Atkinson, WSDOT Improve Puget Sound Connections
By Chuck MacDonald CEG CORRESPONDENT
The southern tip of Puget Sound in Washington is a buzz of transportation with boat traffic — both for com merce and for pleasure — railroad tracks, road traffic on Interstate 5 and activity flowing north to Tacoma, Seattle and beyond.
The Washington Department of Transportation
DuPont bridge over the railroad tracks.
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DSV Turns Shovels On New Oregon Semiconductor Hub
DSV Global Transport and Logistics broke ground on June 17, 2026, on its Oregon Regional Warehouse Hub, a 750,000-sq.-ft. facility in Hillsboro, Ore., that the company will use to serve semiconductor manufacturers across the state, forestgrovenewstimes.com reported.
The facility significantly adds to DSV’s existing Oregon operations, which total approximately 385,000 sq. ft. across sites in Sherwood and Tualatin.
The facility is being built by ARCO Design/Build, forestgrovenewstimes.com reported.
“The manufacturers in the Portland area are operating at the leading edge of the industry, and they deserve a logistics partner built to match that pace,” Josh Summers, CEO of DSV Contract Logistics North America, said. “Hillsboro is the right place to deepen our roots in Oregon and forge the connections that will shape the future of supply chain management for years to come.”
According to DSV, the warehouse will offer storage, fulfillment and distribution services for semiconductor customers as well as inventory management and security systems.
A rendering of DSV’s new 750,000-sq.-ft. Oregon Regional
The building will be more than 40 ft. tall. It will feature 53 dock doors and dedicated storage zones for specialty semiconductor materials, forestgrovenewstimes.com reported
The company said the new building will consolidate its Oregon locations into a single regional hub when construction is completed in July 2027. Employees from the other sites will transition to the new facility.
“Rather than operating across three separate locations
across the state, the team will work together under one roof, enabling stronger collaboration and more efficient operations, resulting in a better experience for our employees, our growing customers and the semiconductor manufacturers we serve,” Daniel Bergman, chief commercial officer of DSV Contract Logistics North America, said in a statement.
Dan Dias, Hillsboro’s economic and community development director, said the investment will help
support the region’s semiconductor sector while advancing the city’s long-term vision, forestgrovenewstimes.com reported.
“This expansion in Hillsboro provides critical support to our extensive semiconductor industry and fulfills the community’s visions and plans for the Hillsboro Technology Park,” Dias said in a release.
DSV, which was founded in Denmark in 1976 employs nearly 150,000 people across more than 90 countries.
Ridgefield, Wash., Breaks Ground On Water Reservoir
The city of Ridgefield, Wash., broke ground on June 1, 2026, on the Eastside Elevated Water Reservoir, a major infrastructure project that will strengthen water system reliability, improve emergency response capabilities and support projected growth for decades to come.
T. Bailey LLC is the project’s general contractor
The project will construct a new 2.5-million-gal. elevated water reservoir on a city-owned site along South 5th Street. Once complete, it will be the first elevated water reservoir serving Ridgefield’s east side and will play a critical role in maintaining consistent water pressure, increasing water storage capacity, and improving fire flow throughout the water system.
Mayor Matt Cole joined city councilmembers, project partners, contractors and city staff to celebrate the milestone and recognize the years of planning that brought the project to construction.
“This reservoir is a long-term investment in Ridgefield’s future,” Cole said. “Water infrastructure is foundational to our community. While residents may
not see every component of the system every day, they depend on it constantly. This project helps ensure we can continue to provide reliable service to residents and businesses while preparing for the growth ahead.”
The project is funded through a $15 million low-interest construction loan from the Washington Department of Health’s Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund, along with Water System Development Charges paid through the permit process for new development, ensuring that growth is paying for the needs it creates.
In preparation for the work, the city partnered with Clark-Cowlitz Fire & Rescue (CCFR) to demolish the existing structure on the site by conducting a training burn. This served a dual purpose,
saving public funds and creating a valuable opportunity for fire crews to practice firefighting techniques.
In addition to the elevated reservoir itself, the project includes site grading and earthwork, landscaping, irrigation, perimeter fencing, electrical and instrumentation systems, stormwater facilities, utility improvements, and a vibrant mural.
The Eastside Elevated Water Reservoir will help stabilize pressure in the high zone, a section of the system serving most of the city, including the Junction area, Ridgefield’s primary industrial employment zone. The additional storage capacity will also increase system redundancy and support emergency preparedness by improving water availability during periods of peak demand and fire response.
The project complements the city’s long-range planning efforts and supports anticipated population and employment growth. Through the Comprehensive Plan update process, Ridgefield is planning for approximately 10,000 additional residents and 8,000 new jobs by 2045. Construction is expected to wrap up in June 2028.
DSV Global Transport and Logistics rendering
Warehouse Hub in Hillsboro, Ore.
City of Ridgefield, Wash., photo
The city of Ridgefield, Wash., broke ground on June 1, 2026, on the Eastside Elevated Water Reservoir.
