Date:  Thursday, January 29, 2009

Contact: Suanne Pelley, WSDOT Communications, 206-770-3578, 206-437-5717 (cell)
Victoria Tobin, WSDOT Communications, 206-464-1184, 206-375-2412 (cell)

HOQUIAM – The Washington State Department of Transportation confirmed today at a public open house in Hoquiam that it is preparing to build pontoons in Grays Harbor County to replace the SR 520 bridge across Lake Washington.

“We are excited to be back in Grays Harbor County sharing the latest pontoon construction information with this great community,” said Julie Meredith, WSDOT Program Director. “We have three sites to evaluate here that all meet our engineering needs and, based on the public and agency comments we receive, we plan to identify a preferred site this spring. This is a critical step to accelerate pontoon construction.”

The three sites — two in Hoquiam and one in Aberdeen — comprise the project’s range of alternatives, which are subject to a public and agency comment period that began Jan. 15 and ends Feb. 19. The open house provided citizens a chance to provide comments on the effects associated with the construction of pontoons at the three Grays Harbor County locations. All three sites will be fully studied in a draft environmental impact statement, planned for release later this year.

WSDOT will launch a program this spring to conduct field testing in Grays Harbor County of innovative pontoon construction techniques. WSDOT will explore ways to build bridge pontoons more quickly and efficiently using innovative design, engineering and construction methods to provide a tested and preapproved pontoon construction approach to the construction contractor.

“Conducting the advanced construction methods and engineering work now will help WSDOT reduce construction risks and support the accelerated schedule,” said Meredith.

Construction of pontoons at an existing facility in Tacoma, along with construction of the new facility in Grays Harbor, is planned to begin in 2010. Pontoon construction at the new Grays Harbor facility will begin in 2012. As a result, the SR 520 floating bridge can open with four lanes in 2014 and six lanes in 2016.

Meeting materials will be posted online for those who were unable to attend the open house. Comments will be accepted through Feb. 19 by e-mail or by mail to:

Pontoon Construction Project
Attn: Susan Haupt
SR 520 Corridor Program
600 Stewart Street, Suite 520
Seattle, WA 98101
1-888-520-NEWS (6397)

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