News Flash

Completed 

• Painting of key members of the steel truss. The exterior weathering steel members will continue to change to a rust-like appearance over time.
• False decks for workers to use for construction of the concrete pedestrian decks. The false deck provides a platform for crews to stand on and prevents materials from falling down onto the railroad tracks or the highway.
• Traffic control planning in support of the final stages to put the bridge span in place, including coordination with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
• City staff answered community members’ questions at the Port of Everett’s June 20^th Open House. If you missed the Open House here are links to the:
  • Project graphics
  • Project handout
  • Frequently Asked Questions

In progress

• Installation of lighting and electrical systems on the bridge. This includes a warning light at the park to notify elevator users that the elevator is down before crossing the bridge. The idea for this unique feature came from a citizen attending the community meeting during design.
• On April 15^th, the contractor submitted its proposed bridge erection plan to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) for review. BNSF review and coordination is ongoing. Once BNSF Railway provides an approved date for the bridge erection, plans will be made for mobilizing the mega transporter contractor to the site, and notification will be given to the stakeholders and the public about road closure timing.
• The City has been meeting with and supporting waterfront stakeholders with their needs for communicating the rerouting of traffic during the upcoming road closure. If you have needs that extend beyond distributing the information provided in this update, please contact us.
• The contractor requested, and the City granted, a temporary suspension of the contract due to lack of critical path work while awaiting BNSF approval of a train-free window for setting the steel truss bridge span into place.

Upcoming

• Erection of the bridge is anticipated in late Summer 2019. Timing is completely dependent on approval by the railroad of a track closure window for five railroad tracks. When the track closure window is provided from BNSF Railway, there will be additional communication about the associated 10-day road closure to accommodate the erection of the bridge.
• The location of the 10-day road closure for West Marine View Drive will be between 13^th Street and 18^th Street. Access will still be available to all waterfront locations; however, drivers will need to know which direction to approach their location in order to take the most direct detour route. Information about access is posted to the project webpage along with two detour route maps. This map shows the demarcation of the north and south portion of the Port.
• The first access map is for those accessing properties from 13^th Street primarily and is called the North access route.
• The second access map is for those accessing properties from 18^th Street primarily and is called the South access route.
• The contractor will perform as much of the lift preparation work as possible prior to the road closure, while the roadway remains open to traffic. During the road closure, the contractor has indicated that the following sequence will take place:
  • Move the steel truss bridge span to the lifting location in the middle of the road,
  • Install lifting towers and jacks around the bridge,
  • Lift the bridge to the installation elevation, 
  • Place cribbing between multi-wheel transporters and the bridge,
  • Transport the steel truss bridge span at the elevated height using the multi-wheel transporters to final position on the abutments
  • Remove the lifting towers
  • A slide show of the movement sequence is posted to the project webpage.
• During the lifting and transporting of the million pounds of steel, travel in and around the bridge work zone will require restrictions to protect the public. Public safety needs will drive the City’s review of the bridge erection sequence traffic control, while the City also attempts to mitigate traffic impacts to the maximum extent possible. A pedestrian exclusion zone will be implemented prior to the final lifting and moving sequence and is shown on this figure.