Project of the Week - US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge drawspan to get an overhaul
The 80-year old US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge in Hoquiam will close on Feb. 19 for a major overhaul of the drawspan's electrical and mechanical parts. |
WSDOT begins construction Feb. 19 on the
US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge that spans the Hoquiam River in Grays Harbor County. Crews will replace major electrical and mechanical parts that operate the bridge’s drawspan. During the 10-week project US 101 will be detoured onto the nearby Riverside Bridge.
WSDOT is upgrading the 80-year-old US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge by replacing the electrical and mechanical components of the bridge's drawspan – many of which are the original parts. The control house on top of the bridge is also being replaced and donated to the local museum. Other upgrades include replacing pedestrian barrier, and improving maintenance access by building a turn-out adjacent to the bridge so future inspection and maintenance activities can occur without affecting traffic.
The result of this $9.2 million rehabilitation project keeps the bridge fully operational to vehicles and mariners for many more years to come.
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Incident of the Week - Cable median barrier snares, redirects loaded semitruck on I-5
WSDOT maintenance workers repair the I-5 median cable barrier near Burlington, while crews recover the load of a semi that was "caught" by the cable. |
Around 2 a.m. on Feb. 12, WSDOT received a report of an overturned semitruck on I-5, just north of Burlington. Once on the scene, WSDOT crews found that the semi had veered sharply into the narrow median, striking the cable barrier. The cable barrier prevented the fully-loaded semitruck from crossing into oncoming traffic. As the semitruck came to a stop, it tipped over in the median. The driver walked away uninjured, and spent the night in a nearby hotel.
“The barrier worked just as it was supposed to,” said Ric Willand, maintenance supervisor for Area 1. “This is the third time cable median barrier has stopped a semitruck in Skagit and Whatcom counties that was heading for oncoming lanes and drivers.”
Crews had to close one lane in each direction the next morning to empty the trailer’s load of paper rolls before a tow truck could tip the semitruck back onto its wheels and tow it away. Crews had all lanes of I-5 back open around 2 p.m.
The cable median barrier was installed in Skagit County between 2005 and 2006, and funded by the 2005 gas tax.
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Update of projects underway
I-5, Toledo - On Wednesday, Feb. 13, crews replaced a steel beam under the I-5 Cowlitz River Bridge (milepost 59.06) in Lewis County. They initially closed the right lane just before 6 p.m. on Feb. 12 after a WSDOT Maintenance Technician reported a pothole on the bridge. WSDOT Bridge Crews conducted a thorough inspection later that night and found that a steel beam had become dislodged underneath the bridge. Steel beams provide support to the concrete deck, and if damaged, can create potholes on the deck surface. WSDOT is replacing the damaged steel beam to increase safety for travelers and extend the life of the Cowlitz River Bridge.
SR 6, Pe Ell - Crews working to stabilize a slope above SR 6 reopened the highway to nighttime traffic on Feb. 13. Construction crews have stabilized a critical area of the slope, allowing WSDOT engineers to lift the nighttime restriction. Prior to this work, engineers believed the instability of the slope was too great of a safety risk to motorists. A spotter who will be watching the slope will remain on site and artificial lighting will illuminate the slope. One lane will remain closed and flaggers will be on site directing traffic through the duration of construction work.
Construction will be complete in early spring, as crews remove approximately 75,000 cubic yards of debris from the slope adjacent to the highway, down to the bedrock, and re-grade the remaining slope.
Crews discovered a mountain of snow, trees, rock and debris on SR 20 near Newhalem. |
SR 20 Newhalem - WSDOT crews have been working overtime to clear SR 20 near Newhalem since avalanches closed the roadway last week. We reached the last of four avalanches on Feb. 12. It was much bigger than we expected, and the tremendous force of the avalanche ripped large trees and rocks from the hillside and deposited them with the snow in a 45-foot high pile that is 300 feet long. Crews are using two bulldozers to climb and shave the mountain of snow and debris from the top down. We can’t use a snow blower on the slide because the trees and rocks would destroy the blower’s blades. Crews hope to open one lane Saturday and continue working to widen out a path. The gate at Newhalem has been closed since an avalanche blocked the highway last Thursday, leaving the 13-mile stretch closed to Diablo, and about 60 local residents and workers stranded on the other side.
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Announcements
Drivers, freight, and transit riders will benefit from $125 million State, King County, and City of Seattle mobility package for viaduct construction
On Feb. 11 WSDOT, King County and the city of Seattle announced a $125 million package of strategic transit and capital investments to help keep people and goods moving during Alaskan Way Viaduct construction. By getting started this year, most of these improvements will be in place before major south end viaduct construction begins in 2011. Many of the transit service and road improvement projects in the package, including funding for widening the South Spokane Street viaduct, build on work already being done by the county and the city. The state’s contribution of $125 million will be combined with $335 million in federal and local funding to result in $460 million of investment in the I-5, downtown, SODO, West Seattle, Uptown, Ballard and Aurora Avenue travel corridors.
