PrelimPlansTransmittal Letter_OR FH ERFO 2007(1)-11(1) Highway 35 Betterment.pdf

610 East Fifth Street Vancouver, WA 98661-3801

(360) 619-7520 FAX: (360) 619-7932

Western Federal Lands Highway Division

NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS

OR FS ERFO 2007(1)-11(1)

Highway 35 Betterment Solicitation No. DTFH70-09-B-00019

The attached preliminary plans are being furnished to aid prospective bidders in identifying the location and type of work for this project. The project will be advertised during a period when viewing of the project is not possible due to snow. Therefore, prospective bidders are encouraged to view the project during fall as conditions permit. No Federal Highway Administration personnel will be available for show-me tours.

While it is not required, we highly recommend that you videotape the entire project for your use during the estimating phase.

The project is located in Hood River County, Oregon on Oregon Highway 35 approximately 30 miles south of Hood River, Oregon. Coming from Hood River the project begins approximately one-quarter mile beyond the bridge crossing the East Fork Hood River (MP 68.6).

The projects consist of two distinct work segments, the Clark-Newton Section and the White River Section.

Clark-Newton Section – This section begins at MP 68.6 and continues approximately

2.9 miles to the Teacup Recreational Area. Work consists of grading, drainage, base, paving, riprap, and structures. There is one single-span bridge across Clark Creek and seven large concrete box culverts for drainages crossing Hwy 35. The project will raise the grade of the road approximately four feet throughout most of the project length. No work will be done on the bridge crossing the dry Newton Creek channel at MP 68.0. The Clark Creek Sno-Park will be decommissioned and wetland restoration of the area will be part of the project.

White River Section – This section is also located on Highway 35 beginning approximately one-quarter of a mile before Forest Service Road 48 (MP 62.4) and continuing across the White River (MP 62.0) approximately 1 mile (MP 61.2), which is approximately one-half mile beyond the entrance to the Boy Scout Camp. Work consists of grading, drainage, base, paving, riprap, and structures. There is a three-span bridge across White River, a two-span bridge across Green Apple Creek (MP 62.1) and large

October 1, 2009

Preliminary Plans Transmittal Letter

OR FS ERFO 2007(1)-11(1)

culverts at North Mineral Creek (MP 61.8) and South Mineral Creek (MP 61.6). The project will raise the grade of the road approximately 15-feet above the current White River bridge. Debris material from previous White River events, above and below the bridge, will be used to construct embankments on both sections. Aggregate for base, paving, and rip-rap will come from the Tamarack Quarry, located near Trillium Lake, approximately 8 miles from the project site.

The project is designed using US Customary Units for measurement and references the Standard Specifications for Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects, FP-03, US Customary Units.

The project is approximately 4,000 feet in elevation and has a limited construction season, usually from mid-June to mid-October. This project is anticipated to take two construction seasons to complete.

Highway 35 is an important freight route for the State of Oregon and the Northwest. Through traffic must be maintained at all times. Cumulative construction-caused delays to public traffic must be limited to no more than 30 minutes. Cumulative delay is the total delay caused by construction related operations along the entire project length. Temporary lane widths must accommodate large highway vehicles. During winter closures all recreational facilities must have full access. In addition, construction equipment and materials must be removed from the roadside, Sno-Parks, and parking lots.

Requests for technical information about this project will only be accepted in writing (by FAX or email). Send questions to:

Fax: 360.619.7932; OR Email: plans_spec@dot.gov (plans_spec@dot.gov)

Should you have general questions, please contact our office at wfl.contracts@dot.gov or at 360.619.7520.

Solicitation documents are tentatively scheduled to be available on FedBizOpps (FBO) in March 2010 with a tentative Notice to Proceed occurring in June 2010. Please monitor FBO or our Western Federal Lands webpage http://www.wfl.fhwa.dot.gov/contracting/construction/ for actual date of solicitation release. To receive automatic notification through FBO, select the “Add to Watchlist” box and follow the steps.

Thank you for your interest in our projects.