SR 270 - Pullman to Idaho St Line - Additional Lanes

Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending September 2007

Project Title & Location
SR 270/Pullman to Idaho State Line.   East of Pullman in Whitman County.

Project Description
As Revised September 2004 - Constructs one additional lane in each direction with a two way turn lane between Pullman and the Idaho State line. The project will increase capacity and reduce travel times. Safety will be enhanced with the addition of a two way turn lane to provide separation between opposing directions of traffic. There are currently two lanes. There will be four through lanes when this project is completed.

Contractor/Consultant
North Central Construction (NCC) of Moses Lake, WA.

Recent Progress
This project constructs a four-lane highway, with a continuous center turn lane, along the existing SR 270 alignment. The project was executed May 8, 2006 and work started on July 10, 2006. Current construction activities include placing ballast and CSBC, installing culverts, paving both 1" base and 1/2" wearing HMA, electrical work, slope finishing, finalizing work on wetland mitigation sites, and seeding. 

Design Construction Impacts
The relocation of the utilities along the corridor have impacted the project prompting a revision to the sequencing. Coordination efforts are being utilized to maintain the "open to traffic" commitment.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance

Environmental Sensitive areas have been delineated with Orange High Visibility fencing. Silt fence and inlet protection have been placed to help mitigate surface erosion. Straw matting has been placed to stop surface erosion. Preparing slopes for seeding.

Impacts to Traffic
The blasting operation has impacted traffic. A detour using Airport Road was set up to help alleviate the impacts. Utilizing the Traffic Management Center (TMC), News Alerts, Highway Advisory Radio's (HAR's), and Variable Message Signs (VMS) to provide information to the public.

Project Milestones Scheduled Attained Milestone Outlook
Start Project July 2003 July 2003  
Environmental Document October 2005 February 2006  The revised schedule was tightly tied to the attainment timeline for permits.   The lengthy JARPA review by the Army Corps of Engineers impacted the Ad date.
Contract Ad November 2005 March 2006 Advertised March 6, 2006. Awarded April 26, 2006.
Start Construction May 2006 July 2006 The project was executed May 8, 2006 and work started on July 10, 2006. Winter shutdown from November 2006 to April 2, 2007.
Open to Traffic Fall 2007 All lanes will be open Fall 2007. There will be some finish work that will occur in Spring 2008 to finalize the project.
Project Cost Summary: Dollars in
millions 		Percent
of Total

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)
Project Expenditure Chart

Preliminary Engineering $ 4.4 14.5%
Right-of-Way $ 4.3 14.1%
Construction $ 21.7 71.4%
Funded Project Costs $ 30.4 100%

Nickel funds included in above costs

 $28.5 93.8%

2005 Transportation Partnership Account

  For more information, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects

Chad Simonson, WSDOT Project Engineer @ (509) 324-6252 Or E-mail simonsc@wsdot.wa.gov