Finishing Touches
WSDOT, Crews Near Completion of New Bridge On U.S. 101
The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and its construction crews are nearing the finish of the construction of the new Elwah River Bridge on U.S. 101 west of Port Angeles, Wash.
Following a nine-day closure where crews put some finishing touches on the $42 million construction project, the new span is now open.
Crews have built out the bridge deck, built the abutment walls that attach on each side of the bridge where it meets the land and then tied in the bridge to the existing highway. The tie-ins were what required the closure of the bridge for more than week.
The new bridge is 40-ft. wide with two, 12-foot lanes. The shoulders are 8-ft. wide to create a more comfortable crossing for travelers and provide adequate shoulder room for bicyclists and pedestrians. The new bridge meets modern earthquake standards and it also will not need to be monitored during the rainiest parts of the year. Travelers will also notice a gentler curve approaching the span.
Additional Construction
Crews will now begin demolishing the old bridge, which is nearly a century old and has reached the end of its useful lifespan. Crews also will continue installing large woody material in the river, which helps restore the river to more natural conditions. The entire project is expected to be complete in the fall.
Work to replace the bridge began in 2016. WSDOT held six community meetings between 2016 and 2018. Planning, designing and an environmental review then took place. Construction finally began on a new bridge over the Elwha River in April 2023.
For the first few months, crews spent time preparing and clearing the site and building the piers. In November 2023, crews from Ciccanti began placing the girders for the new bridge.
Need to Replace Bridge
Built in 1926, the three-span, 388-ft. concrete arch bridge has
see ELWAH page 6
The Washington Department of Transportation has announced that the closure of the new Elwha River Bridge along U.S. 101 in Port Angeles, Wash., has been lifted and the span is now open.
General contractor Cicantti installed the girders for the bridge in November 2023.
Idaho Crews Step in With Helping Hand in Emergency
Two catastrophic landslides wiped out a broad section of Wyoming State Highway 22 at Teton Pass on June 7, closing the road for the foreseeable future as road crews work to clear debris and construct temporary repairs.
The agency also is working with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) on the highway to allow users to access campsites unaffected by both the landslide at milepost 12.8 and the mudslide at milepost 15.
ITD said its crews and equipment also have been helping WYDOT with debris cleanup.
“They called immediately, we started on our side and they started on theirs,” said ITD Operations Foreman Lucas Richins in a statement. “It was a good team effort. We’re here to support on our side however we can to make it less strenuous.”
Richins said that seven ITD dump trucks initially hauled 80 to 90 loads of debris from the massive landslide; taking that material to a turnout a few miles away until a final determination is made governing reconstruction and cleanup efforts.
Commuters have been asked to detour around the closed roadway using U.S. 26 through Swan Valley and then into the Snake River Canyon in Idaho.
“We understand this highway is a lifeline for commuters, deliveries, medical care access and tourism, especially with limited alternatives and the summer season upon us,” noted Darin Westby, director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, in a statement.
“WYDOT engineers, surveyors and geologists mobilized quickly to try to maintain highway viability as long as possi-
ble, but catastrophic failure could not be avoided,” he added. “WYDOT remains on site decisively engaged on fixing the road and restoring connectivity to the Teton Valley. Safety is our utmost priority, and we ask that recreationists and curious residents avoid the area until it can be stabilized.”
The agency said geologists and engineers are evaluating the area and putting together a long term plan to rebuild the road — stressing that there is no current estimated timeline for that con-
struction.
WYDOT is working closely with the U.S. Forest Service to provide access to recreation areas outside the slide area; noting that Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National park remain open for visitors.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) also issued an Executive Order declaring an emergency in response to both the mudslide at milepost 15 and the landslide at milepost 12.8; a declaration that will help the state access additional resources from the Federal Highway Administration for the substantial repairs required to reopen this roadway.
The Idaho Transportation Department said its crews and equipment have been helping WYDOT with debris cleanup.
Meanwhile, WYDOT crews have been working closely with other agencies and partners to secure the area and explore potential interim access, as well as long term reconstruction options. Currently, WYDOT geologists and engineers are confident they can build a safe, temporary detour around the slide area using local fill material and paving two temporary lanes — hoping to have a temporary detour open to the public, likely with some strict weight and width restrictions, in a few weeks.
“WYDOT's response through this crisis demonstrates the commitment, passion and ingenuity of our crews,” added WYDOT's Westby in separate statement. “We certainly want to thank the Governor, the Federal Highway Administration, the Idaho Transportation Department, the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, Evans Construction and the US Forest Service for their quick response, teamwork and dependability in our time of need.”
(All photos courtesy of Idaho Department of Transportation.)
Several Construction Projects Kicking Off On Idaho Hwy.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is advancing several projects north of Eagle this summer along State Highway 55. These projects include lane closures and reduced speeds in various locations between Eagle and New Meadows.
“Each of these projects is intended to improve traffic flow and safety along this regional route,” District 3 Engineer Jason Brinkman said. “We look forward to a safer, smoother
State Highway 55 after these projects are complete.”
The projects include:
Little Goose Creek Bridge Construction: June 2024
ITD will begin replacing the Little Goose Creek Bridge along SH 55 near Last Chance Campground in New Meadows. SH 55 will be reduced to one lane in the area with flaggers and a traffic signal during construction. Drivers should expect delays. Learn more and sign up for construction updates on the project website.
SH 55 Smiths Ferry to New Meadows
Chip Seal Construction: July 2024 to fall 2024
This July, ITD will start applying a chip seal to several areas of SH 55 between Smiths Ferry and New Meadows. This project will extend the life of the pavement. The highway will be reduced to one lane with pilot cars where crews are working. Drivers should expect delays. In order to see where crews are working, travelers should sign up for updates on the project website.
Rainbow Bridge Design: 2024 to 2026
ITD is currently conducting soil and rock sampling in the area of the Rainbow Bridge for a project to build a new bridge over the North Fork of the Payette River in Valley County. To learn more about the project visit https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/rainbowbridge.
SH 55 DMS Sign Construction: fall 2024
ITD will install a dynamic message sign on SH 55 between Round Valley and Cascade. The new message board will notify motorists of detours or incidents along SH 55. Minimal delays expected. Any traffic impacts during the installation will be posted at 511.idaho.gov.
SH
55 Banks-Lowman Road Intersection
Signal Construction: summer 2024
Flaggers will direct traffic at the Banks-Lowman intersection on all Sundays in July. The project team is planning to install an interim traffic signal at the busy intersection later this year.
SH 55 Fleming Creek Bridge Replacement Construction: fall 2024 to late 2025
This fall, ITD will begin replacing the Fleming Creek Bridge on SH 55 approximately 4 mi. south of Banks. SH 55 will be reduced to one lane in the work zone with speed limit reductions during the week. Details will be posted to itdprojects.idaho.gov later this summer.
SH 55 State Street to Horseshoe Bend
Rehabilitation:
fall 2023 – fall 2024
ITD is milling and resurfacing SH 55 between State Street in Eagle and Horseshoe Bend. Work is expected to be complete this fall. Details are available on the project website. Drivers are encouraged to slow down in the work zone as there have been too many close calls with flaggers.
Idaho Transportation Department photo
Crews Build Deck, Abutment Walls, Tie Ins On New Span
ELWAH from page 1
served the community for nearly 100 years. Over the last several years, the Elwha River has dramatically changed its course and flow, leading to significant erosion around the bridge foundations. As a result, WSDOT estimates the riverbed around the piers has lowered 14 ft.
The lowered riverbed revealed the piers’ seals, prompting WSDOT to do borings to verify the depth of the foundations. The borings, done in October 2016, revealed the foundations are on gravel, not bedrock. This finding was in contrast to what the original 1926 engineering plans showed. As a result, WSDOT immediately installed approximately 5,000 tons of riprap (large boulders) around both piers to help prevent further erosion. Additional bridge monitoring using tilt meters, crack meters, water flow meters, surveys and visual observations are under way until the bridge can be replaced.
Additional project benefits include:
• Transit stops on both the west and east ends of the bridge, locations of which were coordinated with Clallam Transit;
• Relocating the intersection further east to provide better sight lines and intersection geometrics;
• Installing illumination at the intersection (no illumination is there presently);
• Building turn pockets on U.S. 101 to Olympic Hot Springs Road;
• Building a short acceleration lane on northbound U.S. 101 from Olympic Hot Springs Road;
• Restore the parking access that was there before with a gravel parking lot.
(All photos courtesy of WSDOT.)
Crews have built out the bridge deck, built the abutment walls that attach on each side of the bridge where it meets the land and then tied in the bridge to the existing highway.
WSDOT Plans On Building Up Its Hybrid-Electrical Fleet
The ferry system in Washington is the largest in the United States. Recently, WSDOT launched its national contracting process to begin the bidding and building process for five new hybrid-electric ferries.
WSDOT invited potential shipbuilders to submit qualifications to build five new hybrid-electric vessels. Later this year, the qualified firms will submit their bids.
Under this contracting approach, two vessels could be delivered in 2028, two more in 2029 and the final ferry in 2030 (subject to
final bid prices and available funding). These boats are expected to support the Mukilteo/Clinton and Seattle/Bremerton routes.
Hybrid-Electric Ferries Offer Healthier,SustainableFinancially Future
Current diesel vessels are one of the state’s largest emitters of climate pollution, burning nearly 19 million gal. of diesel fuel each year. Hybrid-electric ferries not only
bring Washington closer to a cleaner, healthier and more financially sustainable future, they’re also the fastest path to growing its fleet.
Hybrid-electric ferries have been in design for more than a year and shipbuilders across the country are interested in building these vessels.
The five new ferries will save approximately 240 million gal. of diesel over their 60-year lifespan.
Emissions will be reduced from the current 180,000 metric tons to 45,000 metric tons annually systemwide.
Support for hybrid-electric vessels began in 2018 with an executive order for WSDOT to begin transitioning to an emission-free fleet. A similar executive order went into effect in 2020. There also is a law requiring state agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent by 2040. After that, greenhouse gas emissions are required to be at net zero by 2050.
In 2020, WSDOT published our System Electrification Plan (PDF 4MB), which explains how it plans to meet those goals by using hybrid-electric vessels and charging stations at the terminals. The plan includes building 16 new vessels in the next 16 years and converting six diesel-only vessels to
hybrid-electric. These two actions combined allow the agency to replace and revitalize our aging fleet.
In May 2023, the Washington legislature passed a bill allowing for a faster and more competitive procurement process for the five hybrid-electric ferries. With this new law, out-of-state shipyards can submit bids.
The electrification program is estimated to cost $4 billion. So far, WSDOT has secured $1.68 billion in funding. That includes $599 million from the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) (passed in 2021) and $1.03 billion from Move Ahead Washington (passed in 2022).
Shipyards must pass a rigorous pre-qualification process before they can submit bids. WSDOT will choose one or two winning shipyards. Then, each winning shipyard will be allowed one year for final planning and two years for construction of the first vessel. This hybrid-electric plan and design is the quickest path to new vessels. WSDOT has legislative direction, funding and design to proceed with the hybrid-electric vessels. The earliest a new diesel vessel could enter service would be 2030, two years beyond the current timeline for the first hybrid-electric ferries and not meet legislative direction, including emissions standards.
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