A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Washington Jobs Now - Crews wrapping up stimulus project on I-5 in Cowlitz
Crews are putting the final touches on this I-5 repair project in Cowlitz County. The Recovery Act project means a smoother ride for travelers in southwest Washington. |
Travelers on Interstate 5 in Cowlitz County will have a smoother ride as the result of a project funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
WSDOT’s contractor, Granite Northwest, Inc. of Camas, has repaired and retrofitted approximately 180 damaged concrete panels on nearly 14 miles of I-5 between Kelso and Castle Rock. In addition, crews paved the northbound lanes of I-5 between Ostrander Creek and the Toutle River Bridge. Crews will be working on the side of highway, completing the final touches for the $15 million project over the next few weeks.
Construction began June 24 and throughout the summer crews ground out existing pavement, remove damaged concrete panels, overlaid the surface with new asphalt, and improved guardrail along this section of I-5. Many of the concrete panels on this section of I-5 were more than 40 years old. Replacing damaged concrete panels and resurfacing the interstate extends the life of the roadway and provides motorists with a safer, smoother drive. This project also strengthens I-5, allowing the interstate to continue handling heavy commuter and freight traffic for years to come. The project supported approximately 55 jobs.
On average, this stretch of I-5 carries approximately 52,000 vehicles per day. Paving and restoring I-5 preserves the interstate system, extends its life and keeps commuter and freight traffic moving.
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Maintenance & Operations feature - Cayuse and Chinook passes closed for the season
Chinook and Cayuse passes close each winter due to high avalanche risk. This photo of Yakima Peak, northeast of Chinook Pass, was taken in May 2009 during snow clearing efforts. |
WSDOT closed Chinook and Cayuse passes for the season Sunday, Nov. 8 after reviewing a snowy forecast and assessing the avalanche risk. Due to heavy snow accumulation on the roadway, WSDOT crews temporarily closed Chinook Pass just after 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7. WSDOT avalanche forecasters assessed the stability of the hillside on Sunday morning, Nov. 8 and determined the avalanche risk is too great to allow traffic to safely cross Chinook Pass and Cayuse Pass.
The SR 410 Chinook Pass closure points are at Morse Creek (five miles east of the summit) and at Crystal Mountain Boulevard (eight miles northwest of the summit). Access to the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort from SR 410 remains open. Additionally, WSDOT and Mount Rainier National Park staff agreed to close SR 123 (Cayuse Pass) for the season. SR 123 is closed within Mount Rainier National Park from the 4,675-foot Cayuse Pass summit at the junction of SR 410 and SR 123 to Steven Canyon Road.
WSDOT closes each pass for the winter due to high avalanche risk and hazardous driving conditions. Both passes have numerous slide areas that pose significant danger to travelers, WSDOT maintenance crews and park staff. The combination of avalanche danger, mountainous terrain, lack of cell phone service, inclement weather, and the low number of vehicles, make driving these passes in the winter a potentially hazardous endeavor. If someone had a problem, such as going off the road, it could be many hours, or days, before anyone could find them, which could be fatal in winter conditions.
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Update of projects under way
I-5 Nisqually - A 1.6-mile stretch of I-5 in Nisqually will receive a safety upgrade as part of a project to install new high-tension cable barrier in the median. The work replaces the existing barrier from State Route 510 (Marvin Road) and the McAllister Creek Bridge. During the project, crews will remove a 2,800-foot section of three-strand, low-tension cable median barrier and poured the concrete bases for the new cable poles. They will return in mid-December to install the new four-strand, high-tension barrier. The replacement work in Nisqually is part of a larger contract, which was awarded to Dirt and Aggregate Interchange, Inc. of Fairview, Ore. and retrofits more than seven miles of cable barrier on I-5, I-90 and SR 18 in northwest Washington.
I-5 Arlington - WSDOT along with state and local officials celebrated the early opening of new and improved ramps at the I-5/SR 531 (172nd Street NE) interchange on Nov. 13. WSDOT also unveiled new signs dedicating the SR 531 overpass in honor of Oliver “Punks” Smith, a longtime Arlington civic leader. The designation commemorates Smith’s community service and his efforts to secure funding to widen the overpass. This summer WSDOT opened a new on-ramp to southbound I-5 and widened four existing ramps at the I-5/SR 531 interchange, nearly six months ahead of schedule. The $23.5 million project improves access to and from I-5 and is already helping relieve congestion at the busy interchange.
US 395 North Spokane Corridor - Work continues as long as weather allows on the North Spokane Corridor (NSC). Crews are excavating to lower US 2 to pass under the new freeway alignment and building six new bridges for the US 2 and NSC Interchange. Crews are also constructing a new culvert under US 2 for Deadman Creek. Southbound US 2 is still reduced to one lane and the legal speed limit on US 2 from the Farwell Road vicinity to the SR 206 vicinity has been reduced to 45 mph. Drivers on Farwell Road near the NSC should be alert for flaggers, truck traffic and pedestrian bridge construction. This project is scheduled to be completed in mid-2011.
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Announcements
WSDOT Ferries Division announces January weekend closure of Port Townsend/Keystone route
The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division (WSF) will close the Port Townsend/Keystone route the weekend of January 9-10, 2010, to facilitate a required annual inspection on the Steilacoom II. Like all WSF vessels, the Steilacoom II is required by federal regulations to undergo an annual inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard every year. This inspection includes items such as inspecting the condition of lifesaving equipment, verifying proper operation of navigation equipment and fire suppression systems, and observing crew performance during emergency drills.
