View entire map Stage 3 of this slope stabilization project will install large rock slope netting above SR 28 between milepost 11.83 and milepost 11.96, near Rock Island Dam, in Douglas County.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE MAP
Click to enlarge This map shows the lengthy alternative routes that were necessary during the March 28-April 1 closure.
View entire photo Open Houses were held in July in both East Wenatchee and Quincy to find out the best way to manage the necessary closure of SR 28.
View entire photo The slope looking west.
Project Facts
- 18,000 dump truck loads of rock were removed during stage 1
- By comparison, only 700 dump truck loads were needed to remove rock during stage 2.
Stage 3 removed more than 200 dump truck loads of rock.
- The project was broken into three stages to accommodate wintering Golden Eagles and the needs of fruit growers and shippers.
Spring 2008
Weekly progress and traffic impact is available on the
weekly construction updates.
Beginning Tuesday, May 13th, expect the final 4 days of single lane alternating traffic with short delays as crews finish installing rock bolts in one section of the slope above the highway.
After being closed to traffic completely on Friday, March 28th at 9 p.m. while dangerous loose rocks were scaled off the slope above the highway near Rock Island Dam, SR 28 reopened 12 hours early on Tuesday, April 1st, at 5 p.m. There are 2-1/2 minutes video clips from the slope scaling work on Saturday, March 30th that you can view in
Windows Media,
Real Player or
YouTube.
Stage 3 - the Rock Island Slope Nettings project - involves two steps to stabilize the slope. The first step scaled the slope. Technicians knocked down loose rocks and pried potentially hazardous rocks from the bank and onto a sand bed on the highway below. This phase was extremely dangerous, so SR 28 was completely closed March 28th until April 1st.
During the second phase, crews will hang nets over those scaled slopes. An all-terrain crane will climb up to the bench created by the last project and lift the nets to cover the slope. During the short periods when the nets are lifted above the roadway, traffic will be stopped. Expect this second phase between August and the first of October. The steel net work could not be done in April because the netting wasn't available yet and that's when Golden Eagles are, uh, present, in the project area...
Why is WSDOT
stabilizing this slope?
The primary purpose of all three stages of the rock stabilization project is safety. The current slope nettings project will reduce the number of rocks falling onto the highway creating a hazard for travelers. An unstable 300 foot high basalt rock slope has continuously produced falling rock onto SR 28. The highway and railroad tracks occupy a thin strip of land between the base of the cliffs and the Columbia River, just below Rock Island Dam in Douglas County. WSDOT maintenance crews are routinely called to clear hazardous rock fall from the roadway. The slope nettings project will significantly improve traveler safety.
The End Result
The rock slope nettings will provide redirection and containment of rocks that fall from the slope onto SR 28 below Rock Island Dam in southern Douglas County.
Project Benefits
Aside from the benefits of reducing the driving hazard presented by falling rocks on the highway and the accommodations for future expansion of SR 28, drainage and sight-distance are also improved. This further improves safety and reduces maintenance expenses.
What is the project timeline?
- Stage 1 began April 1st of 2003 and was complete on August 28.
- Stage 2 began April 5th of 2004 and was scheduled to be complete by mid August, but due to an increase in wall size and complexity, the completion of this project was delayed until October 8th, 2004.
- Stage 3 began March 28th, 2008.
Public Involvement
Public Open Houses were held in 2007, for Wenatchee area residents on July 24th, and for Quincy residents on the 25th to get input on the traffic plan and project schedule. Click here to read the news release.
The original plan called for the work to be complete in two construction seasons. As a result of WSDOT's experience during stage 1, fruit industry representatives were invited to discuss the impact of traffic delays at harvest times. The project was broken into three stages to try to minimize impacts to the early cherry harvest, the soft fruit and apple harvests, August through October.
Since there were no easy or convenient detours around the project, a traffic control plan for commuters, truckers, travelers, emergency service providers and the railroad was a top priority. For Stage 3, significant planning and resources were invested to put into a place a public information program to provide users with timely and accurate travel delay and road closure information, including:
- The project web page.
- Current traffic impacts broadcast from Highway Advisory Radios (HAR)(AM 530) on SR 28 at Grant Road in East Wenatchee and west of Quincy.
- E-mail and faxes to media, businesses, schools, transit and emergency service to provide advance notice of the planned work and traffic impacts.
- Electronic message signs on the highway to inform travelers of current and upcoming traffic impacts.
- Local radio and newspaper announcements.
The spring road closure was scheduled before any fruit harvest season and during the local school districts' spring vacation to further minimize impacts.
The four day continuous closure began Friday, March 28th at 9 p.m. and ran until Tuesday, April 1st at 5 p.m. (opening 12 hours earlier than scheduled)
In case of emergencies:
Extensive emergency service coordination was necessary with Douglas and Grant County fire districts, the Washington State Patrol, Wenatchee and East Wenatchee Police, Douglas and Chelan County Sheriff offices, Ballard and Lifeline Ambulance Services, Central Washington Hospital and Quincy Valley Medical Center.
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. If you have any questions and/or comments, click here to contact us. If you are interested in receiving updates on this project, click here to send us an email so we can add you to our list.
Environmental Protection
All applicable environmental regulations continue to be followed as this project continues. Among them are the dates when work can be done. Between November and March, work is prohibited because of the wintering Golden Eagles in the area.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
While the purpose of the slope stabilization project is to remove a hazardous road condition that threatens travelers on the highway, the safety of those working on and driving through the project while it's under construction is an equally high priority. Comprehensive work zone and traffic control safety plans are in effect to protect both workers and motorists.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
On site investigation and tribal consultation indicate this project will have no effect on any identified culturally or historically significant sites. WSDOT seeks to address the concerns of tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
Financial Information
This project was advertised for private contractor bids on November 13th, 2007 with 4 bids opened on December 13th. Contract #7450 was awarded to Janod, Inc. for $2,393,095.18, $848,000 below the engineering estimate.
Stage 3 of this project is funded through the following sources:
- Pre-Existing Gas Tax - $4.1 million
- Total funding from all sources - $4.1 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Project Engineer Bob Romine
WSDOT North Central Region Project Office
PO Box 98
Wenatchee, WA 98807
Phone: 509-667-2880, or toll-free 1-888-461-8816
E-mail: RomineR@wsdot.wa.gov
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