The sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program is rebuilding one of the puget sound regions busiest highway corridors to improve traffic safety, enhance regional mobility, and give the public new and better options for nonmotorized travel. New state route 520 floating bridge opens to traffic on april 25, 2016. Congratulations to wsdot and project partners on the sr 520 floating bridge grand. The superstructure is supported by 21 of the heaviest, widest and deepest longitudinal pontoons ever built, each weighing nearly 11,000 tons. The three types of pontoons that will support the new sr 520 floating bridge. Though the cracks didnt create a risk that the bridge itself would fail, they would have let water seep into the pontoons, leading to corrosion that would have. The entire raft was pushed as a single unit, like a large 1,000footlong ship, to the west end of the bridge where it was joined to pontoon e and eventually the westernmost pontoon a. Sr 520 floating bridge and landings project seattle, washington page 4 scope of work the new bridge consists of a floating bridge structure at 7,708. Repairs to pontoon w have been completed at a drydock location on harbor island, ensuring that cracks are sealed, the pontoon is watertight and the new state route 520 bridge will meet its 75year design life. Because of the lakes deep waters and mushy bottom, the foundations for a. Pontoons take shape for sr 520 floating bridge kirkland. By the time construction was completed in march 2015, 77 pontoons had been built in aberdeen and tacoma, and floated. The pcf basin is 940 feet long by 190 feet wide and 30 feet below the adjacent ground surface. Problems on sr520 floating bridge causing delays, cost overruns.
Design and installation of suction piles for breakwater. A total of 77 pontoons were constructed in aberdeen and tacoma before being floated to lake washington, where the pontoons form the backbone of the new sr 520 floating bridge. Marine construction associated underwater services. Sr520 pontoon construction general construction company. Since construction began in 2011, weve rebuilt the. The project was selected based on the urgent need to replace the bridge, its complexities, lengthy estimated construction duration, and overall regional magnitude. The washington state department of transportation contracted kiewitgeneral jointventure to design and construct the pcf that will fabricate 33 concrete pontoons for use in the proposed sr 520 floating bridge in seattle, washington. Work has been under way to address cracking discovered last month. Pontoon construction project project management plan part 2. The first stage of the sr 520 floating bridge replacement project was the construction of. This is where the pontoons that have been floated in from aberdeen and tacoma are located now. The current bridge is structurally deficient, having had many repairs and seismic upgrades in recent years, and faces safety and congestion issues. The state route sr 520 evergreen point floating bridge and landings project is an 8643ftlong project crossing lake washington near seattle, wash. Sr 520 replacement bridge pontoon construction facility.
Komo investigators uncover more problems with kiewit. Washington state department of transportation wsdot has reached agreement with its pontoon contractor for added costs associated with building pontoons for the new state route 520 floating bridge. Kiewitgeneral, a joint venture kg was selected as the best value contractor to. At the peak times of the seattle sr 520 floating bridge replacement project, 12 employees of spokane, washingtonbased associated underwater services have been working in shifts performing several tasks including crack inspections, keel slab repairs, anchor cable replacements, joining pontoons, cathodic protection, installation of the deviation frames, rov inspections of the cables, and casing. Designed by engineering firm hdr, the new sr 520 bridge is the worlds longest and largest floating bridge. But less than a week before news broke that cracks in 520 pontoons. The floating bridge replacement is part of the sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program which aims to replace the sr 520 floating bridge and improve the portage bay bridge and approach roads in the corridor. The pontoons, from the heavier breakwaters made of concrete to the lighter ones made of wood, are designed to last for 3050 years.
Construction has begun on the sr 520, pontoon construction project. Repairs and design modifications are coming to the pontoons that will support the new state route 520 floating bridge, the state department of transportation announced tuesday. Cracked 520 bridge pontoons headed for drydock repairs. The first sr 520 floating bridge opened on august 28, 1963. Rosellini, opened on august 28, 1963, carrying the fourlane state route 520 at the time designated temporarily as the evergreen point branch of primary state highway 1 until the 1964 state highway renumbering.
