A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Washington Jobs Now - WSDOT's SR 103 stimulus project results in positive response by Long Beach community
Long Beach's business owners show their appreciation to WSDOT and its contractor for improvements made during the SR 103 paving project. |
For retailers fighting to keep profits up in a down economy, the closure of a central thoroughfare holds the potential to deliver a significant blow to business. However, a recent WSDOT project funded with federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars, which closed SR 103 on the Long Beach Peninsula left the local business community thrilled.
The improvements made to the Long Beach peninsula were part of the US 101/SR 103 Fort Columbia – Long Beach – Paving project. The $2.5 million project resurfaces nearly 10 miles of highway on SR 103 and US 101, and improves Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) facilities along SR 103 in Long Beach. While paving through the city of Long Beach, WSDOT completely closed SR 103 through the city’s downtown district for more than three days, but arranged a detour and kept sidewalks open along the route.
Thanks to advanced planning and coordination between WSDOT, the contractor (Knife River of Tangent, Ore.), City of Long Beach officials, and local merchants, WSDOT Chief Project Inspector Ty Hillebrand observed that throughout the closure, “it seemed like business as usual for local shops.” Contractor crews, WSDOT engineers, and inspectors contributed to the area’s economy by supporting local hotels and restaurants during their around-the-clock operation.
City officials expect the SR 103 improvements to positively impact local business long after the departure of project workers. Una Boyle, Executive Director of the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, says that new pavement may hardly seem like a tourist attraction, but makes a significant contribution to the area. “A great deal of what you market to visitors is ambiance,” explains Boyle. Additionally, Boyle says the renovated ADA facilities in the downtown area “meet the needs of older tourists, and help keep Long Beach competitive with other coastal locations.”
If the success of this project is any indication of things to come, WSDOT has a lot to look forward to as ARRA funds are implemented statewide and the state continues delivering projects and programs that make a lasting difference in the lives and livelihoods of Washingtonians.
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Maintenance & Operations Feature - Roadside maintenance helps reduce the potential for fires
Mowing dry grass in the freeway median and along the shoulders helps reduce the risk of fires. |
This year's near-record dry spring and summer's warm temperatures could add up to a high threat for wildfires. Grasses and brush growing along the roadside dry out as temperatures rise, providing fuel for a fire and allowing it to spread.
WSDOT's Maintenance crews manage the vegetation in highway medians and along shoulders as part of our regular maintenance schedule, and one of the reasons we do it is to reduce fire starts. We focus our efforts on those areas considered to be high risk for fires, especially near businesses and homes. Crews may mow or spray closest to the traveled section of the roadway, and in some locations keep an area of bare ground next to the pavement edge.
Motorists can do their part to reduce the risk of wildfires. Drought combined with tinder-dry vegetation creates a fire hazard, especially when drivers throw lit cigarettes or other burning materials out of vehicle windows. Use your vehicle's ashtray to extinguish smoking materials. Violators can be fined up to $1025 by the Washington State Patrol (WSP).
WSDOT Maintenance crews provide traffic control on I-90 to keep motorists and fire fighters safe. |
When fires burn near state highways, WSDOT Maintenance crews assist WSP in closing the highway if the fire becomes a safety hazard. We also provide traffic control through an area where fire-fighting activities affect highway travel. In addition, WSDOT has an agreement in place to allow the Department of Natural Resources use of our equipment, such as water trucks, to help battle fires.
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Update of projects under way
I-5 Cowlitz County - Contractor crews will repair approximately 180 damaged concrete panels on nearly 14 miles of I-5 and repave the interstate’s northbound lanes. Work on I-5 between Kelso and Castle Rock will include grinding out existing pavement, removing damaged concrete panels, paving with new asphalt, and improving guardrail along this section of I-5. By replacing damaged concrete panels and resurfacing the interstate, WSDOT will extend the life of the roadway and provide motorists with a safer, smoother drive. In addition, this project will strengthen I-5, allowing the interstate to continue handling heavy commuter and freight traffic for years to come. Construction began on June 24 and is scheduled for completion in October 2009.
US 101 Raymond - Workers will begin construction on a project to pave US 101 and improve Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) facilities in Raymond on July 6. The US 101, SR 6 to Grays Harbor County Line paving project resurfaces nearly nine miles of US 101 between SR 6 in Raymond and the Grays Harbor County line and brings sidewalk ramps in Raymond up to current ADA standards. Crews will also begin improvements to sidewalk ramps in Raymond the week of July 6. The project was awarded to Granite Construction Company with a bid of $2.8 million. Work is scheduled for completion in October.
