Date:  Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Contact: Chris Tams, Columbia Gorge Area Engineer, 866-279-0730 toll-free (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)

STEVENSON - Drivers on SR 14 near Dog Mountain (milepost 54) are getting a break from two-hour closures just as summer gets into full swing.

WSDOT’s contractor, Hi-Tech Rockfall Construction Inc., wrapped up rock scaling work last week and will complete most of the remaining work on the $3.8 million SR 14 Rockfall Mitigation project using single-lane closures. Drivers should expect 20-minute delays between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Crews plan to use a few days of two-hour closures later this summer during rock bolting, wire mesh installation and paving work near Dog Mountain. Daytime closures of SR 14 near White Salmon (milepost 64) are also necessary later this summer for paving work. WSDOT will warn drivers in advance when these closures are scheduled.

Crews finished scaling work near Dog Mountain more quickly than expected this month. Mechanical scaling using an excavator cleared the bulk of loose rock and debris, leaving less rock to clear through labor-intensive hand scaling.

The project is on track for completion by September 2.

Drivers can stay current on closure information by signing up to receive e-mail updates from WSDOT. To sign up, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR14/RockfallMitigationWhiteSalmon and click on “E-mail updates” in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

The SR 14 Rockfall Mitigation project helps improve safety on SR 14 by removing loose rock, unstable soil, trees and other debris from slopes above the highway. The project is funded through federal highway improvement dollars.

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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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