•  2003 Project Highlights
•  Evaluation Criteria

SR 28 - Rock Island - Rock Slopes Stage 1

Douglas County

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Design:  Construction Management: Schedule: Cost: Engineers Estimate: $2,178,880 Contract Award Amount: $2,379,465 Estimated cost for completion: $2,388,300 The contractor, Scarsella Bros. Inc. partnered with WSDOT’s Project Office and Burlington Northern Railroad to adjust the work schedule to meet public expectations and eliminate delays to trains. The excellent contract performance on a steep and difficult rock excavation resulted from the contactor’s consistent work operation, excellent up-front communication with WSDOT, and cost saving approaches to the slope stabilization that allowed some additional excavation work to be performed within approximately the original construction cost estimate.

This project is located on SR 28 approximately one mile east of Rock Island Dam in Douglas County. The highway and railroad tracks occupy a thin strip of land between the base of the rock cliffs and the Columbia River. Maintenance crews were frequently called out to clear rocks from the roadway. This project addresses the unstable 300-foot basalt rock slopes and reduces a serious safety hazard. This is the first stage of a three-stage project.  Phase one began on the east end of the rock face working west toward the dam. The second stage, a soil nail wall, begins this spring.  Phase three, stabilizing the west end of the slope, is scheduled for 2005.  The project staging was extended to accommodate heavy truck traffic during the August through October fruit harvest.

Construction Summary

Stage one work proceeded as designed with a few minor modifications to improve traffic movement and safety. Temporary barrier was added to the project to protect traffic from debris from the steep slope and a traffic-control monitor was added to facilitate traffic movement through the work zone.

The project’s initial design was to scale loose rock off the slope, install rock bolts and dowels, and hang rock-fall netting over the slopes. A Value Engineering (VE) study determined the most cost effective solution to address the rock-fall problem and future needs of the highway was to excavate so as to create a series of benches to catch falling rocks. The cut and the benches were designed for the possibility of future widening of the highway. A serious concern for the rock excavation was the risk of blasting so close to the highway and the railroad. Approximately 24 freight trains with 7,000 cars, and two Amtrak trains pass through each day. Extensive agreements and coordination was set up with the railroad and Douglas and Chelan counties.

Since there were no reasonable detours available to get around the work area, WSDOT was committed to giving the public as much notice about expected road closures and traffic delays as possible. Methods used to inform travelers about the project and traffic impacts included a Web page, traffic camera, Highway Advisory radios, e-mail and fax advisories, and electronic message signs.

Contractor:
Scarsella Brothers Inc. of Seattle

WSDOT Contact:
Terry Berends
WSDOT North Central Region
Phone: 509-667-3041 or toll free 1-888-461-8816
E-mail: berendt@wsdot.wa.gov

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