings at California Street, Hewitt Avenue and Bond Street, with pedestrian-only crossing at Bond Street.
The council gave unanimous approval to the project, which will take about 18 months and should be completed by July 2003.
"Let’s get the thing built," council member Dale Pope said.
The project is intended to speed freight to and from the port and to ensure that safety vehicles can get to the waterfront even if a train blocks the Burlington-Northern Santa Fe Railroad crossings at Hewitt Avenue and California and Bond streets.
During construction, major traffic delays aren’t anticipated and motorists aren’t expected to be detoured for long periods of time, said Tom Hood, the city’s manager for this project.
The city’s Bayside and Port Gardner residents objected to the overpass, fearing loss of pedestrian access at Bond Street and the loss of Maggie’s Park, a tiny park that commemorates the site of Everett’s first homesteader.
Though pedestrian access is retained at Bond Street, the neighbors lost their fight to preserve the park, much of which will be destroyed, Hood said.
You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097 or send e-mail to
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