Date:
Friday, May 05, 2006
Contact:
Al Gilson, Public Information Officer
(509) 324-6015
Major construction is slated for Interstate 90 in downtown Spokane in May. A reconstruction project to resurface the rutted pavement and install new expansion joints will be completed during the 2006 and 2007 summer construction seasons. Work will be underway on the freeway from mid-May to as late as mid-September in 2006, then the contractor will return for the second half of the job in 2007.
The first items of work for the contractor crews are setting up detour and alternate route signage at numerous locations throughout the area. They will also set up several wastewater containment areas underneath the freeway. Then, beginning on Sunday evening, May 14, the contractor will begin the process of reconfiguring traffic lanes to keep the freeway open during construction. During the first couple of weeks of work on the freeway, the contractor will be setting protective barriers, re-striping the lanes, placing signs, and installing drains.
During the construction, I-90 will be reduced to two lanes in each direction. Ultimately, these four lanes will be combined on one side of the bridge structure that traverses the central core of the city. When combined, the lanes will be 10 ½ feet wide instead of the usual 12 feet, and shoulders will be eliminated. The legal speed limit will be posted at 45 mph within the construction zone—down from the standard 60 mph. In addition, eastbound I-90 on the Sunset Hill will have a 55 mph speed limit-also down from 60.
A major impact on traffic will be the closure of several on and off ramps in the downtown area. A concern with keeping ramps open was the probability of exiting traffic backing up onto the freeway through lanes. This already occurs during some commute hours and, with fewer travel lanes, the potential of serious collisions needed to be addressed.
During the 2006 construction, the westbound Browne Street on-ramp, Lincoln Street off-ramp, and the Monroe/Jefferson on-ramp will be closed. The westbound Maple Street off ramp was also scheduled to be closed, however the WSDOT worked with downtown Spokane business interests to keep the ramp open on a trial basis. WSDOT and City of Spokane Traffic engineers will be monitoring the Maple Street off ramp closely watching the traffic flows and safety issues. If all goes well, the ramp should be able to remain open. The westbound Division Street off ramp will be open, but may be congested.
The actual construction in 2006 will be taking place where the existing eastbound lanes normally travel, therefore the eastbound Walnut Street on-ramp, Monroe Street on-ramp, and Division Street off ramp will be closed.
With the reduced number of through lanes and on/off ramps, a big concern will be congestion. Downtown Spokane Streets, especially Second and Third will see increased traffic. City and state traffic engineers have worked together to adjust traffic signal timing in the downtown core to accommodate the extra drivers; however, motorists should expect slower traffic on some downtown streets.
Parking under the freeway will also be affected with restrictions placed on the use of those lots during some phases of the job due to the work overhead.
To help motorists, the WSDOT has identified a variety of alternate routes to get to and from Interstate 90 and into the downtown retail and business area. Informational brochures have been printed and a new web site has been created to get the word out. Special maps with suggested travel patterns are in the brochure and on the web.
Area drivers are also encouraged to try different travel methods. With the increased congestion on the freeway, taking the bus can be an opportunity to avoid the stress of driving on the busy routes and assist in reducing that congestion by cutting the number of vehicles in the construction area. Also, since the work is in the summer months other options could be riding a bike, or walking.
Competitive bids on the project were opened in early April with two local firms joining together for the project. Degerstrom/Acme Joint Venture of Spokane had the low construction bid of $8.8 million. Total cost for the project, with engineering, contingencies, and taxes is pegged at about $13 million.
The winter pounding of studded tires has taken its toll on Interstate 90 in downtown Spokane. Dozens of steel studs on winter tires act like little pickaxes as they hit the pavement at 60 miles per hour—chipping off a microscopic bit of concrete on each revolution.
Two decades later, the damage is painfully evident. Ruts up to two inches deep in all six lanes of the freeway are a safety hazard to the nearly 100,000 motorists that pass through downtown each day. Plus, the expansion joints between each freeway section have also been damaged—a by-product of tires traveling in the ruts and slamming into the steel plates.
The WSDOT/Eastern Region received funding for the project in July 2005. Engineers began developing plans for the work and, at the same time, they undertook an extensive information and communications effort throughout the community to discuss the project, traffic changes, and construction logistics.
Project Engineer Darrel McCallum and his staff worked closely with the City of Spokane traffic team, law enforcement, and emergency services representatives to coordinate the various traffic configurations, signal systems, and emergency procedures that will be impacted by the project.
The work will be performed during the course of two construction seasons in two 90 to 95-day windows. The contractor will be working from mid-May to mid-September, with the extra time scheduled in as a contingency for weather or unforeseen circumstances. The schedule was planned to reduce the impacts on schools, transit, and special events as much as possible although there will still be some challenges. The engineers will watch the traffic closely and try to make small changes to minimize problems as the project moves forward.
The rutted pavement and expansion joint damage needs to be repaired and the WSDOT asks for your patience as we work in this critical corridor. The Department and its contractors will make every effort to get the work done on schedule with as little disruption as possible.
To help keep the community informed about the project, including upcoming schedule of work or unforeseen changes, an open meeting with the WSDOT and the contractor will be held each Thursday at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the AAA offices at 1717 W. 4th. Interested citizens, business owners, and community leaders are invited to attend.
More information on the project, including alternate route maps, a ramp closure diagram, hospital routes and a downloadable flyer, is available on the internet at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/Eastern/projects/I90/SpokaneViaductBridgeDeck/
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