Overview
This is the third and final stage of a rock slope stabilization project on SR 28 near Rock Island Dam in Douglas County that began in 2003.
The purpose of all three stages is safety. The slope nettings project reduces the number of rocks falling onto the highway. 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 downstream from the dam. Our maintenance crews were routinely called to clear rocks from the roadway.
Stage 3 was accomplished in two phases. SR 28 was closed to traffic while rocks were scaled off the slope. There are video clips from the slope scaling work available in Windows Media, Real Player or YouTube.
The second phase of the project which
installed the netting was complete Dec. 5, 2008. This is a long term "demonstration" project in that five different designs of steel netting were hung over this 700-foot wide by 300-foot high slope. For the next several years the different netting will be evaluated for effectiveness, strength and durability.
 | Improves Safety
as the steel nettings provide redirection and containment of falling rocks and the slope scaling improved driver's sight distance.
|
 | Protects Environment
by improving drainage from the slope.
|
 | Economic Incentive
by reducing maintenance expense clearing fallen rock.
|
Partnerships & Cooperation
Work was suspended between April and August to accomodate Golden Eagle nestings.
The original plan called for the stage 3 work to be complete in two construction seasons.
Two Project Open Houses were held in 2007, for Wenatchee and Quincy area residents to get input on the traffic plan and project schedule. Fruit industry representatives were invited to discuss the impact of traffic delays at harvest times. As a result, the spring road closure was scheduled before any fruit harvest season and during the local school districts' spring vacation.
Since there were no convenient detours around the project, a traffic control plan for commuters, truckers, travelers, emergency service providers and the railroad, 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. Highway Advisory Radios in East Wenatchee and west of Quincy. E-mail and faxes to media, businesses, schools, transit and emergency services. Electronic message signs on the highway. Local radio and newspaper announcements.
Extensive emergency service coordination was established with Douglas and Grant County fire districts, the Washington State Patrol, Wenatchee and East Wenatchee Police, Douglas and Grant County Sheriff offices, Ballard and Lifeline Ambulance Services, Central Washington Hospital and Quincy Valley Medical Center.
Funding
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
Contact Us
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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