Date:  Thursday, June 03, 2010

Contact: Denys Tak, WSDOT Kelso Area Engineer, (800) 545-1393 (Kelso) toll free
Annie Linstrom, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2079 (Vancouver)

WSDOT reduces risks of rocks falling onto SR 4

LONGVIEW – Drivers can travel SR 4 with a little more ease this summer as crews this week wrapped up work on a project to stabilize an unsteady slope above the highway just west of the Germany Creek Bridge (milepost 50.2) near Stella. The project was originally expected to be complete in mid-June and crews were able to complete the work nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.

The SR 4, Germany Creek Rockfall Stabilization project helps improve safety on this section of SR 4 by reducing the risk of rocks falling onto the highway.

WSDOT and Granite Construction of Bellingham partnered closely on this $340,000 project to minimize impacts to the traveling public and local communities during construction. Work required lengthy closures of the highway, but drivers did a good job planning ahead by learning about WSDOT’s pre-scheduled closures.

Crews removed approximately 200 cubic yards of unstable loose rock, soil and debris on this project and installed 12 large rock anchors to hold bigger rocks in place and further stabilize the slope above the highway.

Unstable slopes can pose significant challenges along state highways, compromising safety and spurring costly repairs. Projects like the SR 4, Germany Creek Rockfall project help keep essential goods and services moving in local communities and throughout the state.

For information on the Unstable Slope Management System that WSDOT uses to evaluate and prioritize the need for rockfall prevention, visit the WSDOT website: www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/mats/Geotech/usms.htm.

For more project details, visit the Web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR4/GermanyCreekRockfall/.

To view photos of the slope stabilization work on SR 4, visit the WSDOT Flickr set:
www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/4638789533/in/set-72157624134401720/. 

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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 http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/newsfor pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/trafficor by dialing 5-1-1.

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