A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Washington Jobs Now - Stimulus dollars preserve US 97 in Klickitat County
Crews will pave a 12-mile section of US 97 in Klickitat County this summer. Work will preserve the roadway and smooth the ride for drivers. |
Crews will repave nearly 12 miles of US 97 through Goldendale and over Satus Pass. The $3.8 million US 97 – Centerville Road to Bickleton Road and Satus Pass paving project is funded entirely by the federal 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The project is expected to support an estimated 35 jobs.
“The positive impact of this project will be seen not only in the jobs it supports but also in the long-term improvement of highways that are vital to the economic health of our state,” said Paula Hammond, Transportation Secretary. “Paving US 97 will ensure the continued safety and viability of this crucial commercial route, and create employment opportunities in local communities.”
US 97 is a major freight route and Satus Pass carries an average of 3,900 vehicles per day, providing an essential link between central and southwest Washington. Resurfacing the roadway will repair the existing pavement and extend the life of the roadway, in addition to providing a smoother and safer ride for motorists.
WSDOT awarded a contract for the project on May 27 to Granite Northwest, Inc. of Yakima, WA, with a winning bid of $3 million. Construction will begin in June and be complete by September.
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Maintenance & Operations feature - Wildflowers blooming on I-5 in Everett
Lupines are in bloom along I-5 in Everett, helping to prevent erosion of the slopes along the freeway. |
April showers followed by late May sunshine brought a wave of purple flowers (Lupine) along I-5 in Everett. Drivers are enjoying the blooms and tell us that they look forward to seeing the wildflowers during their commute calling them "a nice little de-stressor." Crews hydroseeded the seed mix as part of the roadside restoration for the I-5 Everett HOV freeway expansion project that was completed last year. The seed mix includes red clover, lupine and California poppy.
The wildflowers are more than just a colorful springtime show. They provide good coverage over WSDOT right-of-way and help maintain water quality by preventing erosion on the slopes along the freeway. They also improve the soil. As a legume that is part of the pea family, the purple lupine’s root nodules add nitrogen into the soil, a key nutrient to help plants grow.
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Update of projects under way
US 2 Monroe - Contractor crews working for WSDOT began pavement repairs on June 1 as part of a project to repave about five miles of US 2 between Monroe and Sultan. Crews will reduce US 2 to a single lane of alternating traffic from just west of Sofie Road to just west of Old Owen Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights. This work is part of the US 2 – Monroe to Sultan – paving project, which is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
I-205 Vancouver - WSDOT activated a new traffic signal June 2 on NE 112th Avenue and Chkalov to provide pedestrians safe passage when crossing 112th Avenue near the work zone of the I-205 – Mill Plain Exit – 112th Connector project. The signal will only stop traffic when the crosswalk sensor is activated. It will remain on “green” all other times. Activating the signal is necessary to ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists alike. This signal will become a fully-functional traffic signal upon completion of the I-205 – Mill Plain Exit – 112th Connector project. The project, scheduled for completion by the end of 2009 builds a direct connection to NE 112th Avenue from the northbound I-205 off-ramp to westbound Mill Plain Boulevard. This is a partnership project with the City of Vancouver.
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Announcements
SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge open again - eight days early
WSDOT reopened the SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge to vehicle traffic on June 3, culminating the replacement of the bridge’s east half and nearly six years of construction work on the $500 million project. The first car crossed the new SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge east-half at 10:19 p.m. today after the project contractor, Kiewit General, and the WSDOT project team completed 20 test openings of the floating bridge’s center draw span.
“This is a huge accomplishment for our project team and Kiewit-General, who overcame some tremendous engineering challenges to reopen this vital link to the Olympic Peninsula,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate this major milestone will be held at Salsbury Point County Park, near SR 104 just off SR 3, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, followed by an Olympic Peninsula-wide Bridge Opening Bash hosted in Port Townsend from noon until 8 p.m.
Barges will still be working near the bridge, installing new anchor cables, until the end of September. In addition, west-half electrical and mechanical upgrades will occur mainly inside the pontoon cells but also require limited night time closures to facilitate new equipment testing.
WSDOT secures vision for competing for federal high speed passenger rail stimulus funds
With nearly $8 billion in federal stimulus funding set aside for high speed passenger rail projects, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia are working together to gain consensus on the best projects to submit for consideration.
WSDOT and the Oregon Department of Transportation hosted a morning workshop meeting on May 27 that brought together stakeholders from state and regional rail interests to review the funding criteria and establish a common vision of proposed projects along the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor, which runs from Eugene, Ore. to Vancouver, BC and which is one of only 11 nationally designated high-speed rail corridors in the nation.
The meeting was an opportunity for stakeholders to increase their understanding of how projects are selected and to provide a forum for considering other projects. Later that afternoon, the Federal Rail Administration hosted its own workshop during which rail interests from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia provided input into the Administration’s selection process.
