Date:  Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Contact: Leon Winger, WSDOT Project Engineer, (800) 725-9669 (Vancouver) toll-free
Annie Linstrom, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2079 (Vancouver)

Crews finish paving and installing new guardrail on 28 miles of roadway this week.

SKAMOKAWA – Drivers traveling SR 4 through Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties will experience fewer delays and a smoother ride as WSDOT’s contractor, Lakeside Industries, Inc. of Longview, completes the SR 4 – Skamokawa to Coal Creek Road Paving and Guardrail project.

Lakeside Industries will return in January to complete minor guardrail work near River View Road (mile post 38), which has been delayed due to a shortage in materials.

The $6.5 million project, funded by the 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the 2003 gas tax and federal highway improvement funds, improves safety along SR 4 between Skamokawa and Coal Creek Road (mile post 27.5 to 55) with new guardrail, cable barrier and enhanced bridge railings. This project also preserves the life of the roadway, replacing old pavement by laying approximately 43,000 tons of fresh asphalt on the project.

WSDOT partnered with Wahkiakum County to pave West Little Island and Beaver Creek roads in the project area. Paving these two roads allowed crews to repair ruts and cracks in the pavement, preserve and enhance the condition of the roadways and improve safety for all drivers. Construction on the project began in June and was completed on-schedule, earlier this week.

On average, this stretch of SR 4 carries approximately 3,400 vehicles per day. Paving and restoring SR 4 preserves the roadway, extends its life and keeps east-west commuter and freight traffic moving.

For more information this project, please visit the project Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR4/SkamokawaCoalCreek/.

Washington State is administering the Recovery Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire has created a new website, www.recovery.wa.gov, enabling every Washingtonian to see where their tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden, a proven and aggressive Inspector General, to oversee all state’s recovery efforts and root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted. 

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WSDOT's mission is to keep people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/trafficor by dialing 5-1-1.

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