A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Washington Jobs Now - Three stimulus projects completed in north central Washington
Crews working on the SR 262 resurfacing project in Grant County stayed on the payroll three extra weeks, thanks to ARRA funding. |
Three more projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) were substantially completed, on time and on budget. Under a $2.98 million contract, Central Washington Asphalt crews resurfaced a total of 68 miles of three state highways in Central Washington - 16 miles of SR 155 east of Omak, all 28 miles of SR 243 from Vantage to Vernita, and all 24 miles of SR 262 past Potholes State Park. Work began May 26 and was complete August 3.
“I’ve got 350 to 400 employees and none of us make any money if we’re not working,” said Pamp Maiers, President of Central Washington Asphalt of Moses Lake. Maiers said work for his crew created by the three additional chip seal projects, “was the difference between working an extra three weeks instead of being laid off.” At the same time, he says, “These were good projects that turned out well," and added that the projects "preserve and improved three highways in Grant and Okanogan Counties that sorely needed it.”
“Financially, it worked out well for both the state and for me," said Maiers. "I had the region’s regular chip seal contract, so I already had my crushing operation, asphalt plant and chip sealing crews. I was able to beat the other bids (9.5 percent under the engineering estimate) by combining the work. For example, the SR 155 ARRA project continued the resurfacing in the region job from Disautel Pass down to Omak, so the crews, equipment and materials were already in place and we treated it like a single project. Most of that highway is on Colville Tribal lands and tribal members made up 70 percent of our crew. The ARRA project kept them working an extra three weeks.”
Maiers is also vice-president of the Washington Asphalt Pavers Association (WAPA) and takes a broader view of the stimulus projects. “Contractors were looking at a grim year,” he said pointing out that residential and commercial business was down by 70 to 90 percent on top of expected reductions in state contracts, “but it [ARRA] made a big difference this summer.”
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Maintenance & Operations feature - August is Safety Stand Down month at WSDOT
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In WSDOT offices all across the state, employees will be reviewing pre-activity safety plans and learning more about preventing workplace injuries including hearing loss, sprains and strains, and other preventable hazards. It's all part of WSDOT's employee safety emphasis and our goal of zero workplace injuries by 2019.
WSDOT strives for an injury-free workplace, and takes action to prevent accidents and injuries. We closely monitor our safety performance against specific department goals as well as comparable industry standards. Beginning in 2006, WSDOT emphasized its commitment to safety by having as many employees as possible “stand down” for a few hours and participate in a statewide safety event. WSDOT's annual Safety Stand Down training is mandatory for all employees.
This year, WSDOT employees will spend time in their individual organizations discussing safety performance over the last year, and tailor strategies for the next year to make progress on WSDOT's safety goals. WSDOT created a video, “Are you ready for work today?” that employees will watch during their August safety meeting. The video features messages from Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond emphasizing the importance of incorporating safety planning into their everyday work activities. It includes the personal stories of WSDOT employees who have experienced workplace injuries as a part of a "lessons learned" segment.
WSDOT's OSHA-recordable worker injuries and illnesses for fiscal year (FY) 2009 have declined by 25 percent since 2006, from 525 to 393. However, while there has been progress, we did not achieve our goal for FY 2009, which was to reduce the number of recordable injuries and illnesses to 212. As WSDOT continues to emphasize injury reduction, we will track workplace injuries as a rate of injuries per 100 full-time equivalent employees. The change to a rate will provide a consistent measure as our workforce fluctuates.
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Update of projects under way
I-5 Lynnwood - Crews began work on a stimulus-funded city of Lynnwood project to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists at the I-5/196th Street SW interchange in Lynnwood on Aug. 3. Crews will build a new walkway on the 196th Street SW overpass and a pedestrian bridge over the existing southbound I-5 off-ramp. An elevated walkway will provide a safe connection from the bridge to the Interurban Trail and Alderwood Boulevard. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided $1.25 million toward the $5.65 million project, which will support an estimated 60 jobs.
US 12 East of White Pass - This project will construct two new bridges across the Tieton River, approximately ten miles west of the US 12 and SR 410 junction. Both existing bridges are 24 feet wide and structurally deficient. The replacement bridges will be 32 feet wide, providing 12 foot lanes and four foot shoulders. During construction, US 12 will be periodically closed at night while the contractor blasts rock. Blasting the rock faces will provide the space needed to realign US 12 and connect the new bridges. The blasting work could create up to 30 minute delays for drivers.
SR 122 Mossyrock - Crews will start work on Aug. 17 to remove an existing concrete culvert under SR 122 and install a new fish passage culvert. During construction, WSDOT will close SR 122 between Flynn Road and Steelhead Drive. The highway will be closed for one week and motorists are advised to use US 12 as a detour. Contractor crews will reopen SR 122 by noon Friday, Aug. 21. Work is part of the $300,000 SR 122, Harmony Resort Vic. Fish Passage project, which improves fish access to Silver Creek. WSDOT’s Fish Passage Barrier Removal Program began in 1991 to identify and remove barriers to fish passage caused by culverts under state highways. This is a cooperative effort with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Announcements
State operated airports being used for fire fighting operations
With fire season at its height on the east side of the Cascade Mountains, the US Forest Service is staging helicopters at Methow State Airport, Tieton State Airport (White Pass) and Lake Wenatchee State Airport (Stevens Pass). These helicopters are being used primarily to re-supply the fire fighters on the ground with things like water, food, pumps and hoses, shovels, fuel and medical equipment. Helicopters are also refueling at the airports and have safety plans and HazMat equipment in place. These airports are ideal for this type of activity because of their convenient mountain locations, as well as the large airfield landing areas. The airports are still open to the flying public at this time.
WSDOT wins national recognition for durable, long-lasting pavement
WSDOT recently received national recognition as a 2008 Perpetual Pavement Award winner by the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) for a four-mile section of Interstate 5 near Everett’s northern city limits. The award is given to agencies with asphalt pavements that are at least 35 years old and never had a structural failure. The average time span between resurfacing of each winning pavement must be no less than 13 years and the road must demonstrate the qualities expected from long-life asphalt pavements: excellence in design, quality in construction and value to drivers.
WSDOT’s pavement preservation goal is to preserve state highways at the lowest cost per year of pavement life. The WSDOT pavement management system has been recognized as one of the best in the nation. According to our 2007 pavement condition survey, Washington state road conditions continually earn good ratings. More than 93 percent of state-owned roads were rated as fair or better. WSDOT will spend more than $328 million during the 2009-11 biennium on pavement preservation projects.
The APA also honored the states of Arkansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi and Tennessee. Presentations will be made in October during a special ceremony at the International Conference on Perpetual Pavements in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2009.
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August open houses, meetings and events
11, Tuesday, 10 - noon, Project kick-off, I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East - Snoqualmie Pass: WSDOT is holding an event to kick off the first of three I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East construction contracts between Hyak and Keechelus Dam. This construction contract, which lays the groundwork for future I-90 construction, includes building a long-term detour bridge near Gold Creek and excavating materials from Keechelus Lake. Location: Gold Creek Bridge, I-90 Snoqualmie Pass.
14, Friday, 10 - 11 a.m., Groundbreaking ceremony, I-5 Port of Tacoma Road Interchange to King County Line - HOV Lanes - Fife: WSDOT and state and local officials will celebrate the start of construction to add HOV lanes in each direction of I-5 between the Port of Tacoma Road and the King County line. The project uses more than $35 million in federal stimulus funds and will support and estimated 130 jobs. Location: King County Auction site off of I-5, exit 137 (Fife curves) in Fife.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Express Lane Archive
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