Crews have installed a sea of epoxy-coated steel rods to reinforce the deck of the S. 317th bridge. The coating on the steel helps it resist corrosion.
The precast concrete bridge deck panels have steel "handles" through which crews thread steel rods. This links the panels together and strengthens the bridge.
Removing old southbound I-5 pavement in the area where the exit ramp to S. 320th used to be. We moved ramp traffic over next to the new retaining walls (left side of the photo) on April 21. Southbound I-5 traffic travels on the temporary roadway (right).
Crews pouring concrete to widen the northbound I-5 bridge over Military Road.
Crews hard at work installing the steel for the bridge deck widening on the northbound I-5 bridge over Military Road. We've made a lot of progress since last month.
A bird's eye view of the project area. The S. 320th bridge crosses I-5 in the middle of this photo, and you can see the new S. 317th bridge under construction toward the bottom of the photo. Notice where crews are replacing the southbound I-5 pavement as traffic travels to the left on the temporary roaday.
Looking west at construction on the new S. 317th bridge. This bridge and the new ramps we're building in the I-5 median will connect directly to the I-5 HOV lanes. This will allow buses, carpools, and vanpools to reach the new Federal Way Transit Center west of the freeway by passing over other lanes of traffic.
Traffic travels on the southbound exit to S. 320th as crews build a retaining wall and detention pond to the left of the ramp.
Installing new guardrail along the west side of the freeway in preparation to shift traffic on the southbound I-5 exit to S. 320th at the end of April.
Crew members look over the newly installed guardrail as their co-workers pour concrete for the base of a large signpost that will be installed along the southbound exit to S. 320th.
Crews have been grinding the pavement on northbound and southbound I-5 in Federal Way with diamond-tipped saw blades. The right side of this photo shows what the pavement looks like after grinding. This is a safety improvement, as it removes ruts and improves traction.
Crews finishing the barrier along the retaining wall on the west side of the southbound I-5 exit to S. 320th. At the end of the month, we expect to shift traffic closer to this wall.
Earth Day is April 22. We use many techniques to protect the environment during and after construction. Here you can see seed has been spread on the west slope of I-5 to grow grass and wild flowers. This vegetation will beautify the landscape and also prevent erosion.
Construction continues on the retaining wall on the east side of the southbound I-5 exit to S. 320th. Three months ago, we were just beginning this large excavation.
We conserve water by using slurry ponds, like this one near S. 375th Street. Crews have been grinding I-5 pavement in Federal Way to enhance traction. This produces slurry, which is water with concrete or other particles in it. Crews temporarily dump the slurry into this pond, then pump out and recycle the water. The solid material is hauled away.