Tag: washington state dot: Page 3

Roadbuilding

Top FHWA official says unfinished Spokane project proves need for long-term highway bill

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s acting administrator toured the incomplete North Spokane Corridor last week and said the half-built project shows why the federal government needs to act on long-term transportation funding. After touring the NSC, Gergory Nadeau said the project “exemplifies exactly what has been happening all over the country.” About half of the […]

May 28, 2015

Roadbuilding

Damage to Big Bertha worse than previously thought

Now that crews are well into the process of dismantling her front-end for necessary repairs, it’s clear that damage to Big Bertha, the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine, is worse than previously thought. Making matters worse, the tunneler likely won’t resume its work drilling the State Route 99 tunnel beneath Seattle by August as the project’s […]

May 26, 2015

Roadbuilding

Washington state will have $1.8 billion backlog of pavement preservation projects by 2025, report finds

In its recent report on Washington’s transportation challenges, The Road Improvement Program says the state needs $2.8 billion for pavement preservation from now until 2025, but that only $1 billion will be available. As a result, the condition of state-maintained roads would decline drastically.   “Making needed improvements to Washington’s transportation system could provide a significant boost to […]

April 24, 2015

Roadbuilding

Water main damaged by Big Bertha repair excavation could cost WSDOT $4 million

Four months after crews temporarily stopped excavation on a repair pit for the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine due to ground sinkage, Seattle officials have now identified a major repair needed on a water main damaged by the sinking. Back in December, excavation stopped on the repair pit through which Big Bertha’s massive cutterhead was recently lifted as officials suspected groundwater pumping […]

April 14, 2015

Roadbuilding

PHOTOS: Big Bertha’s 2,000-ton front end lifted to the surface. How the world’s largest tunneler was raised

[imagebrowser id=225] After a year of slumber and almost a month after chewing her way into a 12-story repair pit, Big Bertha, the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine, is finally under repair in Seattle. Crews worked for the better part of March to disassemble the machine’s front end before lifting the machine’s cutterhead and body shield panels—a […]

April 1, 2015

Roadbuilding

Crane sends pipe careening into Seattle bus on Highway 520 bridge followed by a crashing traffic sign

Eight passengers on a bus traveling across the Highway 520 in Seattle were hospitalized Tuesday night after a construction accident resulted in a traffic sign toppling atop the bus. According to a report from the Seattle Times, Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington State Patrol officials said a crane lifting pipe as part of the Highway […]

March 19, 2015

Roadbuilding

Big Bertha wakes from one-year nap, begins to chew her way into repair pit

For the first time in more than a year, Big Bertha actually bored. According to a report from the Seattle Times, the world’s largest tunnel boring machine, dormant deep below Seattle since late January 2014, has drilled forward a total of 6 feet between late Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon as crews begin the process of moving Bertha into […]

February 19, 2015

Roadbuilding

WSDOT announces I-5 detours

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has announced that Interstate 5 has been closed in both directions in Skagit County south of Burlington. The agency said via Twitter that drivers should avoid the area or expect delays. WSDOT suggested the following alternate routes: Southbound traffic: Take eastbound State Route (SR) 20, then south on […]

May 24, 2013

Roadbuilding

Cracking Cold

Solving the Riddle of RAP and Thermal Cracking

February 17, 2012

Roadbuilding

Road Science Tutorial

A war is being waged on noise generated by pavements and highways.

July 7, 2011

Roadbuilding

Road Science Tutorial

A strong foundation is the key to a strong pavement structure.

May 9, 2011