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Project Title & Location
SR 240/I-182 to Richland Y – Add Lanes, SR 240/Richland Y to Columbia Center Interchange
Tri-Cities
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Project Description
This project constructs additional lanes on SR 240 between Richland and Kennewick, linking Interstate 182 with the US Department of Energy's Hanford site, the Columbia Center commercial areas, and east Kennewick's industrial zones. The project will save travel time for auto and vanpool commuters and expand the bicycle corridor. There are currently four general purpose lanes; there will be six lanes when the project is completed.
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Contractor/Consultant
ICON Materials, Kent, Washington
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Recent Progress
The contractor's activities this quarter include completion of the wildlife connectivity tunnel known as the Superspan structure and planting of the wetland mitigation site. Other activities include completion of HMA paving of the new SR 240 eastbound lanes and start of eastbound Portland Cement Concrete paving. Construction of a detour, temporarily realigning Columbia Park Trail at the Steptoe Street intersection, has allowed the contractor to construct the roundabout located at the new Steptoe intersection site. The animal exclusion fence around the wetland mitigation site is complete and construction of chainlink fence has resumed.
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Design Construction Impacts
Negotiations between WSDOT and the contractor relating to the failure of the I-182/14, pier 3 post tensioning duct resulted in a change order which partially reimburses the contractor for the cost to repair and other associated costs. Concerning the failure of the Superspan temporary shoring wall, WSDOT has denied the contractor's request for compensation to re-engineer and reinforce the shoring wall. As a result, a change order has been created to form a Disputes Resolution Board to determine if there is any validity to the contractor's claim.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
Final agreements are being completed to purchase 60.12 acres of property in the Amon Creek Watershed for a conservation easement. WSDOT has committed $75,000 to the purchase of this property to fulfill one acre/credit of wetland mitigation. SCR Environmental staff is continuing to work with WDFW, Dept. of Ecology, local conservation groups and the City of Richland to purchase property to fulfill the remaining mitigation.
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Impacts to Traffic
During this quarter, impacts to the traveling public has been minimal, experiencing only temporary lane restrictions.
As in past quarters, all scheduled traffic restrictions are made available to the public through the WSDOT Website and local media.
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