The Redmond City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday evening to award a contract for the Northwest Maple Avenue Bridge project for $8.3 million to Vancouver, Wash.-based contractor, Cascade Bridge LLC.

Construction of the three-arch concrete bridge over the Dry Canyon and street improvements, including the installation of a traffic signal at Northwest Maple Avenue and Highway 97, are scheduled to begin in March and be completed by winter 2006, said Chris Doty, interim public works director.

The total estimated cost of the project is $9.7 million.

Council members also voted to designate a portion of Airport Way, between Veterans Way and Southwest 19th Street, as the Cal Butler Veterans Memorial Parkway in honor of the Butler Aircraft founder and World War II veteran who died in 2004.

Two memorial signs honoring Butler will be posted along Airport Way where it intersects Veterans Way and Southwest 19th Street. To prevent confusion for motorists and businesses along Airport Way, the official name of the street will not change, said Mayor Alan Unger.

Council members also got another step closer to finalizing annexation, which is scheduled to go into effect March 1. At Tuesday evening’s meeting, the council unanimously approved a resolution to annex all unincorporated land in the Redmond Urban Growth Boundary. Redmond residents voted to approve annexation in November.