“We are planning ahead so that when construction is underway people will have choices on how to get around. This comprehensive strategy is designed to give travelers the alternatives they need to reach their destinations, whether by hopping on a bus or choosing a different route,” said City of Seattle Department of Transportation Director Grace Crunican.
WSDOT's Ferry Division announces Seattle/Bremerton service changes
On Tuesday, Feb.19, full service was restored on the Seattle/Bremerton ferry route with the 188-auto Walla Walla and the 124-auto Kitsap. The Walla Walla will operate the #2 boat schedule. Once full vehicle service resumes on the route, the Walla Walla and 124-auto Chelan will alternate operating with the Kitsap to ensure two-boat service. Customers will be notified of all auto ferry changes.
On Feb. 13, the Hyak was making its first trip on the Seattle/Bremerton route after returning to service from scheduled maintenance. The vessel made it into Colman Dock to offload passengers, and was then taken out of service due to problems with the drive motor. The 144-auto/2,500-passenger Hyak was operating as the second vessel on the Seattle/Bremerton route and experienced the problem on the 6:20 a.m. departure from Bremerton. It was towed to Eagle Harbor for repairs and is out of service until repairs are completed.
“We greatly appreciate the patience and flexibility of our customers and communities with the service changes,” stated WSDOT/WSF Deputy Director Traci Brewer Rogstad. “We are working hard to restore service because we know people depend on us every day.”
New travel tools in Thurston, Pierce counties
WSDOT’s collection of travel-information tools in Thurston and Pierce counties expands this spring and summer with new traffic cameras, new overhead electronic signs, and about 30 additional miles of flow-map coverage. In the Olympia area, crews are setting up six new traffic cameras and installing two overhead electronic signs for Amber Alerts and traffic management. The cameras and signs installed as part of this $2 million project should be in operation by September. Three of the new cameras are on I-5 at Eastside Street, Sleater-Kinney Road and Martin Way. The other three cameras are located on surface streets at the intersections of Union Avenue and Plum Street, Martin Way and Sleater-Kinney, and Martin Way and College Street.
A southbound I-5 overhead sign will be located in DuPont, and a northbound I-5 overhead sign will be located at Tumwater Boulevard. These electronic signs provide an important communication link with drivers during Amber Alerts and highway incidents.
In Pierce County, the added flow-map coverage stretches from Lakewood to the King/Pierce county line and onto State Route 512 between I-5 and Pacific Avenue. This $1.2 million project expands the flow-map incrementally over the next several months. Both projects are paid for by federal grants and matching state funds.
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Gray Notebook Highlight - Congestion Relief: Operating Efficiently
In Stanwood, increasing development and rising population along SR 532 resulted in increased congestion and delays. Traffic increases of almost 70 percent have occurred over the last 10 years in some locations. As part of WSDOT's SR 532 corridor improvement program, signal timing adjustments and interconnect equipment provided considerable travel time benefits for drivers from 72nd Avenue to 102nd Avenue. These improvements allow WSDOT to remotely adjust the signal timing to improve traffic flow and monitor intersection performance along the corridor. The $60,000 project was completed in less than six months. Travel time benefits were both significant and immediate, with westbound travelers saving up to six minutes and eastbound travelers saving up to two minutes along this three mile section of highway. More details on this topic and other key issues can be found in the September 2007 Gray Notebook at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/accountability.
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February open houses, meetings and events
19 & 20, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monthly meeting, Washington State Transportation Commission - Olympia: The State Transportation Commission, an independent state agency, will hold its regular monthly meeting. The meeting is open to the public. The Commission oversees the implementation of transportation policy and the operational plans for highways, ferries and intercity passenger rail. Location: Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Avenue SE, Olympia.
19, Tuesday, 11 a.m., Public meeting, State Management Plan for transit - Olympia: As a recipient of Federal Transportation Administration grant funding, WSDOT is required to create and maintain a State Management Plan. The plan describes WSDOT's policies and procedures for administering a variety of federal public transportation programs. The plan is being updated to include new programs and management changes. WSDOT staff are holding a public meeting to share information and take comments on these proposed changes. Location: Transportation Building, Mt. Rainier Room, 310 Maple Park Avenue SE, Olympia.
20, Wednesday, 4 - 7 p.m., Public Hearing, SR 519 Environmental Assessment - Seattle: WSDOT and Federal Highway Administration staff will hold a public hearing for the SR 519, phase 2, environmental assessment. Location: Sound Transit Board Room, Union Station, 401 S. Jackson Street, Seattle.
21, Thursday, 5 - 7 p.m., Citizen Advisory Committee, Tacoma Narrows Bridge - Gig Harbor: The Governor-appointed citizen advisory committee for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge will hold an organizational meeting. The committee will revisit and update its bylaws and set a meeting schedule for the year. Meetings are open to the public. Comments for the committee can be submitted online. Location: Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St., Gig Harbor.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Weekly Report Archive
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