Date:
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Contact:
Meghan Soptich, WSDOT communications, 206-440-4704 (Seattle)
Marlin Lenssen, WSDOT Project Engineer, 425-225-8796 (Everett)
SNOHOMISH – A break in the weather this morning allowed crews working for WSDOT to finish repairs to State Route SR 96 (Seattle Hill Road) right on schedule. At 11:30 a.m., crews finished installing permanent striping – the final step in the month-long project. With repairs completed, engineers now expect the project to cost about $1 million less than originally estimated.
“We’re excited to wrap up this project on time and under budget,” said Project Engineer Marlin Lenssen. “We want to thank drivers for their patience this past month. We know this is an important route for local commuters, so our crews worked hard to reopen the roadway and complete repairs as quickly as possible.”
Historic rainfall on Dec. 3 overwhelmed a culvert beneath the roadway, causing it to collapse and wash out the ground under a section of SR 96. When crews began repairs on Dec. 11, project engineers expected the work to take up to six weeks and cost as much as $3 to $5 million.
Instead, crews worked around the clock to reopen the roadway in just three weeks and complete the project in five weeks, with an estimated final cost of $2 million. The Federal Highway Administration has approved the project as eligible for emergency relief funding.
“Not only did we work to quickly repair this highway for drivers, but we also did so cost-effectively, saving at least $1 million,” said Regional Administrator Lorena Eng. “I’m very pleased with the effort put forth by both our engineers and construction crew.”
As part of the emergency repairs to SR 96, crews replaced the failed 18” pipe culvert with a box culvert measuring ten feet wide by five feet tall. The new box culvert will protect against future flooding and improve fish passage. Crews also built a new retaining wall, replaced an existing retaining wall, handrails and guardrails, completed permanent paving and striping, and replanted the area near the roadway. For more information on this project, visit our project Web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR96/SeattleHillRoadSlideRepair.
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