From: Washington State Department of Transportation <wsdot@service.govdelivery.com>
Date: Jul 14, 2015 2:51 PM
Subject: WSDOT Eastern Region-July 2015 Update
To: guyperea@live.com
Cc:
Welcome to our July 2015 newsletter. This month we talk about new highway funding, fish, and warm asphalt
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= = = = = = =
Budget has major projects in our region
The Legislature passed the "Connecting Washington" transportation package last week and that program has several projects in our Region. Of course, the big news is that the package provides full funding to complete the North Spokane Corridor project, building the southern five miles of freeway and connecting to Interstate 90.
The highlights of the project list for Eastern Region are:
• North Spokane Corridor – Provides project funds to construct five miles of freeway and interchanges to finish the corridor from Francis to Interstate 90.
• I-90/SR 902 Interchange- Builds roundabouts at ramp terminals and other interchange upgrades.
• I-90/Geiger Interchange- Builds roundabouts at the westbound off ramp and intersection of Geiger Blvd. with ramp upgrades.
• I-90/Barker to Harvard- Interchange improvements at Barker and Harvard Road. This can also provide for a partnership opportunity for adding a locally-funded interchange at Henry Road.
• US 195/Colfax to Spangle – Passing lanes-four northbound and two southbound sections
• SR 26/Dusty to Colfax – Passing Lanes-two eastbound and two westbound sectionsThis work is spread out over the next sixteen years with the next NSC project, the Wellesley/Freya intersection improvements, under construction in 2016. The US 195 passing lane job should start in 2017.
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Here's a ferry and fish story
WSDOT Eastern Region gave approval to the Spokane Tribe of Indians and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to release Kokanee Salmon from the Keller Ferry in order to improve the fish survival rates. Water temperatures at all the usual release locations in streams and along the shore were too warm and the warm water can kill the fish. The juvenile Kokanee were released in the center of the river channel where the water temperatures were cooler. They released about 300,000 Kokanee from the ferry vessel in early July.
This is a great example of working with the Tribes and other agencies. We were able to allow this without disrupting the ferry service, plus some of our riders enjoyed watching the process.
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Asphalt that's not so hot
Our engineering staff is always looking for ways to save time and money while still providing a quality product.
On the SR 290 paving project from Sullivan Road to the Idaho state line, we are paving some of the highway with Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA).
Warm Mix Asphalt can be made by injecting water or a waxy chemical into the hot asphalt oil prior to mixing it with the gravel. While it is still hot— 275 degrees compared the 300 to 325 degree temperature for the Hot Mix, there is some energy consumption cost savings realized by producing asphalt mix at the cooler temperature. also, WMA is compactable at lower air temperatures than Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). Usually, we don't allow HMA paving of the top layer below 45 degrees, however WMA has been successfully compacted down to 20 degree temperatures.
We currently allow WMA to be used in lieu of HMA on any project. This test paving is being done to provide a side by side comparison of the Warm Mix Asphalt and Hot Mix Asphalt under the exact same paving conditions and highway traffic. The Federal Highway Administration is funding the Warm Mix Asphalt test section paving.
This email was sent to guyperea@live.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: WSDOT
310 Maple Park Ave SE · Olympia, WA 98504
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