From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/16/1867056/a-simple-guardrail-leads-to-complicated.html A decision by WSDOT to only use steel guardrail posts may force a Sumner company to shut down. Oh, and the posts are from out of state and cost more. The reasoning is that the wooden posts have a higher failure rate. While yes there may be a potential of [...]
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i90/whatshappening WSDOT will be shutting down Interstate 90 at Hyak to 1 lane in each direction next week. While not technically in the Puget Sound area, Interstate 90 is heavily used by people who travel between Seattle and Eastern Washington. Ben
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/10/12_i5panelrepairtukwila.htm A project is underway to replace cracked concrete panels in the Southcenter/Tukwila area on I-5. This is a tiny part of the large backlog of reconstruction work that needs to be done in King County. Unfortunately the project did result in an emergency repair on the 19th but is otherwise underway. Hopefully [...]
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/10/13_TunnelBoringcontract-signed.htm Hitachi Zosen has been awarded the contract to build the tunnel boring machine for the Alaska Way Viaduct replacement project. With a diameter of 57 feet, I can’t wait to see what they come up with. Ben
From Sound Transit: http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/One-Bus-Away-continues.xml The popular application One Bus Away, started by a UW student, will continue running even though the student has graduated. Funding has been found to support the app for 13 months. Given how useful this app is and the fact the student now works at Google, perhaps Google should look into [...]
From the WSDOT Blog: http://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/win-contest-and-get-exclusive-access-to.html WSDOT is holding a contest for a private tour of the viaduct on the 22nd. For the rest of us, there is a public tour, also on the 22nd, of the section that is going to be torn down. Ben
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/10/11_TenDaysUntil99Closure.htm The Alaskan Way/SR 99 Viaduct will be shut down for 9 days beginning October 21st so that WSDOT can tear down the Southern mile. Users are strongly recommended to find alternates now. Ben
From MSNBC: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/07/8207263-amtrak-more-popular-and-more-at-risk-than-ever AMTRAK continues to set record ridership. However, certain parties want to cut their funding. This is unacceptable. The train offers a great alternative to flying and driving. Ridership is dramatically increasing as congestion and fuel costs grow. If we want to grow as a nation and dig ourselves out of this depression [...]
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/passes/snoqualmie/default.aspx Snoqualmie Pass now has a live flow map, similar to those in the Puget Sound area. Given how much traffic crosses the pass daily, this will provide critical information to drivers. Ben
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/10/05_KennewickBuildersTrials.htm The state’s newest ferry, the Kennewick, will undergo sea trials in Puget Sound the next few weeks. Good to see another ship come down the ways. The ferries are a critical part of the transportation infrastructure in the Puget Sound area, and some ships have needed to be replaced for years. Ben