Project of the Week - Crews nearing completion on new bridges over I-5 in Tacoma
Crews recently finished paving the new Yakima and Delin street bridge decks over I-5 in downtown Tacoma. |
Crews on the
I-5, 48th Street to Pacific Avenue project in Tacoma are focused on completing two new overpasses and getting them open to traffic.
The widening of I-5 required closing three overpasses in spring 2006 for demolition. The project rebuilds the Yakima Avenue and Delin Street overpasses. The Yakima bridge is scheduled to open late this month, while the Delin Street bridge will open in March. The bridges are built to modern standards and accommodate the future HOV lanes and wider shoulders on I-5. Reopening the bridges will reconnect neighborhoods to downtown Tacoma.
As part of this project crews have already built a multi-lane collector-distributor roadway that includes a new northbound exit to I-705, an improved merge from SR 16, and a new northbound on-ramp from 38th Street. The project is on track for an on-time completion in the spring.
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Incident of the Week - Series of storms slam passes and eastern Washington
WSDOT maintenance crews on I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass continue the fight against avalanches and mounting volumes of snow. |
A series of winter storms dumping several feet of heavy snow in the passes and across eastern Washington tested travelers and WSDOT maintenance crews during the last week of January.
High avalanche danger prompted WSDOT officials to close Interstate 90 early Tuesday morning and keep it closed for 28 hours, until 11 a.m. Wednesday. WSDOT and Washington State Patrol closed the pass again just a few hours later at 2:45 p.m., Wednesday. A large, naturally-occurring slide, 400-feet long covered the westbound lanes with up to 30 feet of snow, rocks, trees and debris. With forecasts of continued snow and high risk of avalanches, WSDOT officials announced on Thursday the pass would remain closed. On Friday morning, WSDOT avalanche experts declared the avalanche risk too high to allow the pass to open. Avalanche control work is continuing with more than 40 crew members working to clear the freeway.
Crews on US 2, Stevens Pass, and US 12, White Pass, also were busy this week dealing with snow and increased volumes of traffic due to I-90 being closed. In addition to avalanche control and road clearing operations, crews on Stevens Pass have contended with multiple vehicle spin-outs and semi trucks sliding off the road. They too have been working around-the-clock to keep these routes open and drivers safe.
Blowing and drifting snow this week, coupled with white out conditions in some locations, closed highways near Spokane, Colfax, Ritzville and Pullman. During the week, crews closed portions of SR 23, SR 272, SR 261, SR 194, SR 902, US 195 and US 2 due to hazardous driving conditions. WSDOT maintenance workers are out in full force, 24-hours a day working in severe weather that includes record snowfall, low temperatures and high winds. Highways are being reopened as crews and WSP determine they are safe for travel.
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Update of projects under way
SR 3, Poulsbo - A project that improves safety and reduces collisions starts Feb. 4 when crews begin installing traffic signals at two busy State Route (SR) 3 intersections. The new traffic signals at Pioneer Way Northwest and Big Valley Road Northeast are expected to be up and running in mid-May. Currently at these two locations, it is difficult for drivers to turn left onto SR 3 due to heavy traffic volumes. This stretch of highway averages about 17,000 vehicles a day.
I-5 Everett - On Saturday night (Feb. 2), crews began placing the final bridge girders for Sound Transit’s South Everett Freeway Station project. For safety, crews closed all southbound I-5 lanes overnight to set the girders for the south portion of the new freeway overpass bridge at 112th Street SE in Everett. In just one night, crews will set 8 girders total over southbound lanes. This work is part of the I-5 South Everett Freeway Station Project, which will allow buses, carpools and vanpools to go directly from the I-5 HOV lanes to a new 400-stall park-and-ride lot in the I-5 median at 112th Street SE. A new access road from 112th Street SE will allow single-occupant vehicles to reach the park-and-ride.
SR 6 Pe El - Contractor crews began repairs to the unstable slope on SR 6, just west of Pe Ell during the week of Jan. 28. The repair work will take up to 30 working days, and consists of removing approximately 75,000 cubic yards of debris from the slope adjacent to the highway, down to the bedrock, and regrading the remaining slope. During construction, current traffic restrictions will continue, with the road remaining open to one lane during daylight hours. Additionally, there will be flaggers on site directing traffic during any necessary single-lane closures.
SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge - On Friday, Feb. 1, crews opened a fourth, westbound lane on the 1950 Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Both the 1950 and new Narrows bridges now boast three general purpose lanes and an HOV lane. The new westbound lane stretches about four miles and is referred to as an “add-drop” lane because it adds, or begins, as an extension of the Pearl Street on-ramp in Tacoma and drops, or ends, at the 24th Street Northwest off-ramp on the Gig Harbor side – where westbound SR 16 reverts to three lanes. There is no lane changing on the 1950 bridge, so drivers who enter at Pearl Street and don’t want to exit at 24th Street must merge into the through-traffic lanes before getting on the bridge or after they exit the bridge.
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Announcements
Steilacoom II coming to Port Townsend/Keystone Route
Beginning Monday, February 4, the Steilacoom II, a 50-car vessel that Washington State Ferries (WSF) is leasing from Pierce County, will begin crew familiarization and training operations on the Port Townsend/Keystone route. WSF is working hard to return vehicle ferry service to the Port Townsend/Keystone route as soon as possible. Crew training will last approximately one week and vehicle ferry service with the Steilacoom II is expected to resume in early February. An exact service date will be announced once training begins.