WSDOT is well-positioned to compete for a significant portion of the $8 billion for high-speed passenger rail, due to its well-established corridor with growing ridership between Portland, Ore., and Seattle. WSDOT has identified four groups of projects that meet federal guidelines. Several projects are shovel ready, and all have the support of the host railroad and Amtrak.
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June open houses, meetings and events
6, Saturday, 11 a.m., Ribbon-cutting ceremony, SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge - Kitsap County: WSDOT and its contactor Kiewit-General will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of the SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge East-half Replacement project. The replacement culminates nearly six years of construction on the $500 million project. The new east-half opened to traffic on June 3, eight days ahead of its scheduled six-week closure. Location: Salsbury Point County Park, near SR 104 just off SR 3. Signs will direct attendees to parking.
8, Monday, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m., open house: SR 532 Corridor Improvement project - Stanwood: WSDOT will host an open house to update drivers, business owners and local residents on safety improvements scheduled to begin this summer along 10 miles of State Route 532 between Interstate 5 and Camano Island. Location: Stanwood High School, Commons Room, 7400 272nd St NW. For more information: 360-631-3887.
8, Monday, 5 - 7 p.m., Public scoping meeting, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement - Downtown Seattle: Join the Federal Highway Administration, WSDOT and the City of Seattle for a public scoping meeting on the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement. We will also present other elements of the program such as the seawall and new waterfront surface street. You will be able to ask questions and share your thoughts on what environmental elements and mitigation measures should be studied in the supplemental draft environmental impact statement on the proposed bored tunnel alternative. Public comments will be collected in writing or via court reporter at the meeting, or you can e-mail SDEIS2ScopingComments@wsdot.wa.gov by July 10, 2009. Location: City Hall, Bertha Landes Room, 600 Fourth Avenue, Seattle.
8, Monday, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Public meeting, Washington State Ferries - Port Orchard: WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) will hold a series of public meetings to provide information about what happened during the legislative session and to talk about plans for the year ahead at WSF. Location: South Colby Elementary Gym, 3281 Banner Road SE, Port Orchard.
9, Tuesday, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Public meeting, Washington State Ferries - Bainbridge Island: WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) will hold a series of public meetings to provide information about what happened during the legislative session and to talk about plans for the year ahead at WSF. Location: Bainbridge Island Commons, 402 Brien Drive, Bainbridge Island.
10, Wednesday, 10 a.m., Public Hearing, Tacoma Narrows Toll proposal - Olympia: The Washington State Transportation Commission is holding a public hearing to consider final adoption of its decision to extend, indefinitely, the current Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll rates. The current toll rates are $2.75 for Good To Go! electronic tolls and $4 for cash toll rates. Location: County Road Administration Board, Boardroom, 2404 Chandler Court SW, Olympia.
10, Wednesday, 6 - 8 p.m., Public scoping meeting, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement - West Seattle: Join the Federal Highway Administration, WSDOT and the City of Seattle for a public scoping meeting on the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement. We will also present other elements of the program such as the seawall and new waterfront surface street. You will be able to ask questions and share your thoughts on what environmental elements and mitigation measures should be studied in the supplemental draft environmental impact statement on the proposed bored tunnel alternative. Location: Madison Middle School, Commons, 3429 45th Avenue SW, Seattle.
10, Monday, 6 - 8 p.m., Public meeting, Washington State Ferries - Kingston: WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) will hold a series of public meetings to provide information about what happened during the legislative session and to talk about plans for the year ahead at WSF. Location: Kingston Community Center, 11212 State Highway 104, Kingston.
11, Thursday, 11:40 a.m. - 3:40 p.m., Public meeting, Washington State Ferries - San Juan Islands: WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) will hold a series of public meetings to provide information about what happened during the legislative session and to talk about plans for the year ahead at WSF. Location: Inter-Island ferry, Friday Harbor (departs 11:40 a.m.), Lopez (departs 1:05 p.m.), Friday Harbor (departs 2:15 p.m.)
11, Thursday, 6 - 8 p.m., Public scoping meeting, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement - Ballard: Join the Federal Highway Administration, WSDOT and the City of Seattle for a public scoping meeting on the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement. We will also present other elements of the program such as the seawall and new waterfront surface street. You will be able to ask questions and share your thoughts on what environmental elements and mitigation measures should be studied in the supplemental draft environmental impact statement on the proposed bored tunnel alternative. Location: Leif Erickson Hall, Auditorium, 2245 NW 57th Street, Ballard.
11, Thursday, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Public meeting, Washington State Ferries - Anacortes: WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) will hold a series of public meetings to provide information about what happened during the legislative session and to talk about plans for the year ahead at WSF. Location: Fidalgo Senior Center, 1701 22nd Street, Anacortes.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Express Lane Archive
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