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High School Rebuild Breaks Ground in North Portland, Ore.
$54M Welcome Center at Western Washington University Under Way
Construction of the $54 million Western Welcome Center at Western Washington University, which is located at the south end of the academic core of campus, began this spring.
The design-build team for the Western Welcome Center is BNBuilders + Miller Hull Partnership. The center is expected to open in the fall of 2027.
Jefferson High School in north Portland, Ore., broke ground on May 29, 2026, on a new $466 million campus, marking the beginning of massive modernization project, kptv.com reported.
Procedeo is the primary project management contractor.
The new Jefferson High School will be built on the existing 14-acre campus’ north end.
The all-electric, multi-story building will feature “state-ofthe-art” academic, athletic and arts facilities.
Voters approved in 2020 and 2025 school bond measure to fund the rebuild, kptv.com reported.
As Portland Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong said the groundbreaking represents a major milestone for the district.
“This is a declaration that north and northeast Portland deserve beautiful spaces, excellent opportunities and schools that reflect the brilliance of the young people who walk these halls every single day,” Jefferson High School Principal Drake Shelton said.
The rebuild comes as the district is working to boost enrollment, kptv.com reported.
Since 2012, PPS said it has completed more than 1,100 health, safety and modernization projects that have improved every school in the district.
This work on aging school buildings has improved water quality, and provided security upgrades, new roofs, asbestos and radon remediation, lead paint stabilization, new fire alarms and sprinklers, more accessibility and seismic retrofits.
Nine schools -- Benson, Franklin, Grant, McDaniel, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kellogg MS, Faubion PK-8 and the new Multiple Pathways to Graduation program building –modernized or rebuilt.
Aside from the work on Jefferson, projects also are under way at Cleveland High School and Ida B. Wells High School.
(All renderings courtesy of Portland Public Schools.)
The 29,000-sq.-ft. building will serve as a welcoming front door for Western and a hub for student services that support access, belonging and success. A new welcome center will provide a meeting place for campus tours, interactive displays to learn about Western, and the opportunity to meet
Aggregate pier installation is now complete, and noise levels should return to previous levels.
Safety fencing went up during spring break, enclosing Flag Plaza and parking lot 19G, both of which will remain closed for the duration of construction.
Throughout the summer, the team will focus on ground improvement, laying the foundation and beginning
The presence of key student services in the same building will help prospective students and their families envision their educational path and learn about the people and
services readily available to support them along the way. It will also create more connection with, access to, and visibility for support services for current students. In accordance with Western’s adoption of the Okanagan Charter, all aspects of the center emphasize and support health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
The center will directly support the university’s values of access, excellence, and long-term impact in Washington state and beyond.
With careful attention to aesthetics, materials, light, and functionality, the spaces are designed to be welcoming, accessible, and easy to navigate for students from all backgrounds and experiences. Collaboration, work, and learning areas will promote student and faculty interaction and offer opportunities for the experiential learning that is a hallmark of the Western education.
By offering connection to needed services in a single, highly visible location, the center will also support Western’s contribution to realizing Washington State’s educational goals and help make higher education more accessible, especially for traditionally underrepresented students. Students will find the support and community they need to earn their degree and achieve their career and life goals.
Seven Washington Airports Receive $82M in Federal Infrastructure Grants
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell announced on May 20, 2026, that seven Washington airports will receive more than $82 million in federal grants that will be used for runway rehabilitation, terminal upgrades, traffic improvements, and other infrastructure projects, komonews.com reported.
The funding from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program and Airport Terminal Program will support projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Paine Field, Bellingham International Airport, Spokane International Airport, TriCities Airport, Quillayute Airport and Pullman/Moscow Regional Airport.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport received $39.45 million via two grants, komonews.com reported.
A $30.2 million grant will fund early construction work for the airport’s South Concourse Reconstruction Project; those include seismic upgrades, structural improvements, building system enhancements and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. A second grant of $9.25
million will cover the addition of two traffic lanes to the airport’s arrivals roadway designed to reduce congestion.
Everett’s Paine Field will receive $22.15 million to rehabilitate 2,100 ft. of Runway 16R/34L, redesign taxiway layouts and convert the runway lighting to LED systems, komonews.com reported. The work also will eliminate asphalt “blisters” that have developed since the runway was paved in 2019, while improving overall airfield safety.
Bellingham International Airport received $10.26 million. Most of the funding ($9.29 million) will go toward reconstructing runway lighting, rehabilitating runway pavement and redesigning the taxiway layouts. The remaining $964,000 will pay for upgrades to the airport’s utility plant serving the commercial terminal.
Spokane International Airport landed $6 million for the second phase of its Concourse C West Terminal Expansion project, komonews.com reported. The money will help build a consolidated security checkpoint with additional family and TSA PreCheck
lanes, as well as upgraded baggage claim areas designed to meet ADA requirements.
Pasco’s Tri-Cities Airport will receive $2.7 million for terminal improvements, that include an expanded outbound baggage area, as well as three new passenger boarding bridges.
