City earns award for N.E. 36th Street Bridge project

Published 11:19 am Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The City of Redmond received the Best City Award from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for its Northeast 36th Street Bridge project in the Overlake neighborhood.

An award presentation was given at Tuesday’s City Council business meeting and public works director Bill Campbell said, “(The bridge) is our pride and joy … to deliver this project.”

The recognition came as part of the WSDOT’s 2011 Awards of Excellence, which were also presented by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This year’s awarded projects were part of almost 300 projects completed in 2010 and highlight local and community improvements. In addition to Best City, the other categories were Best County, Director’s Award and Best Special Award. The awards recognize enhancements, construction, innovative design, environmental sustainability and community involvement.

Connecting the Overlake neighborhood, the Northeast 36th Street Bridge was recognized for its public-private partnership between the City of Redmond and Microsoft Corp., which funded $17.5 million of the bridge’s $26 million price tag.

The bridge’s landscaping and integrated design for cyclists and pedestrians were also recognized.