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I-5 - South 317th Street HOV Direct Access - December 2004

workers walking on rebar at bottom of excavation with bridge support framework in background
In the large excavation area between the temporary roadway and the S. 320th exit ramp crews are installing steel for the foundation of a retaining wall just north of the second bridge support.

crane lifting steel plate and crews working on retaining wall
To the right of the S. 320th exit ramp, crews continue construction on the long retaining wall north of the first bridge support.  Here a worker uses a crane to set a wall panel form.

rebar and wood forms erected for bridge support on southbound I-5
With the foundation finished and the steel reinforcement in place, crews are placing wood forms for the wall of the second bridge support.

wide shot of crews pouring footing for second bridge support
The arm of a concrete pump truck extends high above the steel reinforcements and wood forms as crews pour the footing for the second S. 317th bridge support, between the temporary roadway (background) and the S. 320th exit ramp (foreground).

close-up of pavement with slots cut at panel joints
On both northbound and southbound I-5 at S. 320th, we're extending the life of the 42-year-old pavement using a technique called "dowel bar retrofit."  Crews cut slots in the pavement, as shown in this photo, and insert bars between the concrete panels.  This relatively new and economical method helps ease the wear and tear caused by heavy vehicles.

slot cutting machine
Crews use this machine to cut slots in the existing pavement for the dowel bar retrofit (see above caption).  We're closing freeway lanes near S. 320th at night to perform this work.