View entire map This project removes the current sidewalks and reconfigures the bridge deck for another eastbound lane.
View entire photo The "weave" into one lane for eastbound travelers will be eliminated when the loop ramp gets its own lane and the west end improvements are complete.
View entire photo Sidewalks will be removed to provide the needed width for the additional eastbound lane.
View entire photo The six red designations show where WSDOT Geotechnicians took soil samples in March of 2008.
View entire photo This is the drilling machine used to do the soil analysis as the project was designed.
This Urban Mobility Capital Improvement Project adds another eastbound lane to the SR 285 Senator George Sellar Bridge to reduce congestion.
Why is WSDOT
adding an additional eastbound lane?
The approaches to the George Sellar Bridge are experiencing heavy congestion, causing traffic delays. Currently the bridge has two westbound and two eastbound lanes.
On the east end of the bridge, a two lane eastbound bypass will be constructed beginning in 2010. This will increase the number of drivers changing lanes over the length of the bridge to take the bypass.
On the west end of the bridge improvements will begin construction in 2012, where the two eastbound lanes converge into one inside lane within a very short distance. In addition a loop ramp from busy South Wenatchee Avenue feeds the current outside eastbound lane. This configuration creates congestion, delays and safety concerns. The two eastbound lanes currently act as a pinch point, creating conflicts on both sides of the bridge, including collisions.
The End Result
By adding the eastbound lane to the bridge, the east side gains a defined lane to enter the bypass and reduces traffic weaving. The west side gains a third lane to match the lanes feeding the bridge, improving safety and decreasing the delays.
This project will remove the sidewalks from the bridge to accommodate a third eastbound lane. A new bicycle and pedestrian structure will be added to the southside of the bridge. The current structure has a 54' wide deck for cars (4 - 12' lanes plus 3' shoulders) and 5' wide sidewalks with metal railings. When we are done it will have a 61' wide deck for cars (5 - 11' lanes with 2' shoulders) and a 2' median separating the opposing traffic, plus concrete shoulder barriers which are safer than the metal railings.
Project Benefits
- Increasing Safety: The conflicts between drivers changing lanes on the bridge to take the bypass will be reduced and will lower the potential for collisions.
- Eliminating Bottlenecks and Chokepoints: The added lane will increase the flow of eastbound traffic onto the bridge from Mission Street reducing congestion and delay.
- Increasing Highway System Efficiency: The new lane will increase the efficiency of both the eastbound on-ramp and off-ramp at each end of the bridge, improving the efficiency of the local road system as well.
What is the project timeline?
Construction began May 4 and will be complete in the fall of 2010.
Financial Information
The project was advertised for private contractor bids on January 26th, 2009. Four qualified bids were opened on March 19th. On March 24th, contract #7677 was awarded to the Max J. Kuney Co. of Spokane for $12,884,988.00, 22% over the engineering estimate.
This project is funded through the following sources:
- 2005 Gas Tax (Partnership Funding) - $16.48 Million
- Total Funding From All Sources - $16.48 Million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Kevin Waligorski Project Engineer
WSDOT North Central Region
P.O. Box 98
Wenatchee, WA 98807
Phone: (509) 667-2860 or toll free (888) 461-8816
Email: WaligoK@wsdot.wa.gov
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