A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Washington Jobs Now - Crews blast their way to safety on SR 14
Crews prepare the SR 14 work zone for blasting that will take place in the weeks ahead. |
Rock blasting and scaling may sound like dangerous activities for a safety project, but that’s exactly what WSDOT’s contractor on an SR 14 safety improvement project will be doing this spring and summer.
The SR 14 Rockfall Mitigation White Salmon Vicinity project removes loose rock, unstable soil and debris from slopes above SR 14 to reduce the risk of rocks falling onto the highway. Though the project is named for the White Salmon area, there are actually two work zones within the project limits: one near Carson, just east of the Dog Mountain trailhead (milepost 54) and one near White Salmon (milepost 64).
Crews have spent the last few weeks installing rockfall protection fences, excavating slopes and preparing the work zones for rock blasting and scaling. A lot of effort goes into preparing the sites; WSDOT must ensure the safety of everyone in the work zone, including drivers, work crews and trains on nearby railroad tracks.
Throughout the spring, crews near Dog Mountain will use carefully engineered “charges” planted deep in the slope above SR 14 to blast away 22,000 cubic yards of rock and dirt. For safety reasons, crews must close SR 14, the Dog Mountain trail and the trailhead parking lot during blasting work, which will occur several times from March 29 through June 14.
Scaling work and installation of wire mesh fencing on the slope near Dog Mountain also requires pre-scheduled closures of SR 14 from June 15 to September 2.
Rock scaling above SR 14 at White Salmon started March 25. For the next 30 working days crews will close SR 14 just east of the SR 141 Alternate junction between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. A local detour is available using SR 141 through White Salmon and Bingen. Work and closures near White Salmon are expected to be complete in May.
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Maintenance & Operations feature - Go Orange for work zone safety
Nathan, son of a WSDOT employee, goes orange for highway worker safety awareness. |
WSDOT is gearing up for Work Zone Safety Awareness next month, April 19 - 23. In preparation, we're asking people and businesses to show their support by participating in Go Orange! Just post a photo of you, or you and friends Going Orange for Work Zone Safety on our:
WSDOT Go Orange Flickr Site
WSDOT Facebook page
Tell us why you are Going Orange for Work Zone Safety. Be creative, have fun, show your support.
Businesses can participate too. Just post a photo of your employees, or turn your building orange. If you send us a logo, we can list your business on our “Who’s In” page. See how businesses can turn their building orange on the How to Participate page.
Since 1950, 57 WSDOT employees have lost their lives in work zone-related activities. More than 5,500 Washington drivers, passengers and roadway workers were injured in work zone incidents since 2000. These men and women work just feet from live traffic, from distracted drivers. These workers include not only WSDOT workers; but hundreds of city, county and private contractors out there. These workers could be your family, friends, the moms or dads of your child's friends, the people down the street or the sports coach.
Work zone safety matters because drivers who drive safely through work zones protect themselves, their families and road workers. Show your support and Go Orange!
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Update of projects under way
I-5 Pierce & Thurston counties - Construction, lane closures and congestion will become all too familiar at night and on weekends this spring and summer as WSDOT and its contractor, Penhall Company, replaces concrete panels and smooths I-5 from Lacey to Tacoma. Crews will replace 295 broken concrete panels, install more than 56,700 dowel bars to tie concrete panels together, and grind smooth about 25.5 lane miles between Martin Way in Lacey and 48th Street in Tacoma. The work begins the week of March 29 and is expected to continue through September. This $8.4 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded project will support an estimated 86 jobs.
SR 27 Whitman County - Contractors crews will begin work on State Route 27 next week to replace the Pine Creek Bridge and improve the adjacent roadway on March 29. The project is located about half way between Oakesdale and Tekoa in northeastern Whitman County. Crews will replace the structurally deficient timber bridge with a concrete girder structure. In addition, the adjacent roadway grade will be raised to eliminate flood-related seasonal road closures. The entire project should be completed in the 2010 construction season.
SR 519 Seattle - Crews working for WSDOT are on schedule to open the S. Royal Brougham Way Bridge on April 12. The work is part of the SR 519 Intermodal Access Project. In this project crews are building the S. Royal Brougham Way Bridge and a new I-90/I-5 off-ramp to S. Edgar Martinez Drive/S. Atlantic Street. The off-ramp will open in late April or early May. These improvements will create a safer SR 519 for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, and move freight, daily commuters, sports fans and ferry travelers faster through the corridor. The project will be complete before major road construction begins this summer to replace the southern mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct between S. Holgate and S. King streets.
