Project of the Week - SR 28 closure enlists community involvement
SR 28, winding along Rock Island Dam, is the focus of safety improvements that stabilize the rock slope above the highway. |
“When this project started in 2002, we simply couldn’t have done this.” Those are the words of WSDOT's regional Administrator for Construction Dan Sarles, referring to a full, four-day closure of State Route 28 in eastern Washington.
A rock slope stabilization project above SR 28 next to Rock Island Dam in Douglas County will close the highway to all traffic from Friday night, March 28th at 9 p.m. until Wednesday morning, April 2nd at 5 a.m. The closure leaves motorists with alternative routes that add 90 minutes to what is normally a half-hour drive.
With schools still in session and fruit harvest season on the horizon, timing of the project was a major consideration. Due to the instability of the basalt columns that need to come down, engineers determined it wasn’t safe to do the work around traffic. All the rock will be brought down before traffic will be allowed to pass below on the narrow bench between the slope and the Columbia River. Project Engineer, Bob Romine, said “We looked at a variety of ways to schedule and stage the project. We held public meetings to find out what time of year and what kind of traffic control would work best. We came to the decision that the start of spring vacation would work the best and disrupt the least number of people."
An average of about 6,500 drivers travel the 28 miles between Quincy and East Wenatchee, every day. “Six years ago we didn’t have the technical capability or the credibility to reach those people and successfully re-direct their lives for four days," said Sarles. WSDOT uses a variety of communication tools that include the Web, real-time motorist information, news media contacts and advertising, e-mails and community meetings.
This is the third and final stage of a six year, $8.5 million project. Once the expected 300 dump truck loads of rock is scaled from the slope, the contractor will return in August and drape steel netting to keep any future loose rock from reaching the roadway.
top
Maintenance & Operations Feature - Studded tire deadline is extended to April 5
With Washington's winter weather lingering on, WSDOT is extending the deadline to remove studded tires until more spring-like conditions arrive. That means studded tires must be removed by 11:59 p.m., Saturday, April 5. Washington law allows the use of studded tires from November 1 through March 31 only, unless WSDOT determines conditions exist that call for an extended period.
WSDOT is concerned about motorists' safety when studded tires are used in wet driving conditions. Studded tires perform well on glare ice, however on wet pavements the stopping ability of vehicles is reduced. Tire studs reduce the contact between the tire's rubber and pavement. Studded tire research shows that vehicles equipped with studded tires driving on wet or dry pavements require a longer stopping distance than vehicles with standard tires. WSDOT is also concerned about the wear and tear to pavements that is caused by studded tires.
Motorists who are not planning to travel across the mountain passes or in areas where snow and ice conditions exist are encouraged to beat the rush and remove their studded tires before the deadline.
top
Update of projects under way
I-5 Bellingham - Starting on April 1, crews will close I-5 lanes at night and on weekends to repair broken freeway panels, smooth bridge transitions and pave rough ramps from Samish Way to Sunset Drive in Bellingham. For the first two weeks in April, crews primarily will close lanes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The first weekend-long closure is scheduled for April 11 through April 14. I-5 will be reduced to one lane in each direction for three miles. The weekend work could take up to four weekends to complete and is weather dependent. The closures could be delayed if the weather forecast calls for rain. The best times to travel I-5 during the weekend-long closures will be after 8 p.m. and before 8 a.m. WSDOT expects stop-and-go traffic the rest of the time on weekends.
SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge - Work continues on the SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays throughout March and April as WSDOT installs a route for crews to reach the bridge’s piers. Drivers can expect to see cones and flags along the shoulder but will not experience delays. The work is being done in conjunction with the ongoing Hood Canal Bridge retrofit and replacement project which will improve the existing structure, making it wider, safer and more reliable.
top
Announcements
Work to reduce crossover collisions on US 2 begins this spring
As early as May, crews will start working on US 2 project that will help reduce collisions between Monroe and Stevens Pass. On March 24, WSDOT awarded a $2.3 million contract to Wilder Construction of Everett to install rumble strips and high-visibility striping on this stretch of US 2.
Beginning this spring, crews will grind in over 40 miles of centerline and shoulder rumble strips on US 2 from just east of Monroe to just west of Stevens Pass summit to help reduce crossover and run-off-the-road collisions. Rumble strips alert drivers that they are leaving their lane by creating a loud noise and vibrations when the wheels of the car touch the rumble strips. In addition to the rumble strips, crews will also install high-visibility striping to make the centerline more visible to drivers at night and in bad weather. Much of the striping will be recessed in the pavement so it won’t be damaged by snow-clearing equipment during the winter. Crews will also upgrade signs along the highway.
