A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Project of the week - We’re upgrading I-5 to improve the ride and preserve the pavement
Crews pour concrete to repair broken panels. |
Replacing concrete panels and installing dowel bars along a five-mile stretch of southbound I-5 in Whatcom County might not be considered a “sexy” project by construction standards. But by drivers’ standards, it’s downright fabulous.
Granted, the construction phase may be of a headache – lane closures and delays are likely – but the end result will smooth out the ride and extend the lifespan of the pavement by at least 15 years.
Drivers who typically use this stretch of I-5 between Ferndale and Bellingham are familiar with the cracked concrete panels and bumpy road and bridge approaches. Construction crews are already on the job, working to remedy those problems.
The first project for crews will be retrofitting unstable concrete panels with dowel bars. Crews will close the right lane of southbound I-5 from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays so crews can begin cutting dowel bar slots in the concrete panels. Dowel bars will be placed between adjacent panels to prevent them from rocking or tipping as you drive over them – that’s the bump-bump sound you might have heard.
Crews will also replace bridge approach panels at the Northwest Avenue bridge. The foundation material for the panels is breaking down, causing the panels to sink and become unstable. Crews will replace foundation material and install new panels during two weekend-long lane closures in late March or early April.
In April, crews will begin grinding down the pavement to smooth out any wheel ruts or uneven spots in the pavement. Then they’ll move on to nighttime sawcutting to remove cracked concrete panels. Once the panels are removed, crews will pour new concrete panels in their place – similar to work done last summer along a stretch of I-5 in Bellingham.
Crews hope to wrap up their work on this $2.8 million project prior to the Memorial Day weekend.
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Maintenance & Operations Feature - The last day drivers can legally use studded tires this season in Washington is Tuesday, March 31
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“We looked at the weather forecasts for the first two weeks of April. Based on what we’re seeing, the likelihood of significant ice concerns on a majority of Washington state routes is minimal,” said Chris Christopher, WSDOT Director of Maintenance Operations. “We also consulted with our colleagues in Oregon and they are keeping the April 1 deadline as well.”
Christopher said the weather forecasts do call for possible snow in the mountains and drivers should be prepared for possible roadway snow and ice if they travel into the higher elevations. “The mountains will likely get snow. However, we anticipate the snowy conditions will be confined to relatively small segments of the highways in the mountain pass areas. Our crews will be ready to respond.”
The noise made by studded tires makes enforcement easy. State troopers need only listen for violators, and they will enforce a $124 fine for those who use studded tires after the deadline. Violators are very likely to be caught, because troopers need only listen for the distinctive noise of studs grinding on pavement.
“That’s the sound of damage being done to our roads,” said State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. “If we hear it we will take enforcement action.”
WSDOT advises drivers to work with local tire dealers to determine the best type of tire for their anticipated winter driving conditions. WSDOT wants motorists to be aware that a variety of studded tire alternatives are available and that they can continue to use other approved traction tires. WSDOT lists alternatives to studded tires and the damage studded tires do to state highways on its Web site at http://wsdot.wa.gov/winter/.
In addition, starting April 1, vehicles or combination of vehicles over 10,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) can legally remove mandated tire chains. These vehicles are required to carry chains from Nov. 1 – March. 31.
WSDOT officials do advise all drivers to carry tire chains and to monitor weather forecasts at the WSDOT Web site.
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Update of projects under way
I-90/I-5 Seattle - On Sunday, March 22, WSDOT contractor crews began work to strengthen the columns, girders and crossbeams of the double-decked overpass that carries I-90 over I-5 to better with stand earthquakes. Crews will also strengthen the supports of the nearby 12th Avenue S. Bridge starting in May.
Crews are working mostly at night to keep traffic moving during the day. Drivers should expect overnight lane and ramp closures through June 2010 at the I-90/I-5 interchange.
The $10.4 million project is funded by the 2005 gas tax and will support an estimated 104 jobs. The project is part of WSDOT’s seismic retrofit program. WSDOT is strengthening more than 900 bridges and structures across the state to better withstand earthquakes. WSDOT built these bridges and structures before stricter seismic standards were established.
