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Project Evaluation: I-5, James St. to Olive Way Pavement Rehabilitation
Seattle, King County
Crews replaced the existing asphalt concrete pavement with concrete through an approximate one-mile section of southbound I-5 in downtown Seattle. This section includes the two outside lanes of mainline I-5 between James Street and Olive Way with the retail core to the west, and a high-density residential area to the east. In addition to pavement rehabilitation work through downtown Seattle, this project also included bridge repairs and paving at Dearborn Street along the I-5 southbound-collector distributor just south of downtown Seattle.
This was the first major rehabilitation project for I-5 through downtown Seattle since it’s completion in the mid-1960s. After 40 years of wear and tear, a more lasting solution was needed instead of temporary patching and repairs that are disruptive and costly. The new concrete pavement provides a smoother ride for drivers, and extends the lifespan of the freeway by an estimated 50 years or more.
Construction Summary
We constructed this project according to the original design with only a few changes that were made to address minor constructability issues. These were minimal in cost. Other minor costs were incurred due to utilities or other underground items and issues that are difficult to identify in advance. There were no increases to contract time as a result of the issues encountered on this project.
The contractor’s bid amount was 32% above the engineer’s estimate because of the unique conditions and risks involved with this project, which was located in one of the busiest stretches of highway in the state. Historic costs couldn't be used to develop the estimate. Unique conditions included extremely limited access to the work zone, strict time constraints on construction work, and difficult-to-predict timing for work that must be completed in sequence.
The successful execution of this project called for a high degree of cooperation and the development of a good working relationship. In additon, the amount of work associated with each of four 55-hour weekend lane closures allowed under this contract, required both the contractor and WSDOT to pull in workers from other jobs or offices that were outside of their core staff. The cooperative working relationship between all parties has been excellent, and is demonstrated by the product that was achieved on time and on budget. The only party to this job that quite often didn’t cooperate was Mother Nature, which resulted in having to call off five weekends due to the potential for wet, rainy conditions.
Contact Information
Contractor:
Gary Merlino Construction, Seattle
WSDOT Contact
Julia Mizuhata, Project Engineer
(206) 764-4105
E-mail: mizuhaj@wsdot.wa.gov
For more information: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/James_Olive
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