A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Project of the Week - The countdown begins for the I-90 express lanes closures
Crews will replace the expansion joint on the Westbound I-90 lanes and express lanes. |
The twin I-90 floating bridges have been around for about two decades. The bigger of the two carries the westbound lanes and the express lanes side-by-side in a single structure that opened in 1989.
When it was built, engineers used the world’s largest hollow expansion joints, the only expansion joints available in the United States. The specialized joints allowed the bridge to bend and flex in six directions with wind, tides and fluctuating traffic. But these hollow tubes started to crack under heavy traffic.
Our crews have been welding these cracks for years with much success. But this summer, the spot repairs will end when we replace the joints altogether with solid steel.
It will take 19 days to replace these expansion joints – May 4 through May 23. During this time, all express lane traffic, including Mercer Island drivers, carpools, vanpools and buses, will be routed into the westbound lanes. There will be no westbound express lanes in the morning and no eastbound express lanes in the evening on the floating bridge. This will undoubtedly lead to congestion.
In July, the work shifts to the westbound lanes where we will remove and replace even larger steel joints. From July 5-28, westbound traffic accustomed to traveling in five westbound lanes in the morning will be funneled into just the two express lanes.
We are warning drivers who travel I-90 to start planning for May and July congestion. There are ways to beat the backups: Work from home or another office, shift your schedule to travel outside of commute times, take I-405, SR 520 or SR 522. If you can only use I-90, plan to double your commute time in May. If you regularly use alternate routes, plan to share the road with extra drivers during these three weeks.
WSDOT will be on the road with you bringing you updated traffic information, letting you know the best routes to take, where we see slowing. We’ll post the info on our Web site and work with local radio and TV stations to get you the best information available. We need drivers help to stay ahead of the congestion. You’ve always come through for us in the past. Let’s work together to make it through these three weeks in May and three weeks in July.
Take a look at the commute options we have for you and learn more about when and when not to drive: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/HomerHadleyBridgeRepair
Bookmark our information page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009
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Washington Jobs Now - WSDOT advertises contract for I-82 paving project
Crews will repair and replace cracked concrete panels on I-82 between Grandview and Granger this summer. |
WSDOT advertised the
I-82 Grandview to Granger westbound pavement repair project for contractor's bids on April 20. The
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project is valued at $11.4 million and will support approximately 100 jobs.
This summer crews will strengthen and preserve 15 miles of the I-82 westbound lanes between Grandview and Granger. Work includes replacing severely cracked panels, installing dowel bars in the wheel paths of the right lane, and grinding the roadway surface. The dowel bars keep the concrete panels from rocking back and forth as they do now, which causes a rough ride for drivers between Grandview and Granger.
Here is how Washington is delivering on the 2009 ARRA, (as of April 22, 2009):
| Projects |
Total |
Governor
Certified |
Advertised |
Contract Awarded/
Under Construction |
| State |
34 |
34 |
14 |
3 |
| Local |
147 |
131 |
12 |
1 |
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Maintenance & Operations feature - Work Zone cameras back on the job
Drivers on I-5 between Grand Mound and Maytown will see signs like this, advising them of photo enforced speed limits through the work zone. |
For the second time, WSDOT will activate one of its newest work zone safety devices, the Automated Traffic Safety Camera.
“Speed continues to be the leading cause of work zone collisions. So we are asking drivers to slow down and pay attention when driving through work zones,” said WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond. “The men and women who work on our state and local highways are often working in and near traffic, and we want everyone to go home to their loved ones at the end of their work day.”
One of the ways WSDOT is attempting to reduce speeds through the work zone is an automated traffic safety camera. WSDOT used these cameras successfully in a Lewis County work zone last fall. WSDOT will deploy the device in the I-5 work zone south of Olympia (Grand Mound to Maytown) on Monday, May 4.
The camera is mounted in a small sport utility vehicle parked in an active work zone. An operator checks the equipment and then the speed radar and camera goes to work, catching the rear license plate of vehicles speeding through the work zone.
In the Lewis County work zone, more than 90 percent of drivers were traveling below 70 mph during the five-week camera activation (September-October 2008).
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Update of projects under way
I -5 Arlington - Work is under way to repair and preserve nearly four miles of southbound I-5 near Arlington and one mile of northbound I-5. Crews will repave sections of I-5 from SR 531 to the Stillaguamish River Bridge, the southbound I-5 on- and off-ramps at SR 530, and the parking lots of the Smokey Point rest areas. This is one of four paving and concrete rehabilitation project on I-5 in Snohomish County this summer. Together these projects will employ more than 240 people. This project is scheduled for completion in fall 2009.
SR 9 Snohomish - Crews began repairing flood damage on SR 9 south of Snohomish on April 20. Drivers can expect nightly closures of the highway. Under a $1.3 million emergency contract, the crews will focus on a newly-widened section of roadway between SR 96 (Lowell-Larimer Rd) and Marsh Road, removing undermined portions of roadway and rebuilding the foundation of the highway. They’ll also repave damaged areas to provide a smooth, safe surface for drivers. During the repair work, crews will reduce both directions of SR 9 to a single lane of alternating one-way traffic between SR 96 and Marsh Road. Crews have up to 30 days to complete the emergency repairs.