I-5 Vancouver - Motorists traveling both directions on I-5 in Clark and Cowlitz counties can expect delays next week as crews continue to replace damaged pavement markings from the December 2008 winter storms. Mobile lane closures and rolling slowdowns will occur between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. beginning on Tuesday, March 31 through Thursday, April 2. Motorists should expect up to 15-minute delays. This work is highly weather sensitive and requires mild temperatures and dry pavement. Striping may be rescheduled if conditions warrant.
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Announcements
WSDOT continues delivering jobs: Moses Lake to Ephrata stimulus paving projects are advertised for contractor bids
Two more Washington Jobs Now projects — both in Eastern Washington — are moving forward with funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“The ARRA investment in Washington Jobs Now projects supports desperately needed jobs and stimulates local economies,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “These projects are also needed to improve the movement of freight and goods between Ephrata and Moses Lake. The projects were without funding until the governor and Legislature included them in the supplemental transportation budget that included federal monies.”
The projects include paving two segments of state highway — the $6.29 million SR 17 Grant County Airport North and the $2.29 million SR 282 Ephrata South lengths. The two paving projects were combined with a $4 million project to build 4½ miles of passing lanes on SR 17. Bids for the 13-mile paving and passing lane project will be opened and a contract awarded by mid-April. Construction could begin as early as May. The $12.6 million contract is expected to support more than 125 jobs.
WSDOT will repair northbound I-5 through Stanwood this year
WSDOT will repair broken concrete panels and smooth bumps along northbound I-5 near Stanwood this spring. The project was recently awarded to contractor Tri-State Construction Inc. of Bellevue for their construction bid of $4.7 million. This project will employ approximately 45 people through this fall.
The project stretches for more than seven miles, from south of State Route 532 in Snohomish County to north of Starbird Road in Skagit County. An average of 59,000 vehicles and freight use this stretch of I-5 daily. The road is rutted and cracked due to its age and high traffic volumes.
Crews will repair and replace broken concrete panels, level and tie uneven panels together, and grind the rough driving surfaces smooth. Repairing the pavement will reduce costly temporary repairs, provide drivers with a safe and smooth ride, and ensure that the roadway will last well into the future.
2009 Marine Cargo Forecast
According to the 2009 Marine Cargo Forecast released Monday, March 23 by the Washington Public Ports Association and WSDOT, the current downturn in container cargo imports is temporary and cargo for most commodity types is expected to increase significantly over the next 20 years.
The 2009 Marine Cargo Forecast is issued every five years and identifies both the future trade opportunities available for Washington state and the needs for an efficient multimodal system that will allow shippers a choice and will keep transportation rates competitive.
Washington ports and WSDOT are investing in infrastructure to improve connectivity, add capacity, and relieve freight congestion. Several projects that will improve port access and freight mobility are proposed, funded, or underway. The following projects have been identified as the highest priority within the next eight years (by 2017):
Reopening of SR 20, the North Cascades Highway begins Monday
WSDOT maintenance crewmembers on both the east and west sides of the North Cascades Highway will begin the annual clearing process to reopen 37 miles of the highway including Rainy and Washington Passes, on Monday, March 30. Clearing the North Cascades Highway is a significant effort each year. WSDOT crews will be working 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday through April.
The highway reopened May 1st, last spring and was closed for the season on Dec. 11. The cost to reopen the highway each spring typically runs from $200,000 to $250,000.
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April open houses, meetings and events
15, Wednesday, 4 - 6 p.m., open house & 6 - 8 p.m., access hearing, SR 14, Camas-Washougal Widening & Interchange - Vancouver: WSDOT will record testimony from property owners in the project area who will be affected by changes in access. Testimony must be limited to access issues only. Project information will be available for viewing. Project staff will be on hand to speak with people about the project before and after the access hearing. Location: WSDOT Southwest Region Headquarters, 11018 NE Circle, Vancouver.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Express Lane Archive
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