A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Washington Jobs Now - Whatcom County widening project reaches major milestone
Crews began pouring the concrete deck of the SR 539 Nooksack River Bridge in Whatcom County in November 2009. The bridge will be open to traffic in time for the Winter Olympics in February. |
The Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C., start in February and crews in Whatcom County have reached a major milestone that will allow them to open the wider, safer State Route 539 just in time for the games.
Recently, crews finished building the Nooksack River Bridge, a major milestone for the $107 million widening project between Bellingham and Lynden. The unique steel-truss bridge took most of this year to complete.
While bridge construction is complete, it isn’t open to drivers just yet. It will be soon, though. Crews have some guardrail, signs and striping to finish around the bridge and expect to open it in early February.
A steel through-truss bridge like this one is a pretty big deal for our engineers. We haven’t built one since 1986, when we built one US 12 over the Snake River east of Pasco. The last one we built in Whatcom County was in 1971 on I-5 over the Nooksack River in Ferndale.
"It’s been our goal from the beginning to accelerate and open this project before the games,” said project engineer Chris Damitio. “Things are starting to fall into place and we fully expect to have all roundabouts, lanes and bridges open in time so that we're not impeding drivers headed to or coming from the games.”
Many Washingtonians, and probably a few Oregonians and Californians, are expected to flock north across the border for the excitement, and that means we could see an increase in traffic on highways near the border.
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Maintenance and Operations feature - WSDOT to empower drivers with real-time traffic information technology on SR 99
New tools will help keep drivers moving during Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement construction
WSDOT and Seattle Department of Transportation are working together to help keep traffic moving during Viaduct construction. New traffic cameras being installed on SR 99 will allow motorists to check road conditions before they head out. |
Real-time traffic information tools, including new traffic cameras, signal timers and electronic overhead message boards are being installed on SR 99, and major routes leading to SR 99 in Seattle starting this week. The project, called the SR 99 Intelligent Technology Systems Project, is one of the ways in which WSDOT and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are working together to keep traffic moving during construction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement.
Real-time traffic information tools will help keep cars, buses, and freight informed of backups and incidents that may affect traffic:
- An expanded network of traffic cameras up and down the corridor will allow drivers to click and check road conditions before they head out.
- Overhead electronic message signs displaying construction closures, lane status and travel times will provide real-time traffic information on the go.
- Improved signal timing at bustling intersections will more evenly distribute traffic, reducing congestion during busy times.
The project starts at SR 599 just south of S. Boeing Access Road and ends at SR 99 and N. 145th Street in Shoreline. The project is divided into two sections north and south of the Duwamish River. Both sections of the $11.5 million project were awarded to Signal Electric, Inc. from Kent. All of the work will be complete by December 2010, before crews start significant construction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement.
Smarter highways technology and techniques are a vital component of Moving Washington, WSDOT’s statewide strategy for improving mobility. The program uses new tools and technologies to better manage congestion by making our busiest freeways more efficient.
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Update of projects under way
I-5 Ridgefield - Crews closed the right lane of I-5 southbound near Ridgefield on January 12, until noon Friday, January 22 for work that will become part of a new on-ramp from SR 501. During the two-week closure crews will widen the right shoulder and lengthen the existing on-ramp where it connects with I-5. This lays the groundwork for construction of a temporary ramp that will provide continued access to I-5 during permanent ramp construction for the new SR 501 bridge. When fully complete, the permanent ramp from SR 501 to I-5 southbound will be two lanes wide to provide safer and more efficient access to the interstate. The project improves safety and mobility on the interstate, SR 501 and adjacent roads by building a wider bridge to take SR 501 over I-5 and improving the I-5 on-ramps.
