Stimulus News You Can Use is one way WSDOT is working to keep transportation stakeholders updated on the fast-moving effort to put people to work and improve the state’s infrastructure. Each edition will have information on project delivery and highlights. Sign up to receive stimulus news e-mail updates. Visit the Newsletter Archive for earlier editions.

This week's stimulus snapshot

• Three chip seal projects completed in North Central Region 
• Vancouver and Kalama completed local projects 
• Two more projects certified to receive Recovery Act funds 
• I-90 Recovery Act project now under way near Snoqualmie Pass 
• Important stimulus dates 
• Useful Recovery Act web links 
• Stimulus data table update
  

Three more Recovery Act highway projects completed – Contractor crews from Central Washington Asphalt completed work last month on three WSDOT Recovery Act projects, including two projects that provided new chip seal on US 97, and one on SR 26. The projects were combined into one contract for efficiency and received more than $2.6 million in stimulus funds. The projects were among the initial seven Tier 3 projects added in December of 2009 due to low bids on earlier stimulus projects. The completed projects are:

• US 97/Okanogan to Riverside – Chip Seal
• US 97/Pateros South – Chip Seal
• SR 26/Royal City East – Chip Seal

Two more local Recovery Act highway projects completed –

• Vancouver – 2010 Arterial Overlay
• Kalama – First Street Phase 2

Two more highway projects certified – Governor Gregoire certified two more local government projects to receive Federal Highway Administration stimulus funds on September 13 (pdf 205kb). Following the latest certification, 219 individual projects and two statewide safety programs are certified to receive FHWA Recovery Act funds. The latest certification also amends funding levels for 32 current or completed Recovery Act projects reflecting the latest information. The two new projects are:

• Ellensburg: Canyon Road Overlay – Berry Road to I-90
• Spokane – Hatch Road/43rd to Perry

Federal Transportation Blog highlights this week – Check the WSDOT Federal Issues blog for recent items on infrastructure investments, federal funding, and updates on the planned six-year transportation reauthorization bill.

Highlight of the week

I-90 stimulus project puts people to work and fixes deteriorating pavement – The cracked and deteriorating concrete pavement on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass creates a rough ride for cars and freight trucks. But, thanks to Recovery Act funds, the right-hand concrete lane and asphalt shoulders of eastbound I-90 between Easton and the Big Creek Bridge are getting a facelift. The project also puts Washington citizens back to work.

WSDOT awarded ICON Materials of Auburn the I-90 Lake Easton to Big Creek Bridge Eastbound Concrete Replacement project for their low bid of $14.8 million. This project supports close to 125 jobs. Bruce Harjehausen, Construction Manager at ICON Materials, said ICON was elated to hear they were awarded the project because the last year and half was difficult. The 2011 construction season wasn’t looking promising for ICON either.

“This project puts people to work and is a good morale booster for everyone - from our flaggers to the people at the asphalt plant,” said Harjehausen. “It also means that construction workers will maintain their good standing with the union and keep their insurance benefits.”

ICON crews and their subcontractors will begin preliminary construction work mid-September. Crews will construct temporary cross-over detours to help keep traffic moving. Crews will then begin the major construction work to remove and replace 10 miles of the right-hand concrete lane and asphalt shoulders. When the project is complete, motorists will experience a smoother ride on eastbound I-90.

The project complements the I-90 Lake Easton to Bullfrog concrete replacement project between Easton (milepost 70) and Nelson Siding Road (milepost 74), completed last spring. The $18.8 million ARRA-funded project rehabilitated approximately eight miles of deteriorated right-hand lane concrete and asphalt highway shoulders. It also supported more than 130 jobs at Gary Merlino Construction Co. of Seattle and several other jobs for eight sub-contractors from across the Pacific Northwest.


Important dates

September 20: Next accountability report to the T & I Committee
September 20: Tentative advertisement date for US 395/Lee Road to I-90 - Paving
September 30: Deadline for obligating Recovery Act highway funds
Fall: Next high-speed rail grant announcements expected
Fall: TIGER II award announcements expected
October 14: Next quarterly accountability report due

Websites of interest

WSDOT ARRA website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/funding/stimulus
WSDOT Federal Transportation Issues blog: http://wsdotfederalfunding.blogspot.com
Washington recovery website: http://www.recovery.wa.gov/
Federal recovery website: http://www.recovery.gov/
FHWA recovery website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/index.htm
Federal Transit Administration recovery website: www.fta.dot.gov/recovery
Federal Railroad Administration recovery website: http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2153
Federal Aviation Administration recovery website: http://www.faa.gov/recovery
OMB recovery website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/recovery_default/

This week by the numbers (project dollars in millions)