By guest blogger Kris Olsen

Looking north on SR 9

Widening more than two miles of State Route 9 near Clearview in Snohomish County is a large, complex project.  We began the project to widen the highway from two lanes to four in the summer of 2011. Naturally everyone who uses the highway or lives nearby is anxious to have the project complete and the orange construction barrels gone.  Regularly, we receive emails asking “what’s taking so long?” and “are you going to be done soon?”

To widen the highway we:

• Cleared dozens of trees
• Built retaining walls
• Filled in huge sections for new lanes
• Installed new 84” and 96” diameter culverts
• Rebuilt the 180th Street Southeast intersection
• Installed new highway drainage systems
• Built new ditches
• Repaired a stream
• Wired electrical systems for new highway lighting
• Strung fiber optics
• Built new storm water retention ponds
• Paved, paved and then paved some more to build up the two sides of the highway

What’s the current status of the highway?
We’ll hit a milestone the weekend of Nov. 2-3. That’s when crews will install a massive structure known as a signal bridge at 180th Street Southeast. The signal bridge will eventually hold all the new traffic signals and signs. The work requires a full closure of the intersection. You can get all the information about the closure on the project website.

The final layer of pavement has been placed, except a four-block section between 180th Street Southeast and 176th Street Southeast. Although we’ll try to get it done this year, weather may prevent it from occurring until spring 2014.

Striping crew on SR 9

Crews are currently restriping the highway section by section. Two lanes in both directions are now open between 212th Street Southeast/SR 524 and 201st Street Southeast. Next up is the section from 201st Street Southeast to 188th Street Southeast, followed by 188th Street Southeast to 180th Street Southeast and then 180th Street Southeast to 176th Street Southeast. Specific striping dates depend on weather and the availability of a striping crew. Our construction update report will keep you informed about work plans that will affect traffic.

Construction doesn’t come without challenges

Heavy duty roller compacts newly installed asphalt during a break in the weather

Road construction work always has challenges. In coordination with our contractors, we plan schedules weeks, even months in advance to ensure the crews, equipment and resources are available. On SR 9 the contractor was all set to begin the final paving in early September which is traditionally one of the prime months to perform this work. What happened? The skies opened and September ended up as the wettest on record. We can’t pave highways in the rain. Projects throughout the region were rained out. Suddenly everyone’s carefully planned and coordinated schedules are being compressed into mere weeks, putting enormous pressure on private sector pavers and the striping companies. They’re now scrambling to reschedule everything into a much shorter time period. SR 9 is one of many WSDOT projects jockeying with local agencies and private companies for their time and attention. We’ll continue working on striping the project and the contractor is working hard to bring in additional resources.  Over the next couple months, drivers should be prepared for lane closures as crews begin building the raised center median and U-turn locations.

We hoped to have the entire project completed this fall, but some work will have to wait until next spring. We appreciate the patience and understanding of people who use SR 9 through the area. WSDOT remains committed to delivering a well-constructed highway that will serve the area for many years to come.

Crews start restriping major highways this week and plan to finish by fall 2012, weather permitting.

By guest blogger Meagan McFadden

The worn-out stripes along some of the state’s busiest highways will soon be a thing of the past as crews restripe about 40 miles of roadway, in eight counties, along five routes.

This week, we start work on a $2.7 million safety project to restripe high-traffic locations on Interstate 5 in Marysville, Lynnwood, Lacey, Tumwater and the express lanes in Seattle, State Route 240 in Richland, US 2 in Cashmere, US 12 in Walla Walla and I-205 near Vancouver.

We have all been in driving conditions where it’s really hard to see the stripes, so that’s why we are going to improve visibility for drivers by putting down tougher stripes thanks to funding approved by the Legislature.

Crews will spend the next 40 days laying down more durable, plastic-like lane lines across the state and, weather permitting, finish by the end of October. This time we aren’t using paint, we are using a more durable striping material called methyl methacrylate. This material should last longer than paint and withstand the wear and tear from weather and vehicles.

Don’t worry; we are going to limit the impacts to your commute by avoiding peak-travel times and stripe at night through the early morning. But if you are out and about during this time, please make sure to look out for our crews, slow down and give ‘em a brake.

by Guest Blogger Steve Peer

Thank you for your comments about the lane striping on southbound I-405 in Bellevue. We take your comments very seriously – in fact, we investigate each and every one and act on them if there is something we can do.

This is a highly unusual situation with many factors making for a challenging southbound drive out of Bellevue on I-405. Along with our contractor for the South Bellevue Widening project, we’re doing everything we can to look for solutions to keep drivers safe and traffic moving.

Early Saturday morning, we painted black borders on the lane striping on southbound I-405 between SE Eighth and I-90.  We anticipate this will further define the lanes in the area for drivers and make for a safer ride out of Bellevue and solve the issue. If not, we’ll look at other alternatives.

Thanks again for your questions and comments.   Your input it very valuable to us.