A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Project of the week - WSDOT celebrates start of safety project on US 395 in Kennewick
Crews install the new US 395 safety project sign along SR 240 in Kennewick. |
Despite freezing temperatures, WSDOT, community leaders, and the contractor turned out to celebrate the start of construction for the US 395, Columbia Drive to SR 240 Rebuild Interchange project on March 12.
“It takes a lot of partners to put a project like this together,” said Don Whitehouse, South Central Regional Administrator.
The $16 million project will reconfigure the US 395/SR 240 interchange to improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of collisions.
“I’ve been here almost ten years and we’ve had more collisions every year in this spot than anywhere else in our community,” said Lt. Jay Cabezuela of the Washington State Patrol. “This project is important to eliminate that problem and make everyone’s quality of life a little bit better.”
The contractor, KLB Construction of Mukilteo, and WSDOT started construction on Feb. 23. KLB anticipates the project will be complete ahead of schedule.
“We have 170 working days and KLB’s intent is to be done at the end of October,” said Aiesh Ragieh, engineer with KLB Construction.
Once this project is complete, drivers will notice less congestion at the US 395/SR 240 interchange and a smoother flow of traffic on US 395.
“Today, not only are we working to improve traffic safety, this project will also help our local economy,” said Representative Brad Klippert. The legislator was busy in Olympia, but graciously provided comments to be read at the event.
In preparation of the US 395 safety project, WSDOT maintenance crews moved and replanted thirteen trees on the north side of the Blue Bridge. Four years ago WSDOT purchased and planted flowering cherry, flowering pear, maple, and red oak trees in the interchange area to beautify the gateway to the community. If left in the same place, the trees would have been destroyed by the construction project.
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Maintenance & Operations feature - WSDOT's volunteer litter crews play a major role in keeping highways clean
Bangor Health Clinic is one of the state's 1,400 Adopt-A-Highway volunteer litter cleanup groups. They have been active since 2001, cleaning a stretch of SR 104. |
Each year WSDOT spends close to $2 million on labor and equipment to collect and dispose of more than 6,000 tons of litter. Safety remains one of WSDOT's priorities, so while roadside litter is ugly, it doesn't present a safety hazard. Instead, we focus our maintenance resources on activities such as snow and ice removal, patching potholes and painting stripes to keep drivers safe and moving.
People who are concerned about litter have choices and opportunities to get involved in keeping highways clean. One of those ways is through the Adopt-A-Highway program. This program allows individuals and groups to "adopt" a section of state highway by agreeing to take care of it for a two-year period. Volunteer groups may be clubs, employees of a business, or concerned citizens. Typically, an adopted section is between two and four miles of roadway, in which WSDOT installs a sign to provide recognition to the adopter. WSDOT also provides traffic control equipment, safety equipment, safety training, litterbags, and disposal of filled bags for the volunteers.
Unfortunately, litter will continue to be a problem until everyone takes responsibility for it. Here are some things you can do:
- Don't litter - keep a litter bag in your vehicle and secure your loads
- Report litter violators - call 866-LITTER-1
- Join an Adopt-A-Highway group.
Approximately 1,400 volunteer groups clean up over 5,000 miles of highway shoulder in Washington. More information about joining the Adopt-A-Highway program is available by contacting the local coordinator nearest you. A list of local Adopt-A-Highway coordinators can be found on our Web site at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Operations/adoptahwy/contacts.htm
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Update of projects under way
I-5 Thurston County - Crews working on I-5 between Grand Mound and Maytown on a freeway-widening project are ready to begin paving in the median over the next several weeks. The paving will start once the wet weather subsides. While crews move into the paving phase of the I-5 Grand Mound to Maytown project, work continues to build bridges, install drainage, install permanent lighting and landscape the areas adjacent to the freeway. An estimated 250 jobs are supported by this $61.5 million construction project, which adds a third lane in each direction on an eight-mile stretch of I-5. Completion is scheduled for summer 2010.
SR 16 Port Orchard - Crews began setting girders for new SR 16 bridges at the Burley Olalla crossing. No lane restrictions are needed for this work, but the sight of a 300-ton crane lifting 75-foot-long, 50-ton concrete girders could cause drivers to slow down and take a peek. The SR 16 Burley Olalla Interchange project improves safety by eliminating the last at-grade SR 16 intersection in which vehicles are allowed to cross the median. The work, scheduled for 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., pushes the project past the 50-percent-complete mark and keeps it on pace for completion by the end of the year.
SR 20 Burlington - On Tuesday, March 24, crews will open two new roads, turn on two new traffic signals and permanently close a major intersection along SR 20 in Burlington. This project will help relieve congestion and improve safety along five miles of SR 20 and at the heavily traveled I-5/SR 20 interchange. Crews need dry weather to complete the striping at the two new traffic signals. If it rains, all traffic changes will be delayed and completed between 9 and 11 a.m. on the first dry weekday. The construction funding for this $118 million project is helping sustain more than 550 jobs.
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Announcements
Alaskan Way Viaduct construction contract marks progress, sustains local jobs
WSDOT has issued a request for bids to further prepare for removal of the southern mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. This project is one of several contracting opportunities over the next several years to remove the seismically vulnerable viaduct. Construction will begin this June and will sustain an estimated 150 jobs. The first contract is expected to cost approximately $15 million. A second contract, estimated to cost more than $300 million, will be advertised this fall.
“This contract gets us one step closer to removing the viaduct, which begins in earnest this fall,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “In addition, it will create jobs, which is a top priority during these difficult times.”
The project is a safety priority because the southern mile of the viaduct rests in unstable soil that could liquefy in an earthquake and cause the viaduct to be permanently closed. The foundations of the replacement structure will reach down into stable soil, making it more resistant to large earthquakes. The new southern mile of SR 99 will have three lanes in each direction, and will be a side-by-side road instead of today’s double-deck structure. It will include new on- and off-ramps near the stadiums. A new undercrossing at S. Atlantic Street will eliminate long backups that now occur due to frequent rail crossings near the entrance to the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 46.
King County will begin more than $30 million of new bus service over the next three years to ease construction-related congestion associated with the major road work to begin next year.
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March open houses, meetings and events
23, Monday, 7 - 9 p.m., presentation, I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East - Snoqualmie: WSDOT's I-90 project director will give a presentation regarding the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East project to the Snoqualmie City Council. Location: Headquarters Fire Station, 37600 SE Snoqualmie Parkway, Snoqualmie.
24, Tuesday, 4 - 6 p.m., open house, Draft Aviation Alternative Strategies - Olympia: WSDOT staff are holding an open house to share information about the Long Term Air Transportation Study and to receive comments from people regarding the recently released draft alternative strategies. Location: Transportation Building, Commission Board Room, 310 Maple Park Avenue SE, Olympia.
26, Thursday, 4 - 6 p.m., open house, Draft Aviation Alternative Strategies - Spokane: WSDOT staff are holding an open house to share information about the Long Term Air Transportation Study and to receive comments from people regarding the recently released draft alternative strategies. Location: Ramada Inn, 8909 West Airport Drive, Spokane.
Express Lane Archive
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