A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Washington Jobs Now - Key economic lifeline restored in downtown Tacoma
This stretch of SR 509 in Tacoma has returned to two lanes in each direction and a 60 mph speed limit. |
Drivers in Tacoma have one less work zone to navigate as WSDOT completes an eight-month project to repair the SR 509 Puyallup River Bridge.
WSDOT and contractor Granite Construction Company of Everett have finished replacing 14 girders and repairing columns on the bridge. During a full closure of SR 509 in Tacoma May 8, crews restored the roadway to its normal four-lane configuration and lifted the 35 mph speed reduction. The speed limit has been returned to 60 mph.
In December 2002, a rail car caught fire under the bridge. Intense heat from the blaze damaged a portion the bridge. After bridge engineers inspected the damage, their assessment resulted in a weight restriction on the bridge and temporary repairs to some piers and girders.
WSDOT awarded the $2.9 million construction contract to Granite Construction Company in June 2009 and crews began permanent repairs to the span in October 2009. Funding came from a settlement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe and existing funds.
To keep traffic moving during construction for the nearly 32,000 drivers who use SR 509 daily, crews reduced a segment of the four-lane bridge to one lane in each direction and reduced the speed limit from 60 mph to 35 mph. Motorists also faced seven full-weekend closures of the roadway.
“They have been extremely patient, and we thank them for using extra caution and driving safely through the work zone during this project,” said WSDOT Region Administrator Kevin Dayton.
Crews are completing final repairs and inspections beneath the bridge deck. Weight restrictions will be lifted when repairs are complete.
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Maintenance & Operations Feature - Is spring finally here?
A WSDOT truck equipped for lane striping. |
For WSDOT crews, the transition from winter to spring is no walk on the beach. Washington’s spring weather can be unpredictable, so WSDOT crews are hesitant to remove plows and liquid anti-icer off the trucks too soon. The snow storm in early May that struck Washington’s three most traveled mountain pass highways is an example of our quirky seasons. However, when forecasts call for extended dry weather, the snowplows come off and our trucks are equipped for the summer season.
WSDOT crews use dry-weather days to prioritize those roadways and roadsides most in need of repair from winter highway damage such as cracks, potholes and faded lane markings. Crews then take to the road patching, painting and even pruning. Not only do we maintain the roadway surface, but we also maintain roadside vegetation. Roadside maintenance crews mow, trim and plant along the highway roadside to improve traffic visibility and control noxious weeds.
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Update of projects underway
SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge – WSDOT’s Bridge Preservation Office is conducting federally required inspections on the Hood Canal Bridge. The inspections, which include a review of all systems, are standard for all moveable bridges in Washington. The bridge is scheduled to close to traffic from 2:30-3 p.m. weekdays until Thursday, May 27. Overnight closures are scheduled on May 14 to May 15 and May 21 to May 22, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
I-5 Seattle - Traffic engineers have started testing the high-tech traffic management system, Smarter Highways, to ensure it is ready before they activate the new system later this summer. Drivers headed on northbound I-5 between Boeing Access Road and I-90 may notice test messages filling up the new electronic signs with text and numbers. This phase of testing will run mid-day during the week and continue through May.
I-5 Lakewood - WSDOT’s contractor, Penhall Company will move all traffic on southbound I-5 near Lakewood onto the highway shoulder for concrete panel rehabilitation work starting Friday night, May 14, and continuing to Sunday morning, May 16. This will be one of the two most difficult weekends for travelers through Tacoma while crews complete the $8.4 million I-5 from Martin Way in Lacey to 48th Street in Tacoma concrete repair project that started in March. Engineers expect backups to be at their height Saturday and encourage drivers to avoid the area from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
US 395 Spokane - Crews will start work on a paving project on Division Street in north Spokane on May 17. The job consists of resurfacing the paved sections of US 395 from the Spokane City Limits at the US2/US 395 “Y” intersection to the Stevens County line north of Deer Park. This project is a part of WSDOT’s pavement preservation program. The 19-mile roadway surface is deteriorating as a result of routine wear and tear. The surface will be ground out and replaced with a new layer of asphalt. In addition, there will be some guardrail, sidewalk, and signage upgrades. The five-mile, concrete surfaced highway segment between the Little Spokane River and Fender Road is not part of the job. The project should be fully completed by mid to late August. The paving work is dependent on the weather. Wet, cool conditions may cause delays to paving operations.
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Announcements
WSDOT announces plan to review environmental studies for Point Defiance high speed rail project
WSDOT announced on May 10 it will conduct a project-specific Environmental Assessment (EA) of the $91 million Point Defiance Bypass project, working closely with other agency and community stakeholders.
WSDOT has invited representatives from Sound Transit, Pierce County, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the cities of Lakewood and DuPont to be part of an advisory team that will review and comment on updates to environmental work and analyses produced by the project team. This structure supports coordinated decision-making between the agencies and provides multiple opportunities and resources to identify and resolve potential roadblocks.
