From the Regional Administrator
Welcome to the August edition of our Eastern Region monthly newsletter. This month we showcase our Colfax maintenance team as they perform some cost-effective repairs on US 195 in Whitman County. In addition, the first arch sections are going up on the North Spokane Corridor
As you may have read in the media, Governor Gregoire has asked all departments in the state to cut costs. Some of the strategies include freezing hiring, limiting travel, and reducing our fuel use. I have taken steps within the Eastern Region to put these strategies into effect. It is important to note that we will continue our construction and maintenance work to complete the projects that are underway and perform critical highway maintenance jobs to keep travelers safe.
Keith Metcalf, P.E.
Regional Administrator
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WSDOT crews use alternative to patching on US 195
The section of US 195 between Pullman and Colfax had become rough with a number of segments where the asphalt had failed.
The usual procedure would be to use hot mix asphalt to overlay the failed pavement in the roadway by “blade patching” with a road grader.
Because some of the segments were quite large, this would entail spreading the asphalt across the full width of the highway, using a substantial quantity of expensive asphalt.
Instead, the Colfax team tried something new in their area. They rented an “Asphalt Zipper”, a machine that grinds up asphalt pavement so that the surface can be replaced. Instead of spreading a full patch across the roadway, they were able to grind out the bad segments of pavement, leave a layer of the grindings in the excavated section, compact the remaining grindings to provide a solid base, and then apply a small layer of hot mix asphalt on top to bring it back to original grade.
They did this work in 14 segments between Pullman and Colfax consisting of about 3,942 lineal feet of highway. The segments varied from about four feet wide to 12 feet wide. The patches required about 390 tons of asphalt mix.
With this process, the team used about half of the asphalt for the needed repairs, saving about $20,000 and providing a smoother surface.
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North Spokane Corridor Tunnel Arches being set
Crews from Scarsella Brothers began setting the arches for the BNSF tunnel project just to the northeast of Spokane. The first arch arrived at the site on Monday, August 18th.
The project—US 395/BNSF Railroad Tunnel, consists of building a 1,330 foot tunnel to carry the Burlington Northern trains under the new North Spokane Corridor freeway. The tunnel will be 54 feet wide, enough width to accommodate a future second set of tracks. The tunnel consists of 444 pre-cast concrete arch segments that will be placed over the tracks then covered with fill. The concrete freeway lanes will then be constructed over the new structure.
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NSC Open house in September
In a continuing effort to keep the community up to speed on the North Spokane Corridor construction, design, and right-of-way acquisition process, the Department will hold an informational open house on Thursday, September 25 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Northwood Middle School, 13120 N. Pittsburg, in Spokane.
There’s no formal presentation, so people are invited to drop by anytime during those hours to view the project displays and discuss the project with the project engineers and real estate representatives.
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WSDOT at the Spokane Interstate Fair
If you can’t make it to the open house, the WSDOT will have North Spokane Corridor information at the Spokane Interstate Fair, September 5-14. Drop by and visit with the Region’s engineering, maintenance, and support staff members during the 10-day run.
The WSDOT booth is located in the Bay 2 building.