This Emergency Relief project repairs damage that was inflicted at 150 locations on over thirty miles of US 97 from milepost 150 to 182, by the storm and resultant flooding that occurred on January 5th and 6th, 2009.
Why is WSDOT
making repairs to US 97, the Blewett Pass Highway?
On Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 5 and 6, a combination of unseasonably warm temperatures, high winds and rain on snow covered slopes resulted in unusually rapid runoff and flooding in the Cascades. The flooding damaged US 97, Blewett Pass, including mudslides that completely blocked the highway. Flood waters undermined and collapsed the pavement in many places and caused severe scouring of embankments and headwalls around stream passage culverts. The pass was closed to traffic on January 6. The worst of the immediately visible damage was immediately addressed under an emergency repair contract. The critical repairs necessary to reopen the highway to traffic were completed as quickly as possible on January 16.
WSDOT engineers were then able to do a thorough assessment of permanent repairs needed to restore the highway to what it was before the flood. The bulk of that work is repair of the stream scour damage, wash-outs of roadway embankments and damage to large stream-passage culverts. Much of the repair work involves placement of large rock (riprap) on stream banks and culvert headwalls to prevent future high water in the Swauk, Tronsen and Peshastin Creeks from washing away the exposed highway embankment.
The End Result
The Blewett Pass Highway will be restored to its pre-flood condition.
The flood damage resulted in over-steepened roadside slopes, weakened guardrail, and a roadside vulnerable to high stream flows. This project won't introduce any new safety features to US 97, but it restores the integrity of the roadway embankments, major culverts, guardrails and roadside slopes, all of which contribute to a safe highway.
Project Benefits
US 97 will be capable of withstanding the storms and seasonal fluctuations in stream flows which are typical in the Cascades.
What is the project timeline?
Stage 2
Construction start: April 27
Project duration: 8-9 weeks
Construction finish: June 30, 2009
Stage 3
Construction start: August 17
Project duration 5 weeks
Construction finish: October 1, 2009
Financial Information
Stage 2 was advertised for private contractor bids on March 24, 2009. Four qualified bids were opened on April 7th and contract #7729 was awarded to Pipkin Construction for $1,109,407.19.
Stage 3 was advertised for private contractor bids in June and three qualified contracts were opened July 9th and on July 13, contract #7789 was awarded to Pipkin Construction Co. Inc. for $586,473.00, 4% over the engineering estimate.
The project is funded from the WSDOT Maintenance budget with reimbursement expected from federal emergency relief funds through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Mike Andreini: Project Engineer
WSDOT North Central Region
P.O. Box 98
Wenatchee, WA 98807
Phone: (509) 667-2860 or toll free (888) 461-8816
Email: AndreiM@wsdot.wa.gov
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