Wsdot says cracks in new sr520 pontoons are par for the. Sr 520 pontoon construction project completed march 2015. Sr 520 pontoon construction cycle 5 floatout youtube. Repair costs, and revised schedule for sr 520 pontoons. State route sr 520 is one of two major eastwest roadways crossing lake washington, located within king county and the seattle metropolitan area in the state of washington. New trail for washington park arboretum to mitigate sr520. Sr 520 pontoon repair costs announced kxro newsradio. The new 520 bridge was originally slated to open late next year, but the state said that because of the pontoon problem, that opening has been delayed at least a year and possibly as late as early. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program major projects. New state route 520 floating bridge opens to traffic on april. The washington state department of transportation and its contractors have reached agreements on the cost of repairing four pontoons from the first construction cycle and modifying another four pontoons from the second cycle for the new state route 520 floating bridge. You may have heard about some issues with the large concrete pontoons being built for the new 520 bridge across lake washington. Program construction, which began in 2011, is being done in phases under separate projects and contracts.
Pontoon problems have plagued the sr 520 bridge project. Concrete faults delay floatout of sr520 bridge pontoons. Geotechnical aspects of deep foundation design and. The best practices will be used by the designbuild team that won the contract to build new pontoons for the state route 520 evergreen point floating bridge. May 17, 2016 the first sr 520 floating bridge opened on august 28, 1963. Aerial view of state route sr 520 evergreen point floating bridge highrise. Wsdot says cracks in new sr520 pontoons are par for the course.
The sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program is rebuilding one of the puget sound regions busiest highway corridors to improve traffic safety, enhance regional mobility and mass transit, and give the public new and better options for nonmotorized travel. Rosellini bridge, and commonly called the sr 520 bridge or 520 bridge, was a floating bridge in the u. Rosellini bridge, carries washington state route 520 across lake washington from seattle to its eastern suburbs. Jul 31, 20 sr 520 pontoon repair costs announced july 31, 20 kxro newsradio the washington state department of transportation have announced the cost of repairing four pontoons from the first construction cycle and modifying another four from the second cycle for the new state route 520 floating bridge. Gerwick, marine and bridge engineering firm commissioned by kgm. The concrete pontoons are filled with foam plastic covered from all sides with armoconcrete. Test pontoon prepares team for realtime construction. Sr 520 pontoon construction project completed march.
More than 115,000 vehicles cross the aging sr520 floating bridge between seattle and bellevue on a daily basis, and it was imperative that the washington state department of transportation wsdot provide commuters a new, safer and more modern bridge to withstand potential seismic activity and severe weather. Drinking on the job, leaks and cracks with the new 520 bridge pontoons, and now the problem solvers have uncovered alleged construction flaws at safeco field and with the iconic bay bridge in. During the first round of pontoon construction, crews encountered spalling chipped concrete and cracking in pontoon end walls. Construction is shaping up from the inside out on new pontoons for state route 520. Sf marina offers a wide and versatile range of concrete pontoons. The governors report, a path forward to action, cited the greater mobility benefits of the 6lane alternative compared to sr 520 bridge replacement and hov project. Pontoon cracks will push 520 bridge completion to 2015. Grays harbor and aberdeen, wa landau associates completed geotechnical and hydrogeologic design studies for wsdot at sites in grays harbor and aberdeen to characterize groundwater conditions and soil properties at potential locations for wsdots sr 520 floating bridge pontoon construction facility. Construction of new sr 520 pontoons began in 2011 in both aberdeen and tacoma. The washington state department of transportation wsdot needed to make critical improvements to the sr 520 floating bridge across lake washington, a major fourlane artery connecting seattle to bellevue and suburbs to the east. Jun 26, 2015 the 520 floating bridge construction is moving along, and here is an update on how boaters will be affected.
