WSDOT Eastern Region/March 2015 Update

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From: Washington State Department of Transportation <wsdot@service.govdelivery.com>
Date: Mar 25, 2015 6:10 PM
Subject: WSDOT Eastern Region/March 2015 Update
To: guyperea@live.com
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Welcome to our March 2015 newsletter.  This month we talk about projects along US 195 and a bridge sidewalk repair in Colfax. As always, if you have any questions on items in this newsletter, or other transportation issues, please let me know. Give me a call at (509) 324-6010 or drop me an e-mail at: metcalk@wsdot.wa.gov . Keith Metcalf Regional Administrator WSDOT Eastern Region ============================================ Busy construction season on US 195 revs up in May US 195 between Pullman and Spokane will be a very busy highway this year with four large highway pavement jobs under construction. Two asphalt paving jobs will begin in Whitman County. In addition, an asphalt paving project and a concrete rehabilitation job are slated for Spokane County. Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will handle the tasks with four work zones spread over a 76-mile section of highway.  Project details •  US 195/SR 27 (Pullman) to Babbitt Road — This asphalt resurfacing project is scheduled to begin in mid-May. It's expected to take about seven weeks to complete. This is daytime work and drivers should expect delays with flaggers and pilot cars directing single-lane, alternating traffic. One important note: In the north half of the project, the base asphalt layer will be paved with a "cold, in-place, recycled pavement" process.  This process requires a curing period before traffic can drive on the fresh asphalt.  There may be times when the lane is closed but no active work seems to be underway. •  US 195/Colfax to Dry Creek Road — This is an eight week asphalt paving job with a planned start in mid-June. Work is scheduled for evening and overnight hours to help reduce the delays for drivers. The project includes repaving Main Street in downtown Colfax. There will be some daytime lane restrictions near the railroad crossing at the north end of Colfax. •  US 195/Plaza to Cornwall Road — A mid-July start is planned for this asphalt paving project. It's expected to take five weeks to complete. This is daytime work and drivers should expect delays with flaggers and pilot cars directing single-lane, alternating traffic. •  US 195/Excelsior Road to Interstate 90 — This 16-week project begins in mid-July. The project will improve the southbound lanes of US 195 using several techniques. Some concrete panels will be removed and replaced. Contractor crews will also jack up some of the panels. That involves pumping grout under the concrete panel to bring it up to the same level as the others. Cracks in other concrete panels will be sealed.  After the repair work, the entire surface of the concrete will be ground smooth.  Work is scheduled during daytime hours and one lane of southbound US 195 will be open at all times. There may be some minor disruptions to traffic near the on/off ramps and intersections. WSDOT works with contractors to keep work zone delays to 20 minutes or less; however, sometimes very heavy traffic volumes make that difficult to achieve.  We know it can be tough on drivers when roadwork is underway; and the crews will work to limit the effects on traveler's schedules.  These sections are past due for surfacing work and funding for these four projects became available this year. Maintaining and preserving the pavement on US 195 extends its lifespan so drivers can use it for many years to come. In addition, start dates on the four projects are staggered to reduce traffic impacts. WSDOT also delayed the start of work until after the WSU spring semester ends on May 8. Drivers can view a map of all four projects on the US 195-2015 construction website. Drivers can also keep up to date on project progress by visiting the Weekly Construction and Traffic Update website and the WSDOT Traffic Alerts website.  An informational open house is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Public Service Building at 310 N. Main in Colfax.  The open house will primarily deal with the Colfax to Dry Creek Road project; however, staff members from the crews responsible for all the US 195 jobs will be on hand to answer questions. =  =  =  =  =  = = Complicated repair for SR 26 bridge in Colfax In the Spring of 2011 WSDOT HQ bridge preservation staff notified the Eastern Region WSDOT office that there was concern with sagging detected in the sidewalk on the SR 26 bridge just north of downtown Colfax.  The sidewalk showed a separation from the bridge and was slightly tipping down.  As a safety precaution the sidewalk was closed with temporary barricades and caution tape, and in 2013 a long-term closure was put into place with chain link fencing added to keep pedestrian traffic off the sidewalk.  Concrete barricade was also installed to make sure vehicles did not cross onto the sidewalk, which could have resulted in the sidewalk tipping even more or possibly collapse.  The HQ Bridge Preservation staff attempted to locate funding to repair the bridge through a construction contract, but no money was available to be applied toward the sidewalk.  With extremely tight budgets, bridge funding is targeted toward more critical vehicle structure needs.  As an alternate plan, HQ Bridge Preservation staff drafted a design in 2013 that could be accomplished with State Bridge Crew forces.  The plan would take a month of work and tie the bridge crew up to this single repair, but it was the most reasonable, cost-effective solution.  Avista Utilities came into the discussion as a result of their high pressure gas line that Avista has attached to the bridge and under the sidewalk.  Avista did not want the sidewalk to collapse and rip this important gas line off, causing interruption in service and an obvious safety response issue.  Avista offered to partner with WSDOT with roughly half the repair cost to keep the sidewalk sound.  As a result of the partnership offer, the WSDOT decided a State force fix was the best option and final design work was completed in the winter of 2014.  Fabrication of the sidewalk support bracket and steel beam began in January of 2015 with installation beginning in early March.  As part of the work, crews will patch the sidewalk walking surface and install chain link along the crumbling railing.  The job should be complete in April. Special thanks need to go to the Eastern Region Bridge staff and designers at the WSDOT Bridge Preservation Branch.  Their collaboration has produced a cost efficient and constructible design that keeps the sidewalk supported and open until a long term structural solution can be funded. Further structural work is also scheduled to the SR 26 bridge while the crew is on site.  Girder repairs on the bridge will be completed in an effort to capitalize on the unique equipment from around the state that is on site for the sidewalk.   STAY CONNECTED:   SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help  This email was sent to guyperea@live.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: WSDOT  310 Maple Park Ave SE · Olympia, WA 98504