“We are excited to continue building on our decades-long relationship with the WSDOT, supporting the critical infrastructure needs of one of the Puget Sound region’s busiest highway corridors,” said Matt Crane, Chief Executive of AECOM’s U.S. West region. “Our industry-leading experience spans every type of highway and bridge project, including several of the world’s largest design-build projects. AECOM is committed to support[ing] the program’s goal of creating safer travel and improving mobility, aligning with our core mission of delivering a better world.”
In this role, AECOM will oversee the technical design of two new parallel bridges — one for eastbound traffic and the other for westbound — that replace the 1960s-era Portage Bay Bridge with a seismically stronger structure. The project also will build a landscaped lid over SR 520 between 10th Avenue East and Delmar Drive East and improve regional mobility by completing the SR 520 Program’s transit and HOV enhancements between Redmond and Seattle.
“This vital project will not only improve mobility along one of Washington State’s most congested routes, but [it will also] support new, vibrant public spaces thanks to its innovative lid design,” said Mark Southwell, Chief Executive of AECOM’s global Transportation business. “Our team will leverage their integrated expertise across the built environment to meet the project’s holistic objectives, supporting both improved mobility and a connected, livable local community.”
The eastbound bridge will extend the regional bicycle and pedestrian SR 520 Trail across Portage Bay, connecting to the city of Seattle’s non-motorized trail network. Construction of the landscaped lid over the highway will create nearly three-acres of recreational open space and reconnect communities that were severed by the original construction of SR 520.
