Project of the Week - Crews begin pouring concrete for new deck on US 97 Biggs Rapids - Sam Hill Bridge
Crews reached a milestone as they began placing concrete on the US 97 Biggs Rapids-Sam Hill Bridge across the Columbia River. |
WSDOT’s contractor on the US 97 Biggs Rapids–Sam Hill Bridge Deck Replacement Project reached a milestone in construction when crews began placing concrete on the first section of bridge deck in mid-February. Work on the first stage of the project to replace the half mile-long deck began in December 2007.
A full closure of the narrow bridge is necessary to ensure safety for the workers and traveling public during construction. The bridge closure also allow us to achieve the best quality construction. Since the Biggs Rapids Bridge is designed as a flexible structure, able to accommodate high winds and a wide temperature range common in the Columbia River Gorge, any vibration or movement of the deck would affect the quality of the new concrete as it cures. A full closure eliminates vibrations and bridge deflections due to traffic traveling on the bridge and allows the concrete to cure with minimal disturbance. With this proactive step, WSDOT is confident the new deck will be very durable, lasting for 70 years or more.
The Biggs Rapids Bridge was built in the early 1960s using a lightweight concrete for the deck slab, which recently began deteriorating at a rapid rate. Weight restrictions were implemented in 2006 to minimize deterioration of the existing bridge deck until the project could move forward. Originally slated for construction in 2010, the project was pushed ahead two years so crews could begin work as quickly as possible.
The current phase of the project ends before Memorial Day, when the bridge will reopen for the summer tourism and harvest season. A second closure begins after Labor Day, with completion scheduled for early 2009. This $16 million project is being funded evenly between Washington and Oregon and includes deck replacement as well as bridge rail upgrades.
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Incident of the Week - Roadway is clear; work is not over for Incident Response
One of the four vehicles that collided and blocked SR 512 in Pierce County. |
A Sunday drive turned out to be more of a nightmare for motorists on westbound SR 512 in Pierce County. At 4 p.m., a four-car collision blocked all lanes. WSDOT’s Incident Response Team (IRT) members Glen Briggs and Willie Ramsey, arrived at the scene to provide traffic control.
Working with troopers and tows, IRT helped push vehicles to the shoulder in order to clear all lanes. Unfortunately, the 45 minute closure resulted in a two and a half mile backup. After the collision was clear, IRT patrolled the backups looking for disabled vehicles. Briggs and Ramsey provided gas to several motorists who ventured out believing they had enough fuel to make it to their destination – not expecting to get stuck in a backup. They also jump-started several vehicles that were left with drained batteries after waiting in traffic.
Ramsey, always with a smile, reminds motorists to make sure they have plenty of fuel before venturing out on the roadway. “Vehicles that run out of gas or become disabled in backups normally end up blocking lanes and causing secondary collisions,” said Ramsey. “This adds to the problem so remember to keep your vehicle fully serviced and full of fuel.”
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Update of projects under way
I-5 Everett - Drivers on southbound Interstate 5 navigated around a split in traffic through downtown Everett for the first time on March 6. Crews installed the split overnight to create a work zone to replace a damaged girder under the highway. WSDOT installed a series of traffic speed sensors to allow drivers to see traffic back-ups approaching the work zone in time for this morning's critical commute. The sensors capture the current speed of cars passing by using radar. The information is sent back to the WSDOT traffic management center and then color-coded on WSDOT's traffic map: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/seattle/
US 12 Wishkah River Bridge - Structural-repair work requires two weeks of single-lane closures on westbound US 12 Wishkah River Bridge in Grays Harbor County. Beginning March 10, crews will close the right lane of westbound US 12. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. The week of March 17, the same work hours apply when crews close the left lane.
US 395 Spokane - Work on the next major component of the North Spokane Freeway begins on March 10th. The project, US 395 BNSF Railroad Tunnel, consists of building a 1,330 foot tunnel to carry Burlington Northern trains under the new North Spokane Corridor freeway. The tunnel will be 54 feet wide, enough width to accommodate a future second set of tracks. The tunnel will be built for the tracks near Market Street in the vicinity of Magnesium and Hawthorne Roads. This project is the sixth of eight jobs for the US 395/North Spokane Corridor freeway project. The job is expected to take two construction seasons to complete, wrapping up in mid 2009.
