Date:  Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Contact:
Chris Damitio, WSDOT Project Engineer, 360-788-7400
WSDOT Communications, 360-357-2789

NISQUALLY – A 1.6-mile stretch of I-5 in Nisqually receives a safety upgrade this week through the federal recovery act. The stimulus funds support a project to install new high-tension cable barrier and help reduce cross-median collisions.

The work replaces the existing barrier and requires single-lane closures between State Route 510 (Marvin Road) and the McAllister Creek Bridge in both directions of I-5 Monday, Nov. 9 through Thursday, Nov. 12.

The left lane on northbound I-5 closes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9 and Tuesday, Nov. 10, and the left lane on southbound I-5 closes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 12.

During the project, crews will remove a 2,800-foot section of three-strand, low-tension cable median barrier. They will then pour the concrete bases for the new cable poles, returning in mid-December and replacing it with four-strand, high-tension barrier.

According to statewide statistics, 95 percent of cars that hit cable barrier are stopped from crossing the median. The new high-tension cable barrier is easier to maintain and provides increased tension that keeps the cable taut even if some of the support posts are knocked down.

The replacement work in Nisqually is part of a larger contract, which was awarded to Dirt and Aggregate Interchange, Inc. of Fairview, Ore. and retrofits more than seven miles of cable barrier on I-5, I-90 and SR 18 in northwest Washington.

Washington State is administering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a Web site, www.recovery.wa.gov/, so every Washingtonian can see where tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden to oversee all states’ recovery efforts and to root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars are put to good use and recharge the economy.

The contract is part of a $9 million statewide project funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to retrofit 30 miles of cable median barrier on state highways. The entire project is expected to support approximately 90 jobs. For more information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/cablebarrierretrofit/.

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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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