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Announcements
B.C., Washington State Improve Cross-Border Travel
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond and WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond announced an extension of the second Amtrak Cascades train service between Vancouver and Seattle, as well as measures to reduce wait times at border crossings on March 23.
The second daily Amtrak Cascades train began service on Aug. 19, 2009 as a pilot project, running through the end of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. During the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Amtrak Cascades train service carried over 11,000 passengers. The Canada Border Services Agency has since agreed to extend the provision of border clearance services for the second Amtrak train through the end of September 2010.
Investments to more efficiently move people and goods through the border crossings were also discussed. This includes $7 million in U.S. federal Coordinated Border Infrastructure funding for Washington State to upgrade the Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) for Interstate 5 between Bellingham and the border in Blaine. The ATIS provides real-time information on wait times at border crossings, allowing motorists the option to select an alternate crossing. British Columbia will explore partnering opportunities to expand the ATIS in British Columbia to include the Aldergrove/Lynden (Hwy 13) and Huntingdon/Sumas (Hwy 11) border crossings. In B.C., the ATIS is currently in place at the Peace Arch (Hwy 99) and Pacific (Hwy 15) border crossings only. All four crossing in Washington State are served by ATIS.
WSDOT Ferries Division spring schedule begins Sunday, March 28
WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) will begin operating its spring sailing schedule on Sunday, March 28. Features of the 2010 spring schedule include re-opening of the international route, increased service on some routes and changes to sailing times on the Point Defiance/Tahlequah route. WSF is also introducing a system to officially report line-cutters.
WSF resumes service with one round trip per day between Anacortes and Sidney, B.C. on the 124-car Chelan. To make reservations for travel on this route, visit the WSF Web site or call 511. Other service increases with the spring schedule include:
- Weekend inter-island service in the San Juan Islands resumes after the winter hiatus.
- Restores eight hours of mid-day service Monday through Thursday between Anacortes and the San Juan Islands.
- Resumes weekend three-boat service on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route (the third boat will operate eight hours a day on Saturday and Sunday).
WSF has also made adjustments to afternoon and evening sailing times on the Point Defiance/Tahlequah route in efforts to improve transit connections and on-time performance.
WSF is also joining WSDOT’s HERO program to give ferry customers a way to officially report line-cutters. Starting March 28, drivers who witness someone cutting into a ferry line can call 877-764-HERO (4376) and submit the line cutter’s license plate number and state of origin. An education letter and brochure will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. If a second complaint is logged, the registered owner’s information will be forwarded to the Washington State Patrol. A ticket for line cutting costs $124.
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Meetings and events
30, Tuesday, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Regional Contracting Forum - Seattle: WSDOT will join city, county, transit, port and other state and federal government agencies in sponsoring a forum for contractors, consultants and suppliers interested in public contracting opportunities. Agency representatives will be available to answer questions and provide information regarding their agency's solicitation, contracting and award processes. Small businesses, including minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises are encouraged to attend. For more details and registration information, visit: http://www.kingcounty.gov/contractforum. Location: Washington State Convention & Trade Center, Seattle.
31, Wednesday, 4 - 7 p.m., Open house, I-90 Construction - Snoqualmie Pass: WSDOT will begin building approximately $130 million in projects this spring and summer on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass. The lane restrictions associated with the construction projects will affect travel for thousands of freight trucks and passenger vehicles using this vital cross-state route on a daily basis. WSDOT encourages the public to attend our I-90 construction open houses where WSDOT staff will answer questions about closures and lanes restrictions, as well as provide helpful tools to use when planning trips over the pass. Location: Summit Lodge, Summit 1 & 2, 603 SR 906, Snoqualmie Pass.
April
1, Thursday, 3:30 - 6 p.m., Open house, I-90 Construction - Easton: WSDOT will begin building approximately $130 million in projects this spring and summer on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass. The lane restrictions associated with the construction projects will affect travel for thousands of freight trucks and passenger vehicles using this vital cross-state route on a daily basis. WSDOT encourages the public to attend our I-90 construction open houses where WSDOT staff will answer questions about closures and lanes restrictions, as well as provide helpful tools to use when planning trips over the pass. Location: Easton Community School, Multi-purpose room, 1893 Railroad Street, Easton.
Express Lane Archive
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