The Point Defiance Bypass project proposes to reroute passenger trains to an existing rail line along the west side of I-5 through south Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont. Currently, passenger trains share the freight route along the coastline around Point Defiance. The completed project will result in more frequent and reliable passenger rail service between Seattle and Portland and free up the congested freight rail line, ultimately improving access to Washington ports and business.
Earlier this year, WSDOT received $590 million in High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail grant funding to accomplish a series of passenger rail service improvements along the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor. The grant funding was part of $8 billion made available through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The passenger rail grants are administered by the Federal Railroad Administration.
WSDOT Launches SR 520 Electronic Tolling Public Outreach Campaign
WSDOT has launched a campaign to inform the public about all electronic tolling on SR 520, which will begin in spring 2011. The agency was tasked by the Legislature to provide information to the public on how electronic tolling will work and the easiest way for bridge users to make toll payments. The public outreach campaign is funded from a federal Urban Partnership grant focused on addressing congestion in the SR 520 corridor.
The campaign uses a variety of tools to inform the public, including community outreach; radio, newspaper and billboard advertising; and new website content. Over the next year, WSDOT speakers will brief community and business groups throughout the region on the program. SR 520 drivers are encouraged to sign up for an interest list to stay current on tolling developments. Interest list subscribers will receive regular announcements about rates, account options, special offers, and customer service resources. Subscribers will also be able to sign up for an account early next year.
In spring 2011, SR 520 will become the first bridge in Washington to use all-electronic tolling, reducing potential bottlenecks and allowing drivers to maintain highway speeds by eliminating traditional toll booths. It will use Good To Go!, WSDOT’s statewide electronic toll payment system already in place on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and SR 167 HOT lanes.
SR 504 Spirit Lake Memorial Highway opens May 15
The scenic byway, also known as Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, will open just in time for visitors to tour Mount St. Helens for the 30th anniversary of its eruption. WSDOT crews plan to reopen the highway east of Hummocks Trailhead (milepost 45) at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 15.
The highway has been closed since mid-December 2009 due to heavy snowfall. WSDOT closes this section of SR 504 each year due to hazardous snow conditions and the possibility of avalanches. The roadway reopens in the spring when weather conditions improve.
Snow accumulation in the south Washington Cascades is not unusual this time of year, and drivers on SR 504 should be prepared for winter driving conditions.
WSDOT awards contract to replace southern mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct
WSDOT awarded Skanska USA Civil the construction contract of the SR 99 S. Holgate Street to S. King Street: Stage 2 project. When complete in 2013, the southern mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be replaced with a new side-by-side roadway that meets current earthquake standards, has wider lanes and improves mobility for people and goods in the Seattle area. The new SR 99 also will feature new on- and off-ramps near Seattle’s stadiums that will replace the existing ramps to and from First Avenue S.
Skanska, based in Riverside, California, submitted the low bid of $114,569,194.25. The bid was 25 percent under WSDOT’s $152,620,104.46 estimate. This stage of the project will put more than 600 people to work beginning this summer; however, drivers won’t see any major construction closures or detours until early next year. SR 99 will remain open to traffic during construction.
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May meetings and events
17, Monday, 11 a.m. - noon, Groundbreaking, Sound Transit Station Parking Expansion project - Puyallup: Sound Transit will host a groundbreaking event to kickoff a project that will help meet demand for parking at the Puyallup Sounder Station. WSDOT is a funding partner for the project. When completed, the improved parking lot will provide more than 200 parking spaces for commuters. Location: Puyallup Fairgrounds Red Lot, 5th St. SW and 9th Ave. SW, Puyallup.
17, Monday, 4 - 7 p.m., Open house, Pt. Defiance Bypass - Lakewood: WSDOT will host an open house to update community members about the upcoming Pt. Defiance Bypass rail project funded by ARRA High Speed Rail grants. Location: Clover Park Technical College, Rotunda Bldg. at Lakeview Entrance, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood.
18-19, Tuesday, 1:30 p.m. and Wednesday, 9 a.m., Washington State Transportation Commission Meeting - Olympia: The two-day Transportation Commission meeting will cover many topics including continued discussions on SR 520 Bridge toll setting, an initial discussion on ferry fare adjustments to be made later this year, and a report on the update of state’s 20-year transportation plan Location: Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Ave. SE, Olympia.
25, Tuesday, 5 - 8 p.m., Open house, North Spokane Corridor project - Spokane: WSDOT's project team will hold an open house to share information about the North Spokane Corridor construction schedule and design. WSDOT's Real Estate Services staff will also be on hand to answer any questions about right-of-way acquisition. Location: East Central Community Center, 500 South Stone St., Spokane.
27, Thursday, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Community meeting, Washington State Ferries - Anacortes: WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) is holding a series of meetings in ferry communities to share information and discuss current ferry issues. Location: Anacortes Chamber, 22nd & O Street, Anacortes.
Express Lane Archive
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