Going once, going twice…sold! Although bidders won’t actually hear those words at this auction, they will have an opportunity to purchase a variety of state-owned surplus properties.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is selling 12 parcels of land no longer needed for highway purposes in a sealed-bid auction May 30. Nine other parcels previously offered at auction also are available for sale on a first-come basis for the minimum bid price.

The largest parcel being auctioned, at more than 39 acres, is located in Skagit County near the Whatcom County line. Another parcel sits in a neighborhood on top of the Interstate 90 tunnel in Seattle.  In Yakima, a half-acre site adjacent to I-82 and SR 24 is being offered in the central business district.

All bids, mailed or delivered in person, must be received at the Real Estate Services Office by 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, May 30. Bids received after the deadline will not be accepted or read.

The auction is the first of two that WSDOT will hold this year. Another will take place this fall. In all, WSDOT has identified 283 parcels that may be available for auction over the next six years. Since October 2010 the surplus property program has generated $7.5 million in revenue.

The Legislature directed WSDOT to sell its surplus inventory of property. Revenue generated from the sale goes back to the motor vehicle fund to be used for transportation purposes. Disposing of the property also reduces WSDOT’s liability risk and costs associated with upkeep of the parcels.

To learn more about WSDOT’s bidding procedures, property descriptions, current zoning of the parcels, minimum bid requirements and more, visit the Real Estate Auction web site at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/RealEstate/Auction.