A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Washington Jobs Now - I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge Joint Replacement Project
Photo: Construction crews set a new expansion joint into place on the I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge.
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Despite the recent sunny weather, replacing expansion joints on the I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge hasn’t been a picnic for construction crews or drivers this summer.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is leading a project to replace 20 aging bridge joints on the north end of the bridge. ODOT and WSDOT jointly funded the project, and are working together to manage traffic control and provide driver information during lane closures.
To complete the work, ODOT’s contractor is alternating around-the-clock and night time double-lane closures on the weekends, as well as weekday nighttime lane closures. These closures allow time for the old joints to be removed, new joints placed and welded, then fresh concrete to dry and cure. Lane closures on the four-lane bridge have caused long weekend backups and lengthy delays as the 140,000 vehicles that cross the bridge every day squeeze into half the number of lanes. But the work is badly needed.
The Glenn Jackson Bridge opened more than 30 years ago, and it’s time to replace the expansion joints before they start causing problems. Old, worn expansion joints can spring up, pop tires and cause collisions. In time they break down and stop helping the deck expand and contract like it should, causing damage to the rest of the structure and leading to costly and extensive repairs.
WSDOT advises drivers to avoid I-205 southbound during around-the-clock closures, scheduled for every other weekend through September. The closure schedule can be found on ODOT’s website .
Congestion on I-5 has also been heavy during closure weekends. If you have to travel, plan trips before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. to avoid getting caught in long backups. Drivers can plan ahead by visiting http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/, or by calling 5-1-1 or 1-800-695-ROAD for the latest travel information.
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Maintenance & Operations feature - WSDOT is giving drivers a new reason to use their Bluetooth in Vancouver this summer
Photo: Motorists on southbound I-205 in Vancouver will get travel-time information on a message sign similar to this one in Seattle.
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In a pilot project, WSDOT will use Bluetooth technology to provide more information about travel time on south bound I-205 through the Glenn Jackson Bridge roadway project. The system will offer drivers information on how long it will take them to travel from one location to another on southbound I-205. July 23 will be the first of seven Oregon DOT weekend lane closures on the I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge.
BlueTOAD (Bluetooth Travel-time Origination And Destination), a device developed by TrafficCast, http://www.trafficcast.com/, uses Bluetooth technology to generate approximate travel times and highway speed. The system works without identifying the owner of a Bluetooth device. BlueTOAD offers travel times by measuring how long it takes a sample number of Bluetooth devices to go from one location to another. WSDOT will then post the travel times and congestion-related information on a southbound I-5 variable message sign near Exit 9, located just north of the I-5/I-205 interchange.
WSDOT isn’t the only state using BlueTOAD. The State of Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is using the system to provide travel time information in the greater Chicago area.
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Update of projects under way
US 97 Douglas County - Two highway improvements projects on US 97 were combined for efficiency: one will preserve the highway with a chip seal and the other creates a passing lane for motorist safety. Starting July 26, crews will add chip seal paving on 13 miles of US 97 between Orondo and Sun Cove. The speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph through the work zone to minimize windshield damage from un-compacted gravel. Crews also built a one mile-long northbound passing lane north of Daroga State Park. The new passing lane opened on July 20. The job includes guardrail updates, guideposts, rumble strips, high visibility striping and new highway signs.
SR 520 Seattle - WSDOT crew began fieldwork on July 23 in Lake Washington to study the lakebed where support columns and anchors will be placed for a new SR 520 bridge. Crews plan to use barge-mounted drill rigs alongside the floating bridge between Medina and the west end of the floating bridge. Nearly 40 borings will be completed, with depths of 60 feet to more than 100 feet into the lakebed. The results of the fieldwork will be shared with potential design-build teams as WSDOT moves closer to construction. WSDOT is completing environmental review of the I-5 to Medina Bridge Replacement and HOV Project, which proposes to replace the floating bridge with a six-lane facility and reconstruct the Seattle interchange. Construction on a new floating bridge is scheduled to begin in 2012, and a new floating bridge is scheduled to open to traffic in 2014.
SR 529 Everett – Crews broke ground on a three-year, $50 million project to replace the 85-year-old, SR 529 Ebey Sough Bridge with a four-lane, fixed-span steel bridge. The new bridge will have two lanes in each direction, with separate bicycle lanes and sidewalks on each side. It will be a taller, “fixed-span” bridge, rather than a “swing-span” bridge. The existing bridge swings on its axis to allow marine traffic to pass, a process that typically takes about 10 minutes and causes vehicle traffic delays. The new bridge will help reduce congestion by handling more vehicle traffic. It will also reduce the need for costly repairs and eliminate the cost of staffing the old, moveable bridge.
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Announcements
Steve Pierce joins WSDOT as new communications director
Steve Pierce will join the WSDOT as communications director on Monday, July 26. Pierce comes to WSDOT from the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), where he served as public affairs manager for nearly 10 years. He replaces Lloyd Brown, who left the agency to become the communications director with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in Washington, D.C.
Prior to his work at L&I, Pierce was an editor at The Seattle Times for 15 years. His professional experience includes:
• Acting deputy press secretary for Gov. Gregoire
• Manager of business communications for Weyerhaeuser Co.
• Reporter and editor for The Columbian in Vancouver, Wash.
• Freelance travel writer for Sunset magazine
Columbia River Crossing project moves forward
Senator Patty Murray delivers significant federal support
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced July 21 that $42 million in federal transportation funding is headed to the Columbia River Crossing project. The funding is a significant step toward completing environmental reviews and starting final design on the project.
“Receiving these federal funds is a clear example of the strong partnership between the federal government and local communities to move forward on the Columbia River Crossing project,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire. “Sen. Murray’s leadership on this is good news for a project that is critical to our state’s economy and transportation infrastructure. She understands how important this project is to creating jobs at a time when we need them the most.”
The Columbia River Crossing project is a long-term, comprehensive project to reduce congestion, enhance mobility and improve safety on I-5 between SR 500 in Vancouver and Columbia Boulevard in Portland. The project will replace the I-5 bridge, extend light rail to Vancouver, improve closely-spaced interchanges, and enhance the pedestrian and bicycle path between the two cities. The project will be funded by federal and state sources, as well as tolls.
Amtrak Cascades continues with record ridership growth in 2010
Second quarter breaks new ridership record set in 1994
Amtrak Cascades has taken 2010 by storm with double-digit ridership growth and record-breaking totals each month. Ridership for April, May, and June recorded the highest second quarter totals since 1994, with 214,641 passengers. Compared to the second quarter of 2009, this is an increase of nearly 12 percent, or more than 25,000 new passengers. The first quarter of 2010 also had record ridership with an increase of nearly 34,000 riders since 2009.
Total ridership on Amtrak Cascades through June 30 reached 398,414. That represents a 17.3 percent increase over 2009. A portion of the ridership growth is due to the additional service to and from Vancouver, B.C., that began in August 2009 and the 2010 Olympic Games held in February and March in Vancouver, B.C. Additional growth came from record-breaking April, May and June months.
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August events
29, Sunday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Inaugural sailing, Chetzemoka, Whidbey Island / Port Townsend: The new 64-car ferry Chetzemoka will make its inaugural sailing between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend. WSF will host activities on Whidbey Island, in Port Townsend, and aboard the Chetzemoka on Sunday, August 29. The events are currently in the planning phases, and more information will be provided as details are confirmed. It is anticipated that the Chetzemoka’s first full day of service on the Port Townsend/Keystone route will be Monday, August 30. The Chetzemoka is the first new Washington state ferry in more than a decade.
Express Lane Archive
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