It's only four blocks long, but the Washington Street reconstruction project will likely have a big impact on many drivers throughout much of 2007.

This week the Bismarck engineering department issued plans and specifications for the project, which encompasses Washington from Rosser to Avenue D. Contractor bids are due March 26, with review and possible award of the project by the city commission at its March 27 meeting.

If awarded, city engineer Mel Bullinger expects work to begin in mid- to late April, with early November set as the completion date. The project includes underground work with improvements to sanitary sewer and the water main, along with widening of the street from 30 feet to 40 feet to provide three lanes, including a center turn lane; new curb and gutter; a traffic signal at the intersection of Avenue C; new street lights; and several amenities including special piers denoting the Cathedral Historic District.

"After the award, it takes a couple of weeks to get all the contracts in place. We're hoping to have all the activity wrapped up this year," Bullinger said. "With a November completion date I suspect the contractor will really have to get after it to complete the project on time."

The engineer's estimate is $2 million, including $450,000 for the underground work.

"The city can hold up on the award of the project for 30 days. Say, for some reason, the bid seems higher than estimated, is way out of line, or there are no bids we'll have to regroup and retool," Bullinger said.

The four-block section will be closed to through traffic with detours starting at Boulevard to the north and Rosser to the south taking traffic east to Third Street.

"The street will be open to local traffic, but not for the entire construction. Once they take the pavement off, access will be somewhat temporary," Bullinger said.

The plans allow for the Avenue C crossing of Washington to be closed for only 45 days of the project and cannot start until May 29 nor go beyond Aug. 27.

"A number of people use the intersection to get to schools including Roosevelt, Cathedral and even Bismarck State via Ward Road," Bullinger said.

The driving lanes will be 13 feet in width, while the turn lane will be colored and stamped with a brick pattern as will some of the pedestrian crossings. The entire section will be poured concrete.

"There will be pedestrian level lights along with regular street lights. There's the traffic signal and pedestrian crossing signals. It should be a lot safer environment," Bullinger said.

Property owners along the project likely will be given the opportunity to update their water service lines by petitioning the city, according to Bullinger.

With the street dug up, they can make arrangements with private contractors to replace the old lead pipe lines and have the work assessed to their property. The city will replace those water lines and sanitary sewer up to the property lines as part of the project.

There will be three or four trees earmarked for removal, though most will be left. Bullinger said the city will be able to use a ground penetrating radar, which will help ascertain where tree roots are located, in making a decision on whether the tree will survive the work. The trees will be viewed in a case-by-case basis by the city forester.

Bullinger suspects there will have to be some repair work to Washington prior to construction, with some deep potholes appearing and work still more than a month away.

"That section has taken a real beating and I'll be visiting with public works to see if they can do some patching to get us through," Bullinger said.

There will be a number of high-profile street projects this year in Bismarck including the east Century Avenue project; Valley Drive connecting the Tyler Parkway to Ash Coulee; and paving of Calgary.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)