Quillayute Airport, which is near Forks, received $1.25 million for runway and apron pavement resealing to extend the life of the airfield and improve operational safety, komonews.com reported.
Pullman/Moscow Regional Airport received $350,000 that will be used to rehabilitate the taxiway and taxilane markings that deteriorated due to weather and snow removal operations.
Cantwell credited the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for helping secure long-term federal airport funding nationwide. The legislation included $25 billion for airport improvements, including funding for terminal modernization and infrastructure grants, komonews. com reported.
Renderings of the new Jefferson High School
Project Improves Joint Base Lewis-McChord Access
The work also will include constructing a more efficient interchange, which will make traffic smoother and easier for people who walk, ride or roll between the city and the military base. Pendleton Avenue, a key road for the base, will now have more vertical clearance for the bridge over I-5.
The joint base, operated by the Army and Air Force, is a combination of Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force base. It is home to the 62nd Airlift Wing. The base location provides rapid access to deepwater ports for deploying military equipment.
Construction Equipment Guide spoke with Atkinson Construction Manager Mannie Barnes regarding the complex project. One of the major elements of the job involved setting 17 precast girders over the railroad tracks. These girders varied significantly in size, with lengths ranging from 148 ft. to 156 ft. and a maximum weight of 171,000 lbs.
“The team executed a sophisticated hand off girder pick, using two 330-ton crawler cranes in an hour by hour planned operation to safely launch and transfer these large, varying length girders over the tracks,” Barnes said. “This precision was matched during the deck pour, where the irregular shape necessitated the use of 1,200 linear feet of screed rails to manage the Bidwell screed and accommodate the unique geometry.”
Workers will remove an at-grade railroad crossing, which will increase safety in this busy area. The sur rounding roadways will have more capacity, and motor ists will no longer have to wait for trains to pass before entering the city of DuPont while merging onto I-5. The new diverging diamond interchange overpass will fea ture a protected shared-use path for a safe passage for non-motorized users between both communities.
bridge over I-5,” WSDOT spokesman Doug Adamson told Construction Equipment Guide. “This was achieved by building a unique intersection at the JBLM gate and the new interchange.”
Materials
The Atkinson team and contractors laid down more than 100,000 tons of asphalt for the project and used 3.2 million lbs. of rebar. Workers also placed 450,000 cu. yds. of embankment and 120,000 sq. ft. of retaining walls.
The team partnered with JBLM to repurpose used ma terials for current and future use. The construction team diverted timber, wood chips and brush to support on-base landscaping activities. This collaborative recycling pro
“The design build team developed an innovative solution that combined two planned I-5 crossings into one
Final paving and HOV lane work continues along I-5 near DuPont.
Here’s a view of what’s left of the Clark Road bridge on Interstate 5 in DuPont, with a view of Joint Base Lewis-McChord DuPont Gate. With the Clark Road bridge removed, crews are building the remaining parts of the project in front of the gate and along the northbound I-5 ramps.
This work is connected to I-5 corridor improvements between Mounts Road and Steilacoom-DuPont Road.
This half of the interchange passes over the railroad tracks in DuPont and will connect to a new roundabout.
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Crews Working to Improve Safety, Reduce Congestion
“The new Steilacoom-DuPont Road overpass work that spanned railroad tracks was a major achievement,” Adamson said. “The construction team managed a complex, three-stage abutment pour while avoiding conflicts with underground utilities.”
Adamson called the concrete pour one of the team’s defining challenges, testing the team’s mettle to build a deck and splayed wing walls with trapezoidal geometry. The 80-ft. difference between the piers required close work among the builders for the final 750 cu. yd. deck pour. The new deck is approximately 3 in. thicker than a standard bridge deck.
Safety
Safety is often an area where technology can play an important role. Atkinson said it is committed to an “Innovation First” safety culture, seeking out technologies that keep people out of harm’s way. primary focus continues to be minimizing worker exposure to live traffic, which continues to be one of the most significant risks in modern infrastructure projects.
Using advanced portable traffic signals, the Atkinson team was able to replace
traditional manual flagging by removing workers from the roadway where they are most vulnerable to inattentive drivers, Barnes said. By using high-definition cameras and sensors, site managers can oversee complex work zones without requiring a constant physical presence on the shoulder or median. Atkinson hopes to use this combination of automation and real-time monitoring to maintain efficient traffic control while ensuring every worker returns home safely.
The project is already making an impact for motorists coming on and off I-5, as well as those needing access to the military base. Workers are rebuilding a major gate at JBLM, reducing congestion for service members, contractors and civilians.
Adamson summarized the activity by saying, “Rebuilding the gate builds on the opening of the new I-5 overpass, which takes people to both northbound and southbound I-5. The new interchange, the new bridge over the railroad, along with the reconstruction of the gate, will greatly improve traffic flow for military and local traffic.” CEG
(All photos courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation.)
Jan. 24, 2026, the new interchange partially opened to southbound traffic heading to DuPont, Steilacoom and Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
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