WSF is announcing this two-day route closure well in advance so that customers can plan ahead. Customers are advised to use the Edmonds/Kingston and Mukilteo/Clinton ferries as an alternate route between the Olympic Peninsula and Whidbey Island. In planning the timing of the annual inspection, WSF consulted with community stakeholders from Port Townsend and Coupeville. Weighing the anticipated ridership, the expense of chartering passenger-only service and installing temporary passenger loading/unloading facilities, and the short duration of the inspection period, it was decided to close the route for this one weekend.
WSDOT completes Stanwood Station project bringing passenger rail service back to community
Passenger rail service is returning to the community of Stanwood/Camano Island for the first time in 38 years thanks to a new rail station completed by the Washington State Department of Transportation and Amtrak. This new station will allow Amtrak Cascades train service to make two morning and two evening stops daily in Stanwood. The Washington State Department of Transportation will host a Stanwood Station grand opening celebration on Saturday, Nov. 21 with the arrival of the first Amtrak Cascades train at 9:03 a.m.
“The opening of this new station could not come at a better time with the 2010 Olympics right around the corner. Not only does the new stop give the community of Stanwood/Camano Island access to Amtrak Cascades intercity passenger rail service, which means more travel options to Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC., but it provides Olympics-bound travelers another option for getting on board Amtrak Cascades to Vancouver, BC,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary.”
“This has been a long time coming, and it’s going to make a huge difference for so many people in so many ways -- time, energy, environment, quality of life,” Senate Transportation Committee Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island said. “The benefits extend not just to Stanwood but to the surrounding communities, including Camano Island. Everywhere I go, people are talking about the train station.”
The $5 million project was funded by the state of Washington. It is located on the corner of 271st Street NW and the BNSF main line tracks in downtown Stanwood.
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November open houses, meetings and events
16, Monday, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., WSF Community meeting - Bremerton: WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) is holding a community meeting to provide updates on ferry issues specific to the Seattle/Bremerton route and regarding preparations for the 2010 Legislative session. This is an opportunity for people to provide comments on ferry system issues. Location: Kitsap Conference Center Bremerton Harbor, 100 Washington Avenue, Bremerton.
17, Tuesday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Local meeting, Washington Transportation Commission - Everett: Local officials from the Everett area will have the opportunity to share their transportation challenges and priorities with the Washington State Transportation Commission. The Transportation Commission holds several meetings throughout the state each year to gain insight from local government, industry and citizens about transportation issues that affect their communities and region. This information helps the Commission to develop and implement a vision for transportation that reflects the policies, plans and priorities of the people of the State of Washington. Location: Downtown Everett Holiday Inn, 3105 Pine Street, Everett.
17, Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Legislative workgroup, SR 520 Corridor - Seattle: The full SR 520 Legislative Workgroup will meet to review and discuss recommendations for a west side design and financing options for the new SR 520 corridor. The recommendations report is due to Gov. Gregoire and the Legislature on Jan. 1, 2010. Location: Sound Transit, Union Station - Ruth Fisher Boardroom, 401 So. Jackson, Seattle.
17, Tuesday, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., WSF Community meeting - Bainbridge: WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) is holding a community meeting to provide updates on ferry issues specific to the Seattle/Bainbridge route and regarding preparations for the 2010 Legislative session. This is an opportunity for people to provide comments on ferry system issues. Location: Bainbridge Island Commons, 402 Brien Drive, Bainbridge Island.
18, Wednesday, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., WSF Community meeting - Port Townsend: WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF)WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF)WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) is holding a community meeting to provide updates on ferry issues specific to the Port Townsend/Keystone route and regarding preparations for the 2010 Legislative session. This is an opportunity for people to provide comments on ferry system issues. Location: Pope Marine Building, 100 Madison Street, Port Townsend.
19, Thursday, 3:30 - 6:30 p.m., Open house, SR 19 and SR 20 recommendations - Chimacum: WSDOT will present final recommendations of an 18-month study of SR 19 and SR 20. The recommendations, a prioritized list of short-, mid- and long-range projects, were compiled during the study conducted by WSDOT, in collaboration with Jefferson County Public Works, the City of Port Townsend and users of the routes. The corridor plan outlines a 20-year vision for development of SR 19 and the section of SR 20 that leads to the Port Townsend ferry terminal. Location: Chimacum Middle School Commons, 91 W. Valley Road, Chimacum.
19, Thursday, 5 - 7 p.m., Environmental Assessment public hearing, SR 520 Eastside Transit & HOV Project - Bellevue: WSDOT will hold a formal public hearing for the environmental assessment for the SR 520 Eastside Project, which will be released to the public on Nov. 12. The hearing is within the 35-day comment period, which is planned to take place between November 12 and December 15. Location: Chinook Middle School, 2001 98th Avenue NE, Bellevue.
19, Thursday, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., WSF Community meeting - Clinton: WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF)WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF)WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) is holding a community meeting to provide updates on ferry issues specific to the Mukilteo/Clinton route and regarding preparations for the 2010 Legislative session. This is an opportunity for people to provide comments on ferry system issues. Location: Clinton Community Hall, 6411 Central Avenue, Clinton.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Express Lane Archive
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