The sr 520 pontoon construction project built 33 of the new floating bridges 77 pontoons at a casting basin in aberdeen, wash. Coast guard, a new temporary west navigation channel will open today, wednesday, june 24. The potential for congestion is the reason for this twopart project, said dave ziegler, principal engineer on the pontoon construction project for wsdot. Inner structures of pontoons for the new sr 520 bridge. For the sr 520 floating bridge, resting atop its 77 pontoons are 772. Evergreen point bridge and sr520, from i5 to the eastern shore of lake. The 44 other pontoons needed to support the new bridge were built at a casting basin in tacoma. The pontoon construction project created hundreds of local jobs and supported the local economy in and around aberdeen through the purchase of supplies and supporting services. These pontoons are resistant to freezing in and to salt water exposure. Com congratulations to wsdot and project partners on the sr 520 floating bridge grand. Risk management for sr 520 pontoon construction hdr.
Almost without exception any length can be custom made, any angle can be manufactured and any configuration can be built. What it takes to keep a 7,700foot floating bridge from doom. We can only hope that the internal controls so lacking on the 520 bridge pontoon project are. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program major projects wsdot. Pontoon cracks will push 520 bridge completion to 2015 the state plans to spend tens of millions of dollars in contingency funds to repair existing cracks and prevent. Six more massive concrete pontoons for the new state route 520 floating bridge are eased out of their casting basin in aberdeen, wash. Why did wsdot replace the old sr 520 floating bridge and landings. A state route 520 pontoon is shown during a tour of the 520 floating bridge rebuild project on friday, november 22, 20. Structure magazine construction of the worlds longest. Kurt schlosser geekwire once the new bridge opens to traffic, work will begin on dismantling the old. In every aspect of a sylvan, youll find better materials, stronger designs, more fasteners, and more points of reliable fusion. This is the second of two pontoons repaired in drydock, while two remaining pontoons from cycle 1 will be repaired on lake washington. The washington state department of transportation contracted kiewitgeneral jointventure to design and construct the pcf that will fabricate 33 concrete pontoons for use in the proposed sr 520. Mar 30, 2016 many thousands of tech workers rely on sr 520 to get back and forth across lake washington.
Sr 520 floating bridge us department of transportation. Wsdot is moving forward with pontoon construction to replace the aging and. Chapter 1 of the final eis provides additional discussion about project costs, and how wsdot will attempt to address budget needs as the project advances. State fires top bridge engineer over 520 pontoon flaws.
The washington transportation department says more cracks have been found in pontoons under construction in aberdeen for the new highway 520 floating bridge on lake washington at seattle. During the third year of construction, crews in aberdeen finished constructing pontoon cycles 2, 3 and 4. Videos regarding the pontoons constructed for the new sr 520 floating bridge. Seattles board of park commissioners will get a briefing on impacts to the washington park arboretum tomorrow night thursday. In pontoon construction, its the things you dont see that add up to better performance today and durability that lasts for years. The evergreen point floating bridge, also known as the 520 bridge and officially the governor. Big cranes and construction barges line the shores of medina, where the easternmost span of stateroute 520 meets land. August 2010 page 6 construction of additional pontoons needed to accommodate foreseeable improvements to the evergreen point bridge. During the first year of construction, crews in aberdeen constructed the casting basin in which the pontoons were built. Note the new clearance figure for the temporary west navigation channel. Wsdot and contractor kiewitgeneral built a castingbasin facility, featuring a concrete batch plant, onsite water treatment and a 4acre casting basin, to stage construction of 33 pontoons for the new sr 520. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov project washington. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program julie meredith, p. Overview project timeline how you benefit funding overview the pontoon construction project broke ground in february 2011 at a 55acre site in aberdeen, washington.
