Date:  Friday, March 27, 2009

Contact: Mike Hoffman, WSDOT Engineer, 360-570-6783
             Emily Pace, WSDOT Communications, 253-536-6228

MCCLEARY – WSDOT completed a slope stabilization safety project this week on eastbound State Route 8 at Winslow Road. Crews have reopened the right lane through the project work zone and restored the 60 mph speed limit.

The new 3,000-square-foot soldier pile wall stabilizes the slope and reduces the risk of future slides and makes the road safer for drivers. The slope beneath the roadway was damaged during a December 2007 storm event.

Since October 2008 the speed limit through the project work zone had been reduced to 35 mph for driver safety and the right lane closed to accommodate wall construction.

The wall is made of 28 steel piles, with timber lagging between each pile creating a solid wall. Piles are tied back using ground anchors reaching 30 to 40 feet into the hillside.

Minor work items remain on the project, including installation of a pedestrian and bicycle rail on top of a concrete barrier. Lane closures may be necessary to do this work. Final striping work is weather dependent.

Contractor Scarsella Bros., Inc. began construction on the $1.2 million project in October 2008.

Project Web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr8/sliderepair/.

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