SR 538 Mount Vernon - Drivers who regularly use the SR 538/Riverside Drive intersection will need to plan an alternate route starting May 3. Crews will completely close the intersection for one week – 9 p.m. Sunday, May 3, to 6 a.m. Monday, May 11 – as they replace the asphalt road surface with more durable, longer-lasting concrete. This work is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of rain. The Riverside Drive improvements are the first part of a project that also includes repaving a five-mile stretch of SR 536 and a half-mile of SR 538 in Mount Vernon. Construction at all three locations is expected to be complete by fall 2009. This $2.7 million project will help support more than 27 local workers and several local construction companies.
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Announcements
SR 20, North Cascades Highway opens one week earlier than expected
SR 20, North Cascades Highway, opened on April 24, treating drivers to spectacular views like this one taken at Liberty Bell. |
The North Cascades Highway (SR 20) reopened to traffic at 8 p.m. Friday, April 24, a full week earlier than expected when WSDOT maintenance crews began work four weeks ago on March 30th. East and west side crews met at Washington Pass on Wednesday, April 22. Crews then concentrated on widening and cutting safety pull-out areas along the shoulders.
“We expected the clearing to take about five weeks if weather and equipment cooperated. We had some setbacks from both, but the key to the faster-than-expected reopening was having the two west side snow blowers this week. Coupled with the melt from recent warm temperatures, both crews moved more snow than we ever imagined in a single day,” said WSDOT Twisp Maintenance Supervisor Don Becker.
State Route 20 has been closed since December 11. Over the last 10 years, the pass has reopened for traffic between March 10 and May 7. The latest opening was June 14, 1974.
WSDOT Ferries Division anticipates record traffic on Port Townsend / Keystone route this spring
WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) is preparing for unprecedented demand on the Port Townsend/Keystone route this spring as the six-week closure of the SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge begins May 1, and other springtime events and holidays bring large volumes of traffic to the route. WSF urges all customers to plan ahead and make reservations for travel as far in advance as possible.
“The Port Townsend/Keystone reservation system has been very helpful to customers in managing traffic over the past year while the route has been on one-boat service,” said David Moseley, Assistant Secretary for Washington State Ferries. “However, making reservations will be crucial to ensuring that you can travel on the sailings of your choice this spring.”
Customers can make reservations on the WSF Web site (www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries), by calling 5-1-1 between 7 a.m. and 5:45 p.m., or by visiting participating businesses or Visitor Centers in Port Townsend and on Whidbey Island. (Beginning Sunday, April 26, phone hours will be extended to 7 a.m. to 6:50 p.m.)
ORCA Smart Card launched on April 20
WSF is one of seven regional transit providers participating in the ORCA (One Regional Card for All) project, which is a simplified fare collection program. ORCA is a payment alternative for customers who travel on ferries, buses and trains. For some ferry customers, depending on the types of fares used, Wave2Go will continue to be a preferred option. Equipment testing and troubleshooting will continue during the April 20 “soft launch” until ORCA is fully launched, which is tentatively scheduled for June 1.
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April open houses, meetings and events
28, Tuesday, 5:30 - 7 p.m., environmental assessment hearing, SR 520 tolling - Seattle: Pending Legislature approval, WSDOT plans to implement electronic tolling on the State Route 520 Evergreen Point Bridge. As part of this effort, WSDOT is providing the public opportunity to discuss the environmental affects of this project at two hearings. The environmental assessment hearing is a formal meeting where witnesses can give testimony to a court reporter concerning the environmental effects of variable tolling on the SR 520 bridge across Lake Washington. Project team members will also be available to answer questions. Location: University Branch - Seattle Public Library, 5009 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle.
29, Wednesday, 3 - 6:30 p.m., open house, SR 285 Sen. George Sellar Bridge Projects - Wenatchee: Project staff will hold an open house to answer questions from the public regarding the construction work, schedule and traffic impacts for the first of the three projects planned to improve mobility and safety on the George Sellar bridge. Location: Wenatchee Community Center, 504 So. Chelan Avenue, Wenatchee.
29, Wednesday, 6 - 9 p.m., open house & access hearing, I-5 Blaine Interchange - Blaine: WSDOT staff will host an open house to share information about plans to build two roundabouts and modify I-5 at the D Street interchange in Blaine. An access hearing will begin at 7 p.m., allowing property owners affected by the project to give testimony to a court reporter regarding proposed access changes. Location: Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street, Blaine.
30, Thursday, 5 - 7 p.m., environmental assessment hearing, SR 520 tolling - Bellevue: Pending Legislature approval, WSDOT plans to implement electronic tolling on the State Route 520 Evergreen Point Bridge. As part of this effort, WSDOT is providing the public opportunity to discuss the environmental affects of this project at two hearings. The environmental assessment hearing is a formal meeting where witnesses can give testimony to a court reporter concerning the environmental effects of variable tolling on the SR 520 bridge across Lake Washington. Project team members will also be available to answer questions. Location: Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Express Lane Archive
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