A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Washington Jobs Now - Stimulus funds pave the way for a smoother drive between Moses Lake and Ephrata
This summer crews will build a two-mile passing lane on this stretch of SR 17 near Moses Lake. WSDOT will use federal funds to repave the highway lanes. |
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will put highway construction crews to work and help to smooth the drive for motorists in Eastern Washington.
WSDOT awarded a $6.2 million paving contract to Granite Northwest Inc., for highway improvement work on SR 17 between Moses Lake and Ephrata, and SR 282 in Ephrata. Construction, which could begin in a few weeks, is expected to support at least 75 jobs.
The paving projects resurface eight miles of SR 17 from the Grant County Airport in Moses Lake to the junction with SR 282, and from there, five miles of SR 282 to the junction with SR 28 in Ephrata. As part of the repaving project, crews will build two 12-foot-wide passing lanes on SR 17 between the Grant County Airport and Rocky Ford Creek.
Here is how Washington is delivering on the 2009 ARRA (as of May 18):
| Projects |
Total |
Governor
Certified |
Advertised |
Contract Awarded/
Under Construction |
| State |
34 |
34 |
25 |
11 |
| Local |
147 |
147 |
33 |
7 |
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Maintenance & Operations feature - WSDOT puts wasted materials to good use
WSDOT's Sign Shop donates scrap reflective materials from highway signs to the "Wild Feet" program, which helps kids become more visible to motorists. |
WSDOT's South Central Region Sign Shop is the only fabrication shop in the state and creates about 8,000 square feet of signs per month. So what happens to the extra reflective material they don’t use on the signs?
Sign Shop employees send the extra reflective material to a Yakima rehabilitation center where it is used to make reflective feet as part of the “Wild Feet” program. Washington State Patrol officers then distribute the feet to kids to put on their backpacks and bikes so drivers can see them when they are walking or riding their bikes. For the past 13 years WSDOT has teamed with Washington State Patrol, the South Central Region Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care Council, and the Yakima County Restitution Center to teach children how to be more visible to traffic.
“It’s a great program because it helps save kids from getting hit,” said Brent Kinney, WSDOT Highway Maintenance Specialist. “Plus the kids love to put them on their lunch boxes and back packs.”
According to Safe Kids USA, pedestrian injuries remain the second leading cause of death among children 5 to 14 years old. In Washington, this age group was involved in 481 pedestrian/bicycle collisions with vehicles, resulting in 459 injuries during 2006. By providing children with reflective feet, WSDOT is keeping kids safe one foot at a time.
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Update of projects under way
I-90 Spokane - Contractor crews began work to repair and resurface two bridges on Interstate 90 near Spokane on Monday, May 18. The two bridges carry I-90 traffic across Medical Lake/Four Lakes Road and are located about a half-mile west of the SR 904 Cheney/Four Lakes interchange. During construction, I-90 will be reduced to one lane in each direction and the legal speed limit will be reduced. Oversize loads will also be detoured around the work area via SR 904 once the lanes are narrowed. Drivers will notice a smoother ride when work wraps up later this summer. James W. Fowler Company of Dallas, Ore., was awarded the $337,000 construction contract, which will support about six jobs.
SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge - Crews constructing the new east half of the Hood Canal Bridge reached two milestones on Monday, May 18. The draw span pontoons were floated in by 7 a.m. and crews set the east truss by noon. The construction completes placement of major bridge components for the project. The 596-foot-long draw span assembly arrived on site and was moved into place. It is scheduled to be joined with pontoon RST this week, completing the placement of the three new east-half pontoon sections. Crews still have complex pontoon joint operations ahead, which include work that is dependent on having winds less than 15 miles per hour. WSDOT also must set drop-in spans and connect them to the pontoons, and post-tension the pontoons – pulling them together – to stabilize and strengthen the east half as a whole.
SR 539 Bellingham - WSDOT reached a major SR 539 project milestone on May 16, opening the first roundabout on a state highway in Whatcom County. The roundabout, located at Guide Meridian (SR 539)/Ten Mile Road intersection north of Bellingham, is the first of four roundabouts set to open on the Guide Meridian this year. The roundabouts are part of a larger $53.9 million project that will transform the Guide Meridian into a safer, less congested four-lane divided highway, and help support upwards of 500 jobs throughout the duration of the project.
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Announcements
WSDOT reopens Cayuse Pass and Chinook Pass
SR 123, Cayuse Pass, connecting Chinook Pass and White Pass at the east end of Mount Rainier National Park, reopened on Friday, May 15. Cayuse Pass reopened within Mount Rainier National Park from the 4,675-foot summit near the White River park entrance (at the junction of SR 410 and SR 123) and on the south end at the junction of SR 123 and US 12 near the Stevens Canyon entrance. The pass was originally scheduled to open May 13, however WSDOT crews postponed that opening after a last minute snowstorm and avalanche danger threatened driver safety in the area.
SR 410 Chinook Pass, at the junction with SR 123 (milepost 65.75) to milepost 74.5 near Morse Creek, is schedule to re-open at noon on Friday, May 22. Chinook Pass received more than 5 feet of snow since May 1.
WSDOT closes each pass for the winter due to high avalanche risk and hazardous driving conditions. Both passes have numerous slide areas that pose significant danger to travelers, WSDOT maintenance crews and park staff.
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June open houses, meetings and events
1, Monday, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Public meeting, Washington State Ferries - Bremerton: WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) will hold a series of public meetings to provide information about what happened during the legislative session and to talk about plans for the year ahead at WSF. Location: Kitsap Conference Center Harborside, 100 Washington Avenue, Bremerton.
2, Tuesday, 4 - 6 p.m., Central Waterfront Working Group, Alaskan Way Viaduct - Seattle: The Central Waterfront working group, representing neighborhoods, business and freight interests, will meet with city, county and state departments of transportation regarding plans for the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct project. The group will discuss the configuration of the new waterfront surface street, including connection to Elliott and Western avenues, waterfront traffic operations, the seawall replacement and the new waterfront promenade. Location: Labor Temple, Hall 1, 2800 First Avenue, Seattle.
2, Tuesday, 6 - 8 p.m., Public meeting, Washington State Ferries - Whidbey Island: WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) will hold a series of public meetings to provide information about what happened during the legislative session and to talk about plans for the year ahead at WSF. Location: Clinton Community Hall, 6411 Central Avenue, Clinton.
3, Wednesday, 4 - 6 p.m., South Portal Working Group, Alaskan Way Viaduct - Seattle: The South Portal working group, representing neighborhoods, business and freight interests, will meet with city, county and state departments of transportation regarding plans for the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct project. The group will discuss access into and around the south entrance to the bored tunnel, urban design features and construction plans. Location: Sound Transit Board Room, 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle.
3, Wednesday, 6 - 8 p.m., Public meeting, Washington State Ferries - Vashon Island: WSDOT's Ferries Division (WSF) will hold a series of public meetings to provide information about what happened during the legislative session and to talk about plans for the year ahead at WSF. Location: McMurray Middle School, Multi-purpose room, 9329 SW Cemetery Road, Vashon Island.
4, Thursday, 4 - 6 p.m., North Portal Working Group, Alaskan Way Viaduct - Seattle: The North Portal working group, representing neighborhoods, business and freight interests, will meet with city, county and state departments of transportation regarding plans for the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct project. The group will discuss access into and around the north entrance to the bored tunnel, urban design features and construction plans. The group will also discuss city street improvements, including aspects of the two-way Mercer Street project. Location: Labor Temple, Hall 8, 2800 First Avenue, Seattle.
Express Lane Archive
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