SR 169 Kummer Bridge - WSDOT reopened the SR 169 Kummer Bridge over the Green River on June 26. A celebration attended by 150 people from the Enumclaw and Black Diamond communities marked the reopening and end of seven months of detours around the bridge. WSDOT geotechnical engineers ordered the bridge closed on Nov. 18, 2008, when they noticed an unsafe amount of movement in the ground supporting the south piers. Crews spent the next seven months removing 13,000 dump-truck loads of dirt and installing a massive retaining wall. Highway 169 is a vital link from Maple Valley to Black Diamond, and the bridge links Black Diamond to Enumclaw.
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Announcements
WSDOT crews continue testing soil for proposed bored tunnel replacement of Alaskan Way Viaduct
WSDOT has begun the second round of soil testing for the proposed bored tunnel to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The soil samples and other geotechnical information gathered by crews will inform the design of the tunnel and boring machine. When testing is finished this fall, tunnel engineers will have soil samples every 100 to 400 feet along the alignment, to depths of 100 to 300 feet below the surface. “These samples will help us plan where ground stabilization should take place prior to the start of construction and where monitoring equipment can be installed,” said Ron Paananen, WSDOT’s Alaskan Way Viaduct Program Administrator. “It will also provide important data to the tunnel designers and contractors so they can complete their work.”
WSDOT will maintain access to businesses near each work zone and conduct the majority of work during weekdays and daytime hours. The soil testing will take place along the bored tunnel alignment on First Avenue between S. Royal Brougham Way and Virginia Street and northeast of Virginia Street and First Avenue, following the proposed bored tunnel alignment as it continues toward Aurora Avenue N. Approximately 50 holes will be drilled for soil sampling and testing.
In May, Governor Chris Gregoire signed into law ESSB 5768, which approved the SR 99 bored tunnel. The program team is completing environmental review plans and other contracting work so that tunnel construction can begin in 2011.
WSDOT Ferries Division finalizes long-range plan
WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) released its Final Long-Range Plan on June 30. The Plan guides WSF services and investments for the next 22 years with the first milestone being construction of the 64-car ferry. The Plan assumes that current levels of service remain as they are today with minor improvements as new vessels are acquired to replace retiring vessels. Other plan highlights include:
- Purchase 10 new vessels to replace retired and retiring vessels
- Preserve and maintain existing terminals and vessels
- Investigate new technology for vehicle reservations systems at Anacortes/Sidney B.C. and Port Townsend/Keystone, and to look at options to incorporate reservations on other routes
- Make transit supportive investments at select terminals
The Plan identifies a net funding gap of $3.3 billion over the next 22 years with most of that deficit in the capital program. WSF will continue to work with the Legislature to identify a sustainable funding source for the ferry system.
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July open houses, meetings and events
6, Monday, 4:30 - 6 p.m., opening event, SR 304 Bremerton Tunnel - Bremerton: WSDOT will host an opening event to mark the completion of a new vehicle tunnel at the Bremerton Transit Center. The new tunnel routes off-loading ferry traffic from the terminal to Burwell Street, resulting in improved pedestrian safety and less congestion in Bremerton's waterfront area. Location: Downtown Bremerton, Burwell Street between Park and Pacific avenues.
8, Wednesday, 4 - 6 p.m., public meeting, US 12 Tieton River Bridges replacement - Naches: WSDOT is holding two public meetings to share information about how the Tieton River Bridges Replacement project will affect traffic, including road closure times and locations for blasting operations. This project will construct two new bridges with wider lanes and shoulders approximately ten miles west of the US 12 / SR 410 junction. As part of this project, WSDOT will move the roadway between the two bridges away from unstable slopes to prevent rockfall hazards. Location: Naches Ranger District Conference Room, 10237 US Hwy. 12, Naches.
9, Thursday, 4 - 6 p.m., public meeting, US 12 Tieton River Bridges replacement - Packwood: WSDOT is holding two public meetings to share information about how the Tieton River Bridges Replacement project will affect traffic, including road closure times and locations for blasting operations. This project will construct two new bridges with wider lanes and shoulders approximately ten miles west of the US 12 / SR 410 junction. As part of this project, WSDOT will move the roadway between the two bridges away from unstable slopes to prevent rockfall hazards. Location: Packwood Fire District Training Room, 12953 US Hwy 12., Packwood.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Express Lane Archive
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