Date:
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Contact:
Dustin Terpening, WSDOT Communications, (360) 757-5997 (Burlington)
Chris Damitio, Project Engineer, (360) 788-7403 (Bellingham)
BLAINE - WSDOT invites you to learn more about upcoming construction on the State Route 543 U.S./Canada border truck crossing in Blaine. This May, crews will begin three years of highway widening and congestion relief. This construction will have a significant affect on city and border traffic.
Open House
WSDOT will host an open house in Blaine on Thursday, May 4th to present their timetable for construction and lane closures over the next three years. Project staff will be available at the open house to answer questions about construction, affects to neighbors and commuters, and the timetable. Come get the latest information on this long-awaited project.
Who: Washington State Department of Transportation
What: Open House, State Route 543 - Blaine Truck Crossing
When: 6-8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 4
Where: Blaine Community Senior Center
763 "G" Street
Blaine, WA
Those not able to attend the open house can ask questions and get details about the project by visiting the project web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr543/i5_canadian or by contacting WSDOT Project Engineer Chris Damitio at 360-788-7403 or DamitiC@wsdot.wa.gov.
This three-year $35 million project will widen SR 543 into a five-lane highway, from north of Boblett Street to the border, and build an overpass at D Street to separate local traffic from highway traffic.
Starting in June, WSDOT will close the truck storage lane, reducing the roadway to two lanes and making room for drilling equipment. Crews will spend most of 2006 drilling 1,400 shafts that will support retaining walls and the new D Street Overpass.
“We have to close the truck storage lane during construction; there’s just not enough room for our equipment to drill the shafts otherwise,” said Project Engineer Chris Damitio. “This is going to be really hard on traffic, and we ask that drivers use other border crossings whenever possible during construction.”
General Construction Timetable
May: Install construction signs and environmental prep work
June: Close northbound truck storage lane
June - December: Drill 1,400 shafts to support retaining walls and D Street Overpass
2007: Lower SR 543 by 25 feet and build D Street Overpass
2008: Pour concrete and lay asphalt for new truck and vehicle lanes
The open house locations are accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals requiring reasonable accommodations may request written materials in alternate formats, sign language interpreters, physical accessibility accommodations, or other reasonable accommodation by contacting Ben Brown, at (206) 440-4582. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service or Tele-Braille at 7-1-1, Voice 1-800-833-6384, and ask to be connected to Ben Brown.
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Drivers can now get real time traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. This new traveler information system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that managed 4.6 million calls each year. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction, mountain pass condition, and state ferry system information, as well as toll free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.
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