Pacific Northwest 5, February 26, 2023

Crews Working to Make Overlook Walk a Reality

There are a number of new elements to the Overlook Walk project since the Waterfront Seattle team first began construction last summer, according to the latest information from the Seattle Department of Transportation.

Construction crews are continuously working on new construction activities within previously existing work areas, including a number of upgrades that are being executed on the new elevated public park and pedestrian connection between the waterfront and Pike Place Market.

Most recently, the Overlook Walk project continues to progress, with crews erecting structures nearly towering at its final 30 to 40-ft. height between the future promenade and MarketFront, according to the SDOT blog. The structure for the future elevated park, which is two different bridges next to each other to create one seamless connection, is quickly coming to fruition.

According to SDOT, construction crews have:

• Built 17 multi-story concrete columns that will support the bridges;

For the rest of this year, construction includes pedestrian improvements to some east/west streets in the heart of Pioneer Square; improvements on Pike and Pine streets; work on Marion Street Bridge; and Colman Dock construction is expected to be completed in late 2023.

The Overlook Walk project is expected to open in early 2025.

Construction Season Starts On U.S. 95 South of Moscow

Work

The 2023 construction season began in February for U.S. Highway 95 south of Moscow. Work started near Eid Road and will include building a rock embankment for the site of the two new bridges and excavation on the north side of Reisenauer Hill. Controlled blasting is expected to resume weekly and continue throughout the spring.

Work in 2023 and 2024 will see the construction of two bridges over Eid Road and pave the new set of lanes. Each season of construction will generally occur between April and October.

Last year, earthwork was completed on more than 2.5 mi. of the new alignment, putting the project at about 30 percent complete. More than $17 million has been spent so far on the project.

Expanding the highway to four lanes on a new alignment will not only add capacity and reduce travel times, but also significantly improve safety.

It is anticipated that drivers will be able to take the new route in fall 2024.

Design Details

Approximately 6.5 mi. of highway will be expanded to four lanes divided by a 34-ft. median in the rural section. Shoulders will be widened, curves will be made easier to navigate and the grade will be less steep. New ditches will keep precipitation from

gathering on the roadway, and a 30-ft. clear zone will provide a safe area if a vehicle goes off the road. County road intersections will have right and left turn lanes and some current access points will be combined to limit the number of new intersections and driveways. In the urban section just south of Moscow, a center turn lane, curbs, gutters and sidewalks will be added.

Project Funding

As part of Gov. Brad Little’s Leading Idaho initiative, the 2021 Idaho Legislature dedicated $126 million of one¬time funds from Idaho’s budget surplus to transportation projects statewide. The funds were split 60/40 between ITD and local jurisdictions. This project is partially paid for with ITD’s portion of the funds that will accelerate projects to replace bridges, restore pavements, and improve mobility in communities across Idaho.

About Project

The new alignment will tie in at Reisenauer Hill, where the current four-lane section ends and reconnect near the grain bins on the south end of Moscow.

Compared to the existing route, after construction, U.S. 95 will ascend at a gentler grade up Reisenauer Hill to the prairie below Paradise Ridge. The highway will cut

through small hills below the ridge to maintain a consistent grade, cross over Eid Road via two bridges and descend into Moscow. Generally, U.S. 95 will be shifted to the east less than three-quarters of a mile and ITD is in the process of relinquishing its jurisdiction of what will be old U.S. 95 to North Latah Highway District.

With a flatter grade and fewer approaches, the new route will provide safer travel between Moscow and Lewiston. For more information about the project, visit itdprojects.org/us95thorncreektomoscow. 

(All photos courtesy of Idaho Transportation Department.)

will include building a rock embankment for the site of the two new bridges and excavation on the north side of Reisenauer Hill.

Work in 2023 and 2024 will see the construction of two bridges over Eid Road and paving the new set of lanes. Each season of construction will generally occur between April and October. This year it starts a bit earlier.

Last year, earthwork was completed on more than 2.5 mi. of the new alignment, putting the project at approximately 30 percent complete. More than $17 million has been spent so far on the project.

Oregon to Receive $24M of Fed Funds for Improvements

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently announced a historic $800 million in grant awards for 510 projects through the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, including seven grants for communities in Oregon.

