In keeping with the city of Sammamish’s six-year transportation improvement plan, the initial design contract for the Sahalee Way widening project was awarded this month.

The Sammamish City Council approved May 5 the use of $110,000 for a preliminary design contract with the engineering consulting company, Perteet, Inc.

The contract amount council authorized is $20,000 more than originally proposed, to accommodate the council’s additional inquiries regarding lane configuration, transit pullouts and possible traffic chokeholds.

“I don’t think I’m going to sign a contract for $110,000,” City Manager Ben Yazici told councilmembers. “I just need that flexibility (to work with the contractors).”

This is the first stage of the estimated $16.6 million, three-lane configuration widening project along Sahalee Way Northeast from Northeast 25th Way North to State Route 202, which includes a portion of unincorporated King County.

The county does not have money to address the stretch of road north of Northeast 37th Way, putting the monetary burden on the city of Sammamish.

Councilmember Ramiro Valderrama-Aramayo fears the project costs will slip beyond estimates, referring to unforeseen issues and associated costs with repairs to 212th Way, affectionately referred to as Snake Hill road.

“That $16.6 million, I think, is way underfunded,” he said.

The primary design report is expected to take another look at costs, including an estimate for a five-lane configuration. All lane configuration plans will include sidewalks, bike lanes on either side of the road and a center turn lane or island, where needed, according to city documents.

Extending repairs to the State Route 202 intersection is necessary, Yazici said, because this is one of the key entrances to the city.

“Fixing part of the road is never a good solution, if the whole thing needs fixing,” Councilmember Tom Odell said.

While Odell wants to see the length of the road repaired, he does not want to lose the corridor’s natural character and beauty to functionality.

“I don’t want to make this to look like just another city street,” Odell said.

Councilmember Nancy Whitten echoed these concerns.

Yazici said there are some “competing priorities,” like including bus pullouts along the street.

“There’s always drawbacks,” he said. “Those non-motorized connections on the main arterials, they are important. They are important not only for transit needs, a lot of people are using the transit, but also the safety reasons.”

He said there will be various options outlined in the design report for the council to consider.

The Northeast 28th Place intersection will also be analyzed for either a signal or a roundabout installation.

The first open house to elicit public comment is tentatively scheduled for June; the second, which will likely occur in October, will include the findings from the traffic analysis and the cost analysis.

Staff intend to bring the report back to council in late fall, which will include public comment, before moving forward with the final design contract.

Improving Sahalee Way is part of the city’s concurrency plan, outlined in the comprehensive plan.