News Release Archive

Paving Contract Awarded at Grand Coulee Dam

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Craig Sprankle, csprankle@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: June 12, 2006

The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $2.7 million contract for extensive road repair and paving work at Grand Coulee Dam in eastern Washington to Cates & Erb, Inc. of Omak, Wash.

The work will include repairing, resurfacing, sealing, striping, and drainage work on a number of roads, trails, and parking lots in work and public areas surrounding Grand Coulee Dam located on the Columbia River.

"The road repairs adjacent to Grand Coulee Dam will help to ensure the safe operation of the facility itself as well as the safety of the traveling public coming to visit the dam," said Reclamation Acting Commissioner William Rinne.

The most noticeable public area work will be the repair, grinding, resurfacing, and sealing of a two-mile section of State Highway 155 that passes the dam. The walking trail adjacent to this section of highway and several public parking areas along the road will also be paved and the accessibility improved as well as the road and parking at North Dam Park on Banks Lake.

An access road to the Belvedere Boat Launch Ramp on the Columbia River downstream of the dam, which was damaged in a flash flood several years ago, will be repaired and paved.

Grand Coulee Dam is a key feature of Reclamation's Columbia Basin Project in Washington and is the largest hydroelectric producer in the United States. A multi-purpose project, it provides flood control, irrigation, hydropower production, recreation, stream flows, and fish and wildlife benefits.

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