SR 16 Tacoma - Major construction on the Westbound Nalley Valley project brings significant impacts to both directions of traffic on SR 16 in Tacoma through Jan. 23. Crews are staging SR 16 to make room for construction of a temporary westbound roadway. Westbound traffic will shift in the vicinity of the former Sprague Avenue on-ramp and crews will stripe the roadway and move barrier, as well as relocate two, illumination poles on SR 16. Weather-dependent roadway striping and concrete barrier shifting requires single-lane closures on westbound SR 16 between the westbound Nalley Valley interchange and Union Avenue. After striping is complete and concrete barrier set, drivers can expect full nighttime closures on westbound SR 16 between the westbound Nalley Valley interchange and Union Avenue. During the closures, westbound traffic will be routed onto a signed detour route. On the eastbound end of the project, crews are getting ready to set girders on the new eastbound off-ramp to Sprague Avenue. Mobilizing a large crane and girder setting affects eastbound travel on SR 16 from Monday, Jan. 18 to Saturday, Jan. 23.
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Announcements
Washington State 2010-2030 Freight Rail Plan identifies statewide freight rail needs
WSDOT has completed the Washington State 2010-2030 Freight Rail Plan as directed by the Washington State Legislature. This plan is a revision to the Washington State Freight Rail Plan 1998 Update.
The Freight Rail Plan will provide guidance for rail initiatives and investments in Washington State over the next 20 years that will:
- Support Washington’s economic competitiveness and economic viability.
- Preserve the ability of Washington’s freight rail system to efficiently serve the needs of its customers.
- Facilitate freight system capacity increases to improve mobility and reduce congestion.
- Take advantage of freight rail’s modal energy efficiency to reduce the negative environmental impact of freight movement in Washington.
The Washington State Freight Rail Plan complies with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements that the state establishes, updates, and revises a rail plan in order to receive federal assistance. The Freight Rail Plan also fulfills state requirements, under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 47.76.220 and RCW 47.06.080, that WSDOT prepare and periodically revise a state rail plan that identifies, evaluates, and encourages essential rail services.
WSDOT awards another stimulus contract to improve safety and drivability on I-5 in Cowlitz and Lewis counties
WSDOT awarded the second tier Recovery Act contract for the I-5, North Kelso to Harrison Avenue – Paving and Safety project to Kerr Contractors, Inc. of Woodburn, Ore., with a winning bid of $6.1 million.
Through this project, crews will pave approximately six miles of I-5 southbound between the Ostrander Creek Bridge and the SR 504 junction in Cowlitz County (mile posts 43 to 50) to extend the life of the roadway, reduce maintenance costs and provide motorists with a safer, smoother drive. Crews will also upgrade guardrail and signing to improve over 13 miles of I-5 in Lewis County. Crews will also install guardrail in multiple locations along 20 miles of I-5, further increasing safety along the interstate corridor in Cowlitz and Lewis counties.
WSDOT added $2.7 million in federal funding to an existing safety and preservation project. Construction is expected to begin in February and be complete in late summer 2010.
WSDOT Lowers Speed Limit on SR 305
The New Year brings the 55 mph speed limit down to 50 mph for drivers in Kitsap County and Bainbridge Island. The reduced speed limit occurs on SR 305 from mileposts 1.09 to 6.20 (.10 miles north of High School Road to Agatewood Road) and between mileposts 7.33 and 10.69 (.14 miles north of Suquamish Way and .27 miles south of Viking Heights Road).
These highway sections consist of two lanes, narrow shoulders, and several driveways and residences. The speed limit reductions come at the request of the community through concurrence with the City of Bainbridge Island and Kitsap County. WSDOT reviewed the area and determined lowering the speed limit increases safety for motorists and pedestrians.
New signs are scheduled for installation along the highway the week of January 18. WSDOT urges motorists to slow down and pay attention to the revised, posted speed limit.
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January meetings
20 & 21, Wednesday & Thursday, 9 a.m - 5 p.m., regular meeting, Washington State Transportation Commission - Olympia: The State Transportation Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting. The Commission provides a public forum for transportation policy development. It reviews and evaluates how the entire transportation system works across the state and issues the state’s 20-year Transportation Plan. As the State Tolling Authority, the Commission sets tolls for state highways and bridges and fares for Washington State Ferries. Location: Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Ave. SE, Olympia, WA.
Express Lane Archive
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