Transportation projects in Washington are competing with other projects for labor as well as state funds. An article from The Center Square reports that WSDOT transportation projects have to compete with projects being built by Sound Transit and other entities.
Funding for infrastructure projects is not keeping up with rising costs, according to the article. WSDOT tags rising project costs to material costs, less competition for bids, and labor shortages.
The result is significant cost increases compared to what the Legislature has appropriated, according to the report. For example:
A State Route 522 project was given $554 million in the state budget, but the new estimated cost is $775 million, an increase of 40%.
A State Route 527 improvement project was appropriated $77 million, but is now expected to cost $98 million, 27% more than expected.
A State Route 520 program has already received $1 billion in appropriations, but is projected to need an additional $683 million, almost 70% more than was budgeted.