Past storms sheared off components on the old sr 520 floating bridge and caused pontoon cracks and leaks that required significant maintenance and retrofits. Oct 04, 20 weve now finished 38 of 77 pontoons needed for a new sr 520 floating bridge that will serve the region for 75 years or more. Most pontoon bridges are temporary, used in wartime and civil emergencies. Wsdot says cracks in new sr520 pontoons are par for the course by bellamy pailthorp nov 15, 2012. A pontoon bridge or ponton bridge, also known as a floating bridge, uses floats or shallowdraft boats to support a continuous deck for pedestrian and vehicle travel. Many thousands of tech workers rely on sr 520 to get back and forth across lake washington. Two of the four cracked pontoons for the new highway 520 bridge will be towed back out of lake washington and hoisted aboard dry docks where engineers think they can be fixed faster than if. When completed, the new bridge will be the longest floating bridge in the world at 7,710ft long and will improve capacity on the old bridge. Cracked 520 bridge pontoons headed for drydock repairs the.
The 7,710footlong 2,350 m floating span is the longest floating bridge in the world, as well as the worlds widest measuring 116 feet 35 m at its midpoint. The evergreen point floating bridge, also known as the 520 bridge and officially the governor albert d. In the case of sr 520, thats 77 giant boxes of air, the largest of them 28 feet tall, 75 feet wide, and 360. The final three aberdeenbuilt pontoons were completed in march 2015. Construction of the new sr 520 pontoons continued in 20. Wsdot says cracks in new sr 520 pontoons are par for the course. The third pontoon construction cycle included four longitudinal pontoons and two supplemental stability pontoons. Lake washington congestion management project implements tolls on the existing sr 520 floating bridge, and activates smarter highways features from i5 to i405. Bid for new sr 520 bridge pontoons comes in under estimate. Pontoon construction project builds a new casting basin facility in aberdeen and 33 concrete bridge pontoons to replace the existing sr 520. Concrete pontoons ponton, pontoni, floating constructions.
The original evergreen point floating bridge, also named for state governor albert d. The next batch of pontoons for the new state route 520 bridge are currently under construction in aberdeen, and improved design and construction techniques will be used to eliminate concrete spalling and reduce cracking. The state chose to design the pontoons for the sr 520 bridge on a fast track, rather than make contractors responsible for them, and inspections have now revealed that preexisting cracks on the pontoons have grown worse over the winter. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program february. Other sr 520 floating bridge construction will continue on pontoons in tacoma, on anchors in kenmore and bridge supports on the east side of lake washington. The grand opening of the new sr 520 evergreen point floating bridge was a historical event attended by over 50,000 people on april 2 and 3, 2016. Concrete pontoons stand out in contrast to other pontoons for its stability and durability. Pontoon construction project project management plan. New state route 520 floating bridge opens to traffic on april 25. When the facility is no longer needed to build sr 520 bridge pontoons, wsdot. It was originally named the evergreen point floating bridge, but became known as the 520 bridge after state route 520, the highway the bridge carries across the lake. Our focus was to ensure fish health during the float out of large pontoons used for the replacement of the sr 520 floating bridge in seattle, washington. The change orders to fix the cracks due to pontoon. Sep 11, 20 sr 520 floating bridge and landings project deputy construction manager greg meadows shares an overview of repair procedures made to pontoon w, one of four cycle 1 sr 520 bridge pontoons requiring.
The roadway extends from its western terminus at interstate 5 eastward across lake washington, intersecting with interstate 405, and continuing east to redmond where it terminates at sr 202. The washington state department of transportation and its contractors have reached agreements on the cost of repairing four pontoons from the first construction cycle and modifying another four. Project sr 520 evergreen point floating bridge lowrise. After publication of the final eis, fhwa will issue a. The floating bridge portion the evergreen point floating bridge is 7710 ft long, making it the longest floating bridge in the world. New state route 520 floating bridge opens to traffic on. An environmentally smart bridge replacement and hov program in the puget sound region of washington state, they are particularly sensitive to cultural and environmental resources. Timevariable tolling on the existing sr 520 bridge began in 2011 to help fund the project, and will continue on the new bridge until at least the 2050s. A bid to build the pontoons for a new sr 520 floating bridge have come in under the states estimate with a kiewitgeneral joint venture submitting the apparent best price and technical proposal.
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