Bids opened for contract to build new 50-car ferry
WSDOT Ferries Division on March 27 opened bids for a contract to construct a new 50-car vessel based on the Steilacoom II design. One bid was received from Todd Pacific Shipyards. The proposed bid price is $25,985,125 compared to WSDOT engineer’s estimate of $16.8 million. WSDOT will conduct a bid evaluation over the next few days before announcing an award recommendation.
“While I am disappointed that the bid came in higher than our estimate, we will take a close look at the bid and keep moving forward to build a new 50-car ferry,” said David Moseley, Assistant Secretary, WSDOT Ferries Division. Construction of the 50-car ferry is scheduled to take approximately 12 months. The new ferry is expected to begin service in May 2009.
Viaduct continues to sink; Repairs almost complete to halt settlement
Preliminary results from the March 22 - 23 inspection revealed that the Alaskan Way Viaduct has settled another 3/8ths of an inch, bringing the total amount of settlement to approximately 5.5 inches. The columns continue to settle incrementally between Columbia Street and Yesler Way where repairs are nearly complete to strengthen several column foundations. No new structural damage was caused by the additional settlement.
“These four columns continue to sink gradually and that’s why we began the repairs to the viaduct last fall,” said WSDOT Deputy Secretary Dave Dye. “These repairs are going to give us a strong column foundation that will keep the viaduct safe for drivers until we take it down in 2012.”
WSDOT began repairs last fall to strengthen the foundations of the four columns. Repairs involve drilling a series of steel rods deep into the ground into the stable soil surrounding the existing structural footings. The rods, called micropiles, are each able to carry a 95-ton load and will make a wider and stronger column foundation. The foundation work is expected to be complete at the end of April or beginning of May. Some additional settlement may naturally occur after this work is complete.
top
Gray Notebook Highlight - WSDOT helps local governments report on local road pavement conditions
In April 2003, the legislature established a requirement for cities to report on pavement conditions for their arterials and streets. City streets and county roads make up 67 percent of total miles in the state, and carry more the 42 percent of the traffic. WSDOT assists small cities by using our Material Laboratory's automated data collection van to survey arterials and streets. The data is then forwarded to WSDOT's Highways and Local Programs division for analysis and reporting. According to the 2006 report, "Washington's City Arterials Condition Report" 61 percent of the pavement on local roadways is in good to excellent condition. More details on statewide pavement conditions and other key issues can be found in the December 2007 Gray Notebook at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/accountability.
top
March and April open houses, meetings and events
March
31, Monday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Ferry Advisory Committee Public Meeting – Bremerton: WSDOT Ferries Division will host a public meeting to share information and take public comments on vehicle level-of-service (LOS) strategies and baseline ridership forecasts. For more information, visit the Ferry Financing Legislation page. Location: Norm Dicks Gov Center Meeting Room, 345 6th St., Suite 100, Bremerton.
April
1, Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Ferry Advisory Committee Public Meeting – Anacortes: WSDOT Ferries Division will host a public meeting to share information and take public comments on vehicle level-of-service (LOS) strategies and baseline ridership forecasts. For more information, visit the Ferry Financing Legislation page. Location: City Hall Council Chambers, 904 6th St, Anacortes.
2, Wednesday, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Ferry Advisory Committee Public Meeting – Friday Harbor: WSDOT Ferries Division will host a public meeting to share information and take public comments on vehicle level-of-service (LOS) strategies and baseline ridership forecasts. For more information, visit the Ferry Financing Legislation page. Location: Mullis Senior Center, 589 Nash St, Friday Harbor.
3, Thursday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Aviation Council Meeting - Seattle: Members of the Governor-appointed Aviation Planning Council will meet to continue work on the final phase of the Long-Term Air Transportation Study. The meeting is open to the public. Location: Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way South, Seattle.
3, Thursday, 10 a.m., Ground breaking ceremony, US 2/US 97 Peshastin East Interchange - Peshastin: WSDOT will host a ground breaking event to celebrate the kick-off of construction for a new interchange at the current junction of US 2 and US 97. Location: The event will be held on the southwest side of US 2 at Blewett Cutoff Road, just west of the Big Y intersection of Stevens and Blewett pass highways.
3, Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Ferry Advisory Committee Public Meeting – Vashon: WSDOT Ferries Division will host a public meeting to share information and take public comments on vehicle level-of-service (LOS) strategies and baseline ridership forecasts. For more information, visit the Ferry Financing Legislation page. Location: McMurray Middle School Multi-Purpose Room, 9329 SW Cemetery Road, Vashon Island.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Weekly Report Archive
top