Date:  Friday, July 17, 2009

Contact: Seema Javeri, WSDOT Project Engineer, 206.794.6220
Steve Peer, I-405 Communications, 425.301.2023

BELLEVUE – The Washington State Department of Transportation is investigating an apparent discharge into Trail Creek near Bellefields Nature Park in Bellevue earlier today. A subcontractor working for Atkinson Construction working to widen I-405 in South Bellevue inadvertently allowed a small amount of water carrying lubricant and curing compound to flow into the creek when equipment failed. The lubricant is mineral oil.

The Washington Department of Ecology was notified just after 8 a.m. Friday, July 17. WSDOT briefed investigators with the Department of Ecology regarding WSDOT and the Atkinson Construction’s plan to manage the discharge.

“It is standard WSDOT practice to report potential environmental violations to the Department of Ecology,” said Seema Javeri, WSDOT Project Engineer. “We will work closely with DOE to review our practices on this project.”

Just after 7 a.m., contractor crews were installing a liner in a 24-inch corrugated metal pipe that runs east to west under I-405 just north of I-90. The liner extends the life of the old pipe and allows water to pass more efficiently under I-405. The liner, tied on one end, became stuck and crews used water to get the liner moving. The knotted end punctured and 100-200 gallons of water carrying two quarts of lubricant and curing compound surged out of the pipe and over carefully placed sandbags.

A small amount of these fluids flowed into Trail Creek. Crews immediately dammed the creek. The creek will remain dammed for several hours while the water is cleaned.

“We take these environmental violations very seriously,” said Denise Cieri, I-405 Deputy Project Director. “This is not how we do business.”

These compounds are not harmful however, styrene, a quick-curing substance, smells like model airplane glue. Because of the smell, WSDOT is closing the lake-to-lake trail in the area until midnight. The trail should open, as usual, on Saturday, July 18.

For more information on this project:

www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/112thAvetoSE8th/.

< Back to News Home