A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Portions of the I-5 D Street Interchange in Blaine will close for 50 days while crews quickly build two new roundabouts.
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Construction season is about kick into high gear in Blaine next week on a $2.8 million federally-funded interchange improvement project. Crews are set to close a portion of the
I-5/D Street interchange
(the last interchange before you reach the Canadian border) on Monday, April 5, for 50 days so they can go full-bore on building two roundabouts.
The closure has been strategically planned to begin after the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia were over and finish before the busy travel/tourist season begins. The 50-day closure will speed up construction and reduce impacts to drivers and local businesses by allowing crews to build the roundabouts quickly and efficiently.
Downtown businesses will remain open and detour routes will be clearly marked to help drivers around the construction.
Detour maps
are available on the WSDOT web site. WSDOT has included incentives and penalties in the contract to encourage the contractor to complete the 50-day closure early.
When the project is complete, the new roundabouts and modifications to I-5 will complement work the General Service Administration has made to the I-5, Peace Arch border crossing. Improvements to I-5 and the interchange will help with traffic flow, pedestrian safety, and inspections at the border crossing, while meeting current highway safety standards.
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On their sixth day of clearing, the crew was working in Spiral Gulch and Liberty Bell areas of the North Cascades Highway.
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WSDOT crews have started the annual spring snow removal operations on North Cascades, Cayuse and Chinook mountain passes.
The snow-clearing effort to reopen the
North Cascades Highway
began on March 22. They found lower-than-normal snow levels, which should make for a faster-than-usual opening. In late February when crews assessed snow levels on North Cascades Highway, the pavement within the first nine-mile section above the west side gate had already melted. Reduced snow levels were the norm in all parts of the state with Snoqualmie Pass receiving only 234 inches of snow this season compared to an average of 461 inches over the last four years. The North Cascades Highway was closed for the season on Nov. 17, 2009. Last spring, the highway reopened on April 24.
Similar work is under way or planned for Washington's other seasonally-closed mountain passes. Crews began clearing snow and avalanche debris from Cayuse Pass on SR 123 on March 30. Efforts to clear
Chinook Pass
on SR 410 are scheduled to begin in mid-April.
WSDOT maintenance crews are using plows and snow blowers to clear away tons of snow and debris that has accumulated on the passes since they were closed for the season on November 8, 2009. The west side maintenance crew from Greenwater will clear Cayuse Pass and then begin working its way up Chinook Pass to eventually meet up with the east side crew out of Rimrock. If weather allows, WSDOT plans to have Cayuse Pass open for traffic on Thursday, April 15 and Chinook Pass open by Friday, May 28.
Weather changes quickly at these high elevation passes and heavy spring snow storms can stop the clearing work. WSDOT closes each pass for winter due to high avalanche risk and hazardous conditions. Both passes have numerous slide areas that pose significant danger to WSDOT maintenance crews and park staff.
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US 2 Spokane
- Crews from Inland Asphalt Co. of Spokane will begin work on the intersection of
US 2 and Elk-Chattaroy Road
, north of Spokane on April 5. This project improves intersection safety and sight distance for motorists. Crews will remove the existing right-turn lane and highway shoulder on northbound US 2 at Elk-Chattaroy Road for roadway widening. They will then rebuild the right-turn lane and shoulder, creating a new offset right-turn lane that will provide better visibility for drivers on Elk-Chattaroy Road. The project is expected to be complete by mid-May.
US 12 Yakima County
- Crews are beginning work to form the decks of two new bridges over the
Tieton River
in Yakima County. This project is located on US 12, 10 miles west of the US 12 and SR 410 junction. The project replaces two structurally deficient bridges. The new longer and wider spans are being built adjacent to the older bridges. Blasting work, needed to create space to realign US 12, has been completed.
SR 203 Fall City to Monroe
- WSDOT is making targeted safety improvements to reduce the risk of collisions along the
SR 203 corridor
. Crews are working to reduce the risk of run-off-the-road collisions by installing rumble strips and guardrails along 24 miles of SR 203 between Fall City and Monroe. The project includes adding a two-way left-turn lane between North High Rock Road and Tualco Road to reduce the risk of rear-end collisions and collisions involving turning drivers. We will also add a southbound right turn lane at 203rd Street SE, and update striping and signing throughout the project area.
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Family members join state officials to dedicate the Kollin Nielson Memorial Bridge in Kirkland
Sara and Luke Nielson talk with WSP Captain Steve Burns during the I-405 Kollin Nielson Memorial Bridge dedication event.
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Family, friends and co-workers from around the country joined state and local officials on March 26 to remember a transportation construction worker who was killed by a drunk driver in June 2007. The State Transportation Commission renamed the I-405 bridge over NE 116th Street in Kirkland last year, and during the ceremony they dedicated the bridge in memory of Kollin Nielson. The dedication serves as a somber reminder of how dangerous working in a construction zone can be.
A husband and father, Nielson was killed while working on the Interstate 405 Kirkland widening project. Nielson, described by co-workers as a kind-hearted and loving friend, was only 30 years old and an employee of Kiewit Construction Company.
“We want drivers to slow down and pay attention when driving through
work zones
," said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. "The men and women who work on our state and local roadways are working in and near traffic, and we want everyone to return home safely to their families at the end of the work day."
Sen. Rodney Tom originally proposed the resolution to rename the bridge. The dedication event featured the Kirkland Police Department Color Guard and the Washington State Patrol’s Mobile Impaired Driving Unit.
WSDOT extends studded tire removal deadline through April 10
Due to the threat of more severe winter weather forecast for the Cascade mountain range, WSDOT extended the deadline to remove studded tires through April 10. Drivers must remove their studded tires by 12:01 a.m., Sunday April 11.
Washington State Patrol troopers enforce a $124 fine for those who use studded tires after the deadline. No one can guarantee ice and snow-free roadways, so WSDOT encourages drivers, especially those heading into the higher elevations, to plan ahead and drive for conditions.
On the
WSDOT Winter Driving Web
site, you can find ways to prepare for winter driving, winter driving tips, plus more about WSDOT’s winter roadway operations, snow and ice removal and avalanche control.
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6, Tuesday, 4 - 7 p.m., Open house, I-90 Construction - Cle Elum:
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 lane restrictions, as well as provide helpful tools to use when planning trips over the pass. Location: Cle Elum Roslyn Elementary, Multi-purpose room, 2696 SR 903, Cle Elum.
7, Wednesday, 10 - 11 a.m., Groundbreaking, SR 510 Yelm Loop - Yelm:
WSDOT will join local officials and community members for a groundbreaking event, marking the first stage of construction for the new
SR 510 Yelm Loop
. Stage 1 of this project builds a new roadway from Mud Run Road to Cullens Road. Construction is scheduled to begin mid-April. Location: Mud Run Road, Yelm.
Express Lane Archive
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