The competitive grant program, established by President Biden’s historic infrastructure law, provides $5 billion over five years for regional, local and Tribal initiatives — from redesigned roads to better sidewalks and crosswalks — to prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. The Department also launched a data visualization tool that shows crash hotspots that can help target needed resources.

Oregon received one award for implementation projects in this first round of the program.

A total of $20 million for Safe Systems on 122nd Avenue: A Model for Humanizing Arterial Streets (Portland, Ore.): The city of Portland will use this funding to employ low-cost, high-benefit treatments on 5.5 mi. of 122nd Avenue in Portland, Ore., which is in the top 5 percent of the Portland metropolitan area’s most deadly and injurious streets. Project interventions include filling gaps in

street lighting; converting existing parking to 4 mi. of protected bike lanes; making signal improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists; reducing vehicle lanes; and adding seven pedestrian crossings, raised center medians along 1.5 mi. of two travel lanes, 11 raised medians for four travel lanes, street trees along the entire 5.5-mi. corridor, nine bus stop curb extensions, six speed reader boards with automated enforcement and one roundabout.

The department also is awarding six action planning grants to help improve roadway safety in Oregon. The applicants receiving awards are:

• City of Hermiston;

• City of Ontario;

• Douglas County;

• Jefferson County;

• Lane County Department of Public Works; and

• Oregon Metro.

To view the full list of awards, visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/ss4a/ 2022-awards

The SS4A awards fund improved safety planning for more than half the nation’s population and will fundamentally change how

roadway safety is addressed in communities through local and regional efforts that are comprehensive and data-driven. This investment comes at an important junction as traffic fatalities reached a 16-year high in 2021 and preliminary data indicates will remain near those levels in 2022, even getting worse for people walking, biking or rolling as well as incidents involving trucks. In addition, traffic crashes are costly to American society. A new report shows the economic impact of traffic crashes was $340 billion in 2019 alone.

“Every year, crashes cost tens of thousands of American lives and hundreds of billions of dollars to our economy; we face a national emergency on our roadways, and it demands urgent action,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “We are proud that these grants will directly support hundreds of communities as they prepare steps that are proven to make roadways safer and save lives.”

The Safe Streets and Roads for All program grants being announced support the department’s vision of zero roadway deaths and its National Roadway Safety Strategy: a

comprehensive approach launched in January 2022 to make our nation’s roadways safer for everyone, including drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, emergency and construction workers by stressing responsible driving, safer roadway designs, appropriate speed-limit setting and improved post-crash care, among other strategies.

As part of SS4A, the department is awarding grants for both planning and implementation projects. Action plan grants assist communities that do not currently have a roadway safety plan in place to reduce roadway fatalities, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive set of actions. Implementation grants provide funding for communities to implement strategies and projects that will reduce or eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries.

For more information about SS4A, including additional resources and information for interested applicants and stakeholders, visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4

ITB Prioritizes Four Projects in Fiscal Plan, Looks Ahead

In Fiscal Year 2022, the Idaho Transportation Board voted to accelerate the construction of four major bond-funded projects, which began in spring 2022, including the highly anticipated SH 16 from I-84 to U.S.-20/26, the I-86/I-15 interchange in Pocatello, the I-90/SH-41 interchange replacement in Post Falls and construction on U.S. 20/26 from I-84 to Middleton Road. These major roadway advancements will modernize infrastructure, improve safety, reduce congestion and enhance quality of life in Idaho.

In addition, Gov. Little and the legislature invested an additional $200 million a year as an ongoing investment to address transportation needs in Idaho. These funds will be split 60/40 between ITD and local entities. ITD's portion of $120 million is already being used to address a backlog of highway projects throughout the state.

Moving Forward 2023-2027

“As we prepare for the challenges that lie ahead of us, such as supply chain disruptions, growth, attracting and retaining our workforce and the fundamental need to modernize — the key to our success will be leveraging our strengths and continuing to focus on what makes ITD a great organiza-

tion,” ITD said in a statement. “We have identified five focus areas that we believe will have the greatest positive impact on our employees and customers.”

