From the Regional Administrator
Welcome to our January newsletter.
We’re still in the middle of our winter season so, even though some of the days may seem to be spring-like, our crews are on their seven-days-per-week schedules and ready for snow and ice control duties. The crews keep an eye on upcoming weather and apply anti-icing chemicals in areas that are predicted to have freezing conditions. When weather permits, they handle other items as needed such as pothole repairs, sweeping, etc.
This month’s newsletter includes some engineering awards, a new Keller Ferry information service, the Pine Creek Bridge, and the new Port of Entry on I-90.
As always, if you have any questions on items in this newsletter, or other transportation issues, please let me know. Give me a call at (509) 324-6010 or drop me an e-mail at metcalk@wsdot.wa.gov .
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I-90 Port of Entry
Our contractor, Selland Construction, continues to make progress on this new facility near the Washington/Idaho border. Interior work is underway on the main weigh station building and the truck inspection building. We expect that most of the major work will be completed sometime this spring or summer and the Washington State Patrol can begin installing their systems. When the facility becomes operational and truck traffic begins to use the new facility, the contractor will remove the old weigh station at the Stateline Interchange.
The new port facility will use “weigh in motion” technology for the majority of the freight traffic that uses I-90 to enter Washington. The system weighs the truck and confirms the proper permits are in place through transponder technology that allows most trucks to travel through without stopping. This reduces congestion on westbound I-90 as there are fewer trucks entering the highway from the weigh station at slower speeds. It also keeps freight and goods moving more efficiently, saving shippers time and money.
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SR 27/Pine Creek Bridge
The new bridge over Pine Creek and the adjacent roadway improvements on State Route 27 between Oakesdale and Tekoa in north Whitman County were opened to traffic last fall and are performing well. This particular segment of the highway had often been plagued by water flowing over the roadway during winter and spring warm spells that would rapidly melt snow in the nearby fields, overwhelming the creek channel. The new bridge, raised roadway, and additional drainage culverts solved that problem. The new, wider concrete bridge replaced a timber bridge that had been in service since 1937.
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Keller Ferry Service Information
Travelers have a new option to check on the status of the Keller Ferry in Eastern Washington. The route information has been added to the automated telephone system that serves the Puget Sound routes of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferry Division. Although the Keller Ferry is operated by the WSDOT Eastern Region, rather than the Ferry Division, it is a water route and it seems logical to include it on the ferry information system.
Travelers can dial 5-1-1, select ferries as their first option, then select “Keller Ferry” as the option when prompted on the menu. The same information is available by calling a toll-free number, 888-808-7977. In addition, Keller Ferry service disruptions are noted on the WSDOT Traffic and Weather website.
Special thanks to our partners at the Ferry Division for providing us this added opportunity to get route information to the public.
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Engineering Awards
I am always pleased to report on the good work of our WSDOT teams.
A number of transportation projects, along with the contractors and engineering crews, were recently singled out for awards by the Department and the Associated General Contractors.
Three Eastern Region projects were selected as winners of the 2010 “Partnership for Excellence in Contract Administration” awards.
In the “Less Than $3 million” category, Frank Gurney, Inc. and the engineering team from Bob Hilmes’ project office were recognized for their work on the 07-09 Roadside Safety Improvements project. In the “$3 million to $10 million” category, Inland Asphalt and the engineering team from Chad Simonson’s office picked up the award for the US 395/Spokane City Limits to Stevens County line job, and for projects over $10 million, Acme Concrete Paving and Bob Hilmes’ team received the honors for their work on the North Spokane Corridor/Francis to Farwell concrete paving project.
These teams were judged by a panel using criteria that included customer focused administration, innovative problem solving, overcoming extraordinary challenges, effective contract administration, schedule, and safety.
Another award came from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of the Inland Northwest.
The Inland Northwest AGC gave one of their 2010 Build Northwest Awards for project excellence to Cameron Reilly, LLC for their work on the WSDOT/US 2-Division Street/Wellesley Avenue concrete intersection. These awards recognize excellence in construction throughout the Inland Northwest. WSDOT Project Engineer Bob Hilmes and his team are responsible for this job.
Projects for this award are judged by an independent panel on the following criteria: Meeting the challenge of a difficult job; excellence in project management; contractor’s innovation in construction techniques or materials; contractor’s state-of-the-art advancement; contractor’s sensitivity to the environment and surroundings; excellence in client service; and contractor’s contribution to the community.