When the Steilacoom II arrives in Port Townsend on Monday, Port Townsend/Keystone passenger-only service will be operated by Puget Sound Express out of Hudson Point Marina. Currently, passenger-only service is provided by WSF’s passenger vessel Snohomish from the Port Townsend and Keystone ferry terminals. Once the Steilacoom II arrives, there will be no room at the Port Townsend terminal to accommodate the Snohomish. Hudson Point Marina is located at 227 Jackson, a half mile north of the Port Townsend ferry dock.
WSDOT and transit agencies sign agreement for services during Hood Canal Bridge closure
WSDOT is officially "on the bus" in terms of helping the residents of Jefferson, Kitsap and Clallam counties access improved public transit options when the Hood Canal Bridge is closed for retrofitting and replacement work in May and June 2009. WSDOT officials recently signed an agreement with Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap transit agencies, solidifying its commitment to reducing traffic on State Route 104 and US 101 during the six-week closure and improving viable travel alternatives. The transit agreements will complement a temporary water shuttle service across the Hood Canal, which will transport residents between South Point Landing in Jefferson County and Port Gamble in Kitsap County.
To accommodate an expected 50 percent increase in ridership, Jefferson Transit is hiring 15 temporary drivers and various personnel to help during the closure. Clallam Transit General Manager Terry Weed said the agreement represents a positive step toward assisting area residents in traveling from the greater Port Angeles area to South Point. The cooperative agreements with the transit agencies are significant in that WSDOT can now focus on other aspects of the closure mitigation plan aimed at reducing the project's impact on area residents.
Wilder awarded $3.2 million contract for critical I-5 repairs in Bellingham
WSDOT awarded a $3.2 million contract to Wilder Construction Co. to make critical repairs to Interstate 5 through Bellingham. At $400,000 less than the state engineers' estimate, Bellingham-based Wilder's bid was the lowest qualified bid from a field of three.
WSDOT first advertised the project last summer but received only one bid that was $1 million over the state's estimate, exceeding the money available for the project. Engineers decided to delay the project about six months and advertise it again after summer construction slowed down, increasing competition and driving down prices, said Dave Crisman, a WSDOT project engineer. This summer, crews will repair more than 200 broken concrete panels from Samish Way to Sunset Drive, smooth rough transitions on and off bridges, and pave several on- and off-ramps.
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Gray Notebook Highlight - WSDOT delivers 110 Nickel and TPA projects
The September 2007 Gray Notebook reported that WSDOT had successfully delivered 110 projects funded by the 2003 Nickel gas tax and the 2005 9 1/2-cent gas tax (Transportation Partnership Account, or TPA). The projects completed to date are within .01 percent ($144,000) of the $1.024 billion that the legislature budgeted for these projects. By March 31, 2008, over 50 percent of the projects funded by the Nickel and TPA programs will be completed, under construction or advertised. For the 110 projects delivered as of Sept. 30, 2007, the cumulative on-time project delivery performance is 90 percent, a 2 percent decrease from the previous quarter. The cumulative on-budget delivery performance is unchanged from last quarter at 84 percent. More details on this topic and other key issues can be found in the Gray Notebook at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/accountability
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February open houses, meetings and events
5, Tuesday, 5 - 8 p.m., Open House, US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation Project - Aberdeen: WSDOT project staff will host an open house to answer questions about the US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge rehabilitation project. Crews will replace the 80-year old bridge's electrical and mechanical draw span parts. Work will require a 10-week closure of the bridge and traffic will be detoured. Location: Port of Grays Harbor Council Chambers, 111 S. Wooding Street, Aberdeen.
6, Wednesday, 4 - 7 p.m., Open House, SR 4 Rock Stabilization - Longview: WSDOT's project team invite people to come learn more about the SR 4 Rock Stabilization project and its affects on traffic. The project, which is scheduled to take place this summer, will remove loose rock and soil from the slope, install rock anchors and cable fencing to prevent rocks from falling onto the highway. The nature of this work will require workers to periodically close the highway for motorist's safety. Location: Cowlitz PUD, 961 12th Avenue, Longview.
6, Wednesday, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m., Open House, SR 97 Brewster Pedestrian Safety - Brewster: WSDOT and the city of Brewster will hold an open house to share information about the city's Main Avenue reconstruction project and WSDOT's US 97 Pedestrian Safety project. Both projects are being combined into one project that will be administered by WSDOT to reduce costs and construction times. Location: Columbia Cove Community Center, 601 W. Cliff Avenue, Brewster.
7, Thursday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Aviation Planning Council Meeting - Seattle: The Governor-appointed Aviation Planning Council will meet to continue work on the final phase of the Long-Term Air Transportation Study (LATS). The council will review and discuss key finding from the LATS phases 1 and 2. The meeting is open to the public. Location: Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way South, Seattle.
7, Thursday, 5 - 8 p.m., Open House, SR 9 - 212th SE to 176th SE (Stage 3) - Snohomish: Join WSDOT's project team to learn more about planned work to widen SR 9 between SR 524 north of Bothell and 176th Street SE in Clearview. Project staff will be on hand to provide a project overview as well as planned improvements for key intersections along the route. Location: Horseshoe Grange, 16424 Broadway Avenue, Snohomish.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Weekly Report Archive
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