Invest With Purpose

ITD will modernize the transportation system by investing with purpose the funds

provided by the governor and legislature to enhance the quality of life in Idaho. ITD will be responsible stewards to the public and expend taxpayer dollars wisely and with accountability for the betterment of Idaho.

External Engagement

ITD will continue to emphasize and be

intentional in its public outreach, engagement and customer service and work together with the private sector, local communities, law enforcement and other partners.

Innovation

Innovation is the biggest tool ITD can rely upon to respond to changing demands in its work. It will elevate innovators across the organization and leverage employee ideas to make ITD better every day.

Employee Safety

ITD will stay vigilant about employee safety and renew efforts to maintaining a safe work environment.

Infrastructure, Funding Needs

An efficient transportation system is essential to the economy and helping Idahoan’s achieve a high quality of life. Investments in transportation made in recent years have helped close the funding gap, however additional investments will be needed to continue to replace aging bridges, improve safety and capacity and further modernize Idaho’s transportation infrastructure to support the growing population. 

(Photo courtesy of ITB.)

Rehabilitation on the U.S. 95 Long Bridge that connects Sagle to Sandpoint and extends over Lake Pend O’Reille was completed in one construction season rather than two as originally planned. The repairs made to both the aging vehicular and pedestrian bridges will help maximize the years of service for both bridges.

Idaho’s Johnson Leads State as Newest Bridge Engineer

Longtime ITD Bridge employee Michael Johnson was named as the new State Bridge Engineer. He replaces Matt Farrar in the position, who retired in October after 25 years in the job and 36 years overall at the department.

Johnson most recently served as a design group leader in the bridge section. He graduated from Idaho State University in 1991, then began accumulating more than 30 years of bridge-design experience. He started his career in ITD’s engineer-in-training program, before joining the Bridge Section in April 1992. As an EIT, Johnson spent two years in District 3, six months in HQ Materials and the remaining time in the Bridge Section.

Johnson then took a hiatus from ITD to lead a bridge section for a consulting firm (HDR) from 2003 until July 2018. He returned to ITD a month later to get more opportunities to design bridges in Idaho and spend more time with his wife, Kim.

“I needed a better work/life balance,” Johnson explained. He and Kim have two grown sons — Zak (an engineer for ITD in District 5) and Parker. In addition to working as an engineer, he served 12 years in the U.S. Army reserves (1990-2002), rising to the rank of Captain; and has coached high school football for the last 13 years. He has been coaching football at Nampa Christian High School since 2010 and is currently the varsity special teams coordinator, receivers coach and assistant coach.

“With my new position, I may need to give up some of those duties, but I am fortunate to be able to continue coaching,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s hobbies include mountain biking, running, coaching, traveling with his wife and spending time with his family.

Johnson answered a few questions:

Q: What are the goals and challenges you anticipate for this new position?

A: Goals: “The ITD Bridge Section staff is excellent and I am honored to be a part of this team. I want to give the staff the opportunity to work on the projects that interest them. We have some exciting project opportunities coming up in the next few years, including the Rainbow Bridge replacement. Giving our section the opportunity to work on this project and other high profile projects is exciting to me.

I also want to continue to integrate the Bridge Design with

the bridge asset management section. In the past, these sections have worked mostly independently, even though these sections are both in Bridge. Over the past few years, we have been cross training staff to give the staff well rounded expe-

rience. Load-rating staff has been given the opportunity to design bridge projects and design staff has been helping with load ratings. I want to get to the point where staff can seamlessly help the other group if there is a need.

Johnson was well known in the national bridge community: I want to continue ITD’s presence. I have been fortunate to gain important contacts with some of the leaders in the bridge industry through my work on a AASHTOWare Task Force and working with AASHTO Committee of Bridges and Structures. I want to continue to participate on the national level, as well as giving other ITD Bridge staff the same opportunities to work on national committees.”

Challenges: “I have big shoes to fill. Matt Farrar has been the state bridge engineer for more than 25 years. His experience will be missed. He was well known throughout the state and national bridge engineering community. Changing the face of ITD Bridge Section from Matt Farrar to Mike Johnson may take time.”

Johnson said the opