Spanning Success
AECON Installs 50-Ton Girders for New Washington Bridge
Construction crews from design-builder AECON are progressing on the Washington Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) nearly $200 million I-90 — SR 18 Interchange Improvements project.
As part of the overall project, the construction of a new bridge along SR 18 near Snoqualmie is a major part of the upgrades. Recently, crews installed four girders more than 50 ft. above the Raging River. The new bridge will span the entirety of the Raging River valley. Each girder section weighs more than 51 tons, which were lifted into place with two large hydraulic cranes.
When complete, this second Raging River bridge will carry two lanes of westbound SR 18, while the existing bridge will carry two eastbound lanes. The project already has seen the construction of a new four-lane bridge over Lake Creek and crews are building another four-lane bridge over Deep Creek just east of the existing roadway.
Growth in Snoqualmie Valley has made the I-90/SR 18 interchange one of the busiest in the state, causing backups during peak times and busy travel weekends. To improve traffic flow, WSDOT has handed out contracts for numerous upgrades that include:
• Design and construction of a four-lane diverging diamond interchange;
• Widening of SR 18 to four lanes from the interchange to Deep Creek;
• Design and construction of a four-lane bridge over Deep Creek and a two-lane bridge over Raging River.
“The diverging diamond interchange will improve the flow of traffic by reducing the number of traffic signals and offering more free turns for drivers entering and exiting the interstate,” AECON said in a statement. “Growth in Snoqualmie Valley has resulted in the current I-90/SR 18 interchange being one of the busiest in Washington
Overall, the project consists of widening of SR-18 to four lanes from the interchange to Deep Creek; design and construction of a four-lane bridge over Deep Creek and a two-lane bridge over Raging River.
State.”
The first stage of construction began in April 2023. Contractor crews cleared trees in the project area to begin work on the new interchange and highway widening.
To create enough space on SR 18 for a safe work zone, WSDOT and its contractor reduced lanes to one lane in each direction and shifted traffic to the east side of the roadway. In August 2023, crews shifted traffic to west side of the newly constructed Lake Creek bridge.
A variety of construction activities are taking place throughout the project area. Some of this work includes:
• Building the new two-lane bridge over Raging River
on SR 18, which will carry westbound traffic next to the current bridge;
• Building the new four-lane bridge over Deep Creek on the east side of the roadway;
• Finishing touches on new four-lane bridge over Lake Creek;
• Grading area for two new SR 18 between Deep Creek and I-90;
• Grading and preparing areas for new on- and offramps between I-90 and SR 18 at the new interchange;
• Building a new drainage system at the interchange;
see SPAN page 6
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Seattle Mayor Signs Legislation for Transportation Levy
On July 10, 2024, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed into law the legislation that will place the Transportation Levy on Seattle voters’ ballots in November 2024. The legislation was unanimously approved by the City Council on July 9.
If approved by voters, the eight-year $1.55 billion Transportation Levy will provide funding to enhance the city’s transportation infrastructure, including building sidewalks, paving streets, repairing bridges and improving transit connections. The levy reflects the safety, maintenance, and modernization needs of Seattle’s transportation infrastructure and incorporates robust community input.
The current Levy to Move Seattle, which expires at the end of 2024, represents roughly 30 percent of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s budget. The proposed Transportation Levy would renew and expand this funding source to build a broad range of projects reflecting the city’s evolving transportation needs and priorities.
“For the past 18 years, Seattle voters have consistently shown their commitment to maintaining and improving our city’s transportation infrastructure,” said Harrell. “This Transportation Levy is a detailed action plan to build on that effort, addressing the urgent needs of our streets, bridges, sidewalks and transit systems. These investments will help Seattleites get where they need to go and enhance safety across our transportation system, no matter how they get around — bolstering bridges, strengthening connections to light rail and transit and improving routes to walk, bike, and roll.”
• $403 million to repave arterial streets that carry the most buses, trucks, cars and improve infrastructure for people walking, rolling, biking, and taking transit;
• $221 million to keep bridges and structures in reliable working condition and prepare for future bridge projects;
• $193 million to build and repair sidewalks, crossings and curb ramps, so people walking and rolling can safely get to where they need to go;
• $160.5 million to make targeted Vision Zero and com-
nals for safe, reliable movement; improve pedestrian and bike accessibility signals; and support traffic operations during large events, incidents, and for trips in and out of the port;
• $69 million to address climate change directly, reducing air pollution and making sustainable transportation options more available;
• $66.5 million to activate public spaces and improve lighting in partnership with business districts and community organizations so people can enjoy unique and vibrant neighborhoods and business districts;
If approved by voters, the eight-year $1.55 billion Transportation Levy will provide funding to enhance the city’s transportation infrastructure, including building sidewalks, paving streets, repairing bridges and improving transit connections.
“This consensus levy is about us all coming together to invest in a better future for our city,” said Seattle City Councilmember Transportation Chair Rob Saka. “This levy is about building a stronger, more reliable transportation system. It’s about saving lives by making critical safety improvements on our roads. It’s about creating good, livingwage, union jobs for people in our community. It’s a big investment to be sure, but it’s one that we’re making with utmost accountability and care. The people of Seattle are worth it.”
Key Transportation Levy investments include:
munity improvements to streets, sidewalks, intersections and crossings to reduce traffic collisions, severe injuries, and fatalities;
• $151 million to connect people safely to transit hubs, including Link light rail stations and bus stops; and reduce delays on bus routes;
• $133.5 million to expand Seattle’s protected bike lane network; connect schools to bike lanes, paths and neighborhood greenways; and maintain and upgrade existing bike lanes;
• $100 million to install, maintain and upgrade traffic sig-
• $45 million to make freight improvements to support trucks delivering goods and providing services;
• $7.5 million to ensure good governance and equitable implementation.
Other highlights of the Transportation Levy include:
• 350 new blocks of sidewalks and walkways: approximately 22 mi. and 34,000 repairs to existing sidewalks;
• 160 projects to improve bus trip reliability and connect people to light rail stations while prioritizing safety, reliability, and accessibility;
• A new preventative bridge maintenance program and planning for longer-term replacements;
• 15 paving projects to maintain and modernize Seattle’s streets and get people and goods where they need to go;
• Improvements to Seattle’s bicycle network with new protected bike lanes, added bike lane barriers, regular bike lane sweeping, completing the gap in the Burke-Gilman Trail and more bike facilities in south Seattle.
“SDOT is ready to deliver on this balanced and practical investment program to maintain and modernize Seattle’s streets, sidewalks, bridges, bike lanes and transit connections, over the next eight years,” said SDOT Director Greg Spotts. “We appreciate the deep and thoughtful collaboration with a wide range of Seattle community members and organizations who helped shape this levy for consideration by Seattle voters.”
Sandvik Announces Tyler Rental Expands Territory in PNW
Sandvik announced the expansion of Tyler Rental’s mobile crushers and screens distributor territory to include Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
Tyler Rental will be responsible for selling Sandvik mobile crushers and screens in combination with full aftermarket support through the supply of spare and wear parts and local customer service.
For more than 30 years, Tyler Rental has been providing a wide range of rental equipment from leading brands to the construction and industrial sectors. It has an established sales and service network with six locations across the territories it covers. With a team of expertly trained staff combined with the best quality equipment in the industry and dependable service, it has become a leading supplier in these states.
Since 2017, Tyler Rental has successfully represented Sandvik in Alaska as a distributor of Sandvik underground mining, surface drills and mobile crushers. This expansion is a testament to the fruitful partnership and the company’s capability to cater to a broader market.
Tyler Rental will now offer Sandvik’s Q Range of tracked jaw, cone and impact crushers, screens and scalpers; as well as the heavy and wheeled U-Range products. This will perfectly complement its offering of shredders, trommels, conveyors and composting machinery, providing its customers with a one-stop shop for all their equipment needs.
Richard Furlong, dealer manager of
Sandvik Mobile Crushing and Screening, said, “Tyler Rental is a well-established, leading equipment supplier in these states, and we are confident that with their customer knowledge and local market expertise, we will be able to develop the Mobiles’ business further together.”
Randy Johnson, CEO and president of Tyler Rental, said, “We are proud to work with Sandvik and to have earned the opportunity to sell its high-quality brand of mobile crushers and screens. The partnership that we have built with Sandvik has enabled Tyler Rental to provide added value and a more comprehensive fleet offering for our customers.”
For more information, visit www.tylerrental.com.
and wear parts and local
Seattle.gov photo
Sandvik photo
Tyler Rental will be responsible for selling Sandvik mobile crushers and screens in combination with full aftermarket support through the supply of spare
customer service.
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Contractor Building Two New Bridges Over Raging River
SPAN from page 1
• Ongoing maintenance and roadway repairs as needed; • Removal of the old weigh station near the westbound I90 on-ramp (completed).
Removing Fish Barriers, Enhancing Wildlife
As part of this project, WSDOT will remove six fish passage barriers in the area. Crews also will install two new fish-passable crossings at Deep Creek and Lake Creek. These new stream crossings will restore access to 13 mi. of stream habitat that is essential for populations of salmon, steelhead and other aquatic species. The new bridges built for highway widening also will allow wildlife to pass safely beneath roadway instead of over it.
In the Deep Creek watershed, this project will open access to 11.2 mi. of stream habitat, including approximately .75 acres of spawning area and 2.34 acres of rearing habitat. These fish are important resource for Tribes through their treaty rights with Washington and also as forage for endangered Orca in Puget Sound.
About Project
Growth in Snoqualmie Valley has made the I-90/SR 18 interchange one of the busiest in the state, causing backups during peak times and busy travel weekends. To improve traffic flow, WSDOT is building a diverging diamond interchange and adding two lanes on SR 18 between the interchange and Deep Creek.
(All photos courtesy of WSDOT.)
Idaho Seeks Public Input On Its Newly Released Seven-Year Transportation Plan ITD Celebrates Its 50th Birthday, Half a Century of Success
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is seeking feedback on the just-released draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). The ITIP outlines the state’s transportation priorities and guides investment decisions for the next seven years through 2031. ITD encourages everyone to review the draft and provide comments July 131.
Transportation projects included in the draft ITIP range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of new guardrail. Projects are located throughout Idaho’s 44 counties and involve all modes of transportation. Project selection is determined through technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.
This draft ITIP shows plans for $6.9 billion in funding, including $200 million dedicated to pavements and $100 million dedicated to bridges each year.
Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney confirmed, “With the growth of traffic accelerating the need for improvements and the impacts of inflating costs since 2020, the added annual investment in highway pavement and bridge repairs proposed in this draft ITIP plan will provide the Idaho Transportation Board effective options to consider looking ahead for Idaho.”
ITD will finance and construct an overpass on Linder Road spanning Interstate 84. This new infrastructure will offer an additional north-south route, easing the traffic bur-
den on the Ten Mile and Meridian Interchanges. The project is a collaborative effort with the city of Meridian and Ada County Highway District. Construction is set to begin in 2026.
Two projects are in the ITIP for State Highway 52 from Emmett to Sweet. In fiscal year 2028 ITD will begin milling and resurfacing the roadway for a smoother driving experience. The following year, ITD will apply a sealcoat over this section of SH-52 to preserve the road.
Paper copies of the ITIP will be available at regional offices and provided upon request by contacting the Idaho Transportation Department at 208/334-4455.
All comments will be reviewed and incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate. Responses will be sent by September.
After approval by the Idaho Transportation Board in September, the ITIP will then be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency in October.
Public input is crucial in ensuring that the ITIP includes the prioritized needs of Idaho's communities. Comments can be emailed to itipcomments@itd.idaho.govor recorded at 208/334-8063.
For more information, visit itd.idaho.gov/funding to view an interactive map to learn about projects and submit a comment through the portal.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) turns 50 years old this year, celebrating half a century of connecting Idaho’s travelers with their many destinations.
On July 1, 1974, the Idaho Transportation Department was officially established, bringing together the Department of Highways, Aeronautics, Public Transportation, and the Traffic Safety Commission under one department.
This administrative shift set in motion a series of changes, including appointing ITD’s first director Darrell Manning, who served as the director of ITD from 1974 to 1985.
Today, the department maintains and operates Idaho’s largest arterials, bridges, and backcountry airstrips.
"ITD has been serving the citizens of Idaho for much longer than 50 years, however we feel that it is important to recognize this date and its importance,” said Director Scott Stokes. “On this date, ITD expanded its essential functions of the department to include maintenance of our airstrips, public transit, and traffic safety – all of which help enhance quality of life in our great state.”
(Photo courtesy of Idaho Department of Transportation.)
Construction crews from AECON utilized two hydraulic cranes to install four girders, each weighing more than 51 tons, more than 50 ft. above the Raging River for the new SR 18 bridge.
When complete, this second Raging River bridge will carry two lanes of westbound SR 18, while the existing bridge will carry two eastbound lanes.
To improve traffic flow, WSDOT is building a diverging diamond interchange and adding two lanes on SR 18 between the interchange and Deep Creek.
American Loggers Council Collaborates With Forest Service
The American Loggers Council, the largest national timber industry association in the United States, has entered into an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USDA Forest Service. This MOU formalizes future collaboration and recognizes common areas of mutual benefit.
The MOU highlights the vital role and services that the timber industry has in supporting the Forest Service objectives of managing the national forests; along with the role that the Forest Service has in supporting America's timber industry and the resource they provide for the essential wood products society depends upon daily.
“Loggers are on the front line every day, contributing directly to the health of the nation's forests," said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. "Sustainably sourcing wood supports critical forest management activities that reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and make our forests healthier, while also creating jobs and strengthening local economies. This memorandum builds on our partnership with loggers to improve the health of the nation's forests.”
There are many challenges threatening the future and health of the timber and forest products industries and the nation's forests. The solution to addressing these challenges
and threats is collaboration and cooperation between the timber industry, the forest products industry, and public forest managers. Each entity shares a common objective — healthy forests. The timber and forest products sector provide the tools and markets to enable; sustainable forest management practices; mitigate wildfire impacts; improve forest health; reduce disease and infestation; improve carbon sequestration; create rural employment; and support communities.
However, these goals and objectives require a concerted effort between the public and private sectors. All are dependent upon the other, and none can succeed without the other. This MOU formally recognizes a commitment to working together to sustain the critical infrastructure and the forests.
The American Loggers Council and the Forest Service have a history of collaboration and cooperation in areas of mutual interest and benefit. Examples include:
• The $200 million Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH) program;
• The $10 million Biomass Transportation Incentive Project (BTIP); and
• The $200,000 timber industry Public Image and Workforce Development Campaign.
“America's loggers are the ‘boots on the ground’ providing essential wood products while helping to protect and restore our forests to their fullest potential,” said Mike Albrecht, president of the American Loggers Council. “We cannot do our job without a strong working relationship with the United States Forest Service. This memorandum will serve to strengthen that relationship as we focus on our common goals of healthy forests coupled with a healthy timber industry.”
The American Loggers Council, the largest national timber industry association in the U.S., has entered into an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USDA Forest Service. This MOU formalizes future collaboration and recognizes common areas of mutual benefit.
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