From the Regional Administrator
Welcome to our June edition. This month we highlight projects that are funded through the Federal Stimulus program, a name for the new pedestrian trail, our work in other parts of the state, and some quick thinking by one of our employees.
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 .
Keith Metcalf
Regional Administrator
- - - - -
Stimulus projects for the Eastern Region
The WSDOT Eastern Region was allocated about $25 million in Federal Stimulus funds to design and build projects on State highways within our seven-county region. Based on formulas provided by the Office of Financial Management, these projects will support or sustain over 250 jobs.
The Federal “Stimulus” program is funding paving, surface preservation, and safety projects on several State highways in the WSDOT Eastern Region. In addition, under this program, three new permanent Highway Advisory Radio stations will be installed at strategic locations.
There are paving projects on US 2 from its intersection with SR 211 through the City of Newport, US 395 from the Stevens County Line to Immel Road north of Chewelah, and on SR 206 from US 2 to Bruce Road. We have a concrete grinding and dowel bar retrofit project on the US 195 northbound lanes from Hatch Road to I-90 , as well as centerline rumble strip installations on US 2, US 195, US 395, and SR 902. There are three new Highway Advisory Radio Stations being installed to help get information out to motorists. One will be on US 395 at the SR 26 interchange, two on SR 20, and on each side of Sherman Pass. The permanent stations on SR 20 are replacing two trailer-mounted units.
All of these projects will get underway shortly and should be completed this season.
- - - - -
NSC Trail gets a name
In the Fall of 2008 WSDOT solicited ideas from the public to name the pedestrian-bike path which runs parallel to the North Spokane Corridor (NSC). This path will connect to neighborhoods along with other trails in the community and adds to the multimodal nature of the NSC.
Over 45 potential names were submitted to a WSDOT online polling site.
WSDOT then invited representatives from Tribal, biking and outdoor groups to choose from those submitted names. The group chose "Children of the Sun" which is the rough translation of the word "Spokane" in Salish.
On June 16th, the Washington State Transportation Commission formally approved the name, “Children of the Sun” Trail. The WSDOT will add signage along the trail with the name and an explanation of its origin.
- - - -
Fire and traffic jam averted
On Monday, June 15th, WSDOT Incident Response Team operator, Larry Naccarato was on westbound I-90 climbing up the Sunset Hill just west of Spokane. He smelled something burning, then noticed flames coming from the brakes on a truck hauling roof trusses. Larry was able to get the driver’s attention, and when the truck pulled over, Larry put out the fire with a CO2 extinguisher.
Larry not only saved the truss load, but probably several hours of traffic tie-ups and possible injuries to the drivers and other motorists, had the entire load gone up in flames.
Kudos to Larry for a job well done.
- - - -
Eastern Region engineers assist on other WSDOT Region projects
Engineers based in Spokane have been helping the project teams in other parts of the state. Team members from Ken Olson’s project engineering office are managing two jobs for the WSDOT North Central Region, a bridge deck replacement project on US 97 just south of Tonasket and the North Central “Chip Seal” project on about 88 miles of highways in Okanogan County.