Date:  Thursday, August 28, 2008

Contact: Kris Olsen, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4475
Mike Askarian, WSDOT Project Engineer, 206-768-5861

BLACK DIAMOND – The first phase of repair work is nearing substantial completion on an unstable slope at the south end of the SR 169 bridge over the Green River near Black Diamond.

Contractors working for the Washington State Department of Transportation are on pace to finish installing 80 specialized soil-nails and a spray-on concrete by late Friday, Aug. 29. To complete this work ahead of schedule, WSDOT has given contractors approval to close one lane of the Kummer Bridge on Friday. One lane will remain open to traffic. Flaggers will direct north and southbound drivers. Delays should be five minutes or less.

“Keeping one lane closed on Friday allows us to finish the work more quickly,” said WSDOT Project Engineer Mike Askarian. “That means we can have both lanes open to traffic by the end of next week, more than a week ahead of schedule.”

Both lanes of the bridge will be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday for Labor Day travelers.

Contractors will return to the site after the holiday to finish this phase and remove equipment. This will likely require a single lane closure on Tuesday, Sept. 2 and Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Phase two of long-term repair

The next phase of the long-term repair project is scheduled to begin in late September. Drainage pipes will be installed into the slope to help remove the excess water that is causing the landslide. This work is scheduled for completion in early November.

Drivers can find out more about this project on our Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR169/GreenRiverRepair/

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