Greenroads Certified Silver

James Street Bridge Replacement and Road Improvements

 

Summary

Owner: City of Bellingham

Contract Price: $3 million
Project Length: .5 miles
Functional Class: Arterial Collector 
Greenroads Score: Silver
Greenroads Rating: 43 (Version 1.5)

Designer: KPFF

Contractor: RAM of Bellingham

Description

The $3 million project replaced two 95-year-old timber bridge structures with a single, 80-foot concrete span with one lane in each direction, dedicated lanes for bikes and sidewalks for pedestrians. The bridge, which carries nearly 12,000 vehicles each day, is now removed from the flood plain.

Crews used recycled content and warm mix asphalt in the approaches.The approaches include a center turn lane. Crews also build access and parking for Sunset Pond Park. Project managers are not only proud of the bridge, but also the new, rechanneled Squalicum Creek.

The rechanneled the creek which now flows under the new bridge improves environmental connectivity and increase salmon habitat. It’s really spectacular at high water.

Project highlights include: 

• 97.23% materials by weight sourced within 100 miles
• 23.5% recycled content, including 15% RAP in the Warm Mix Asphalt and 639,330 pounds of recycled concrete
• 80.0% reuse of existing pavement areas (bridge approaches)
• New class A bike lanes and sidewalk area of 12,123 square feet
• A new visitor access area for the nearby park
• Bridge and roadway together treat and manage 99% of all runoff treated in the upgraded condition
• LED lighting that is Dark Sky Friendly