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Announcements
Amtrak Cascades ridership sets all-time record in 2007
Highest increase in ridership since service began; trend continues into 2008
Amtrak Cascades ridership in 2007 increased to 676,670 – a 7.4 percent increase over 2006 and the highest annual ridership total since the inception of Amtrak Cascades service. More convenient schedules and better connections, along with rising fuel prices for motorists influenced ridership growth. WSDOT expects ridership to continue to increase with the extension of the current Portland-Seattle-Bellingham service to Vancouver, B.C in mid-2008.
Amtrak and WSDOT have partnered to complete a major interior renovation on all coach and business class cars used on Amtrak Cascades. The $10 million project began summer 2007 and the first completed cars will go into service spring 2008.
Safety upgrades planned for Skagit, Whatcom highways
Numerous safety upgrades are planned for several stretches of rural highway in Skagit and Whatcom counties. Crews will install or replace sections of guardrail, flashing beacons, centerline and shoulder rumble strips, and recessed pavement markers. Construction is expected to begin in late April and should be complete by October.
The Legislature allocated funding for the DOT to study rural highways and identify areas with a high number of accidents or safety concerns. Transportation design teams have analyzed the study data and come up with safety solutions that address areas of concern and make the most efficient use of state funding.
Work is planned along sections of state highways in the following locations:
SR 9 - from Big Lake to Mount Baker Highway, and near Sumas.
SR 11 - from Cook Road to Larrabee State Park.
SR 20 - from Fruitdale Road, east of Sedro-Woolley, to Diablo Dam.
SR 542 - from Dewey Road, east of Bellingham, to Wells Creek Road, near the Mount Baker ski area.
SR 547 - from the intersection with SR9 and east to Telegraph Road.
WSDOT Ferries Division announces updated spring and summer service adjustments due to vessel maintenance needs
On March 6, the ferry system announced a revised service plan that includes necessary vessel maintenance and inspections for spring and summer 2008. While the plan does include reduced vehicle capacity on some routes for periods in spring and early summer, WSDOT expects fewer service effects than originally anticipated. Maintenance schedules and service plans are always subject to change based on emerging needs, actual time required to complete work in the shipyard, and vessel availability.
“In my first week on the job I’ve worked with staff to ensure capacity on all our routes is optimized throughout the system,” said David Moseley, new Assistant Secretary of the WSDOT Ferries Division. “I am aware of the frustration that service disruptions over the last few months have caused and I’m committed to finding creative ways to minimize capacity reductions as we move into the summer season.”
“Many of the changes reflected in this version of the spring and summer maintenance and dry-docking plan have come as a direct result of suggestions from customers, Ferry Advisory Committee members and local communities,” said Moseley. “We’ll be fine-tuning this plan as we move forward and adjusting schedules to ensure that we offer the best service possible with the vessels we have available.”
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Gray Notebook Highlight - Construction site water quality
WSDOT works to minimize the effects its construction activities have on fish, wildlife and natural habitats. The discharge coming from construction sites can increase the turbidity of water, giving it a muddy appearance. If construction makes water become too muddy, the mud can damage fish gills, smother fish eggs and kill bugs the fish rely on for food. During construction, WSDOT inspectors sample water from sites where compliance with state standards is thought to be most challenging. In 2007, 10 project were sampled for water quality upstream and downstream. Results show that 87 percent (73 out of 84) of the samples met state water quality standards for clarity. Of the 11 non-compliance events, eight were associated with stream diversions. The remaining events were associated with rock removal within a river, an undersized pump being used to move water to a suitable upland area, and stream bank erosion caused by flow from a diversion pipe. More details on this topic and other key issues can be found in the December 2007 edition of the Gray Notebook: www.wsdot.wa.gov/accountability.
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March meetings
18 & 19, 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.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Weekly Report Archive
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