The Anacortes City Council authorized a $301,413.21 contract modification on Nov. 17 for the 12th & Commercial (Safeway) intersection improvement project after staff reported unexpectedly poor soil conditions that require deeper signal‑pole foundations.

Public Works staff explained that pole foundations needed to be significantly deeper than bid documents anticipated because of silty, organic soils and groundwater in the area. “The poles need to be 25 feet deep ... which is why a contract mod is needed,” project staff said.

Staff said the project is funded with $1,750,000 in state grants and that the remaining costs will be paid from the REIT fund. Council moved to authorize the mayor to sign the contract modification and voted to increase the contract price to $2,431,276.72, approving the additional $301,413.21.

What’s next: The contract modification will be executed and staff will continue construction oversight. Council members thanked staff for the supplemental documentation explaining the need for the change.

(Reporting based on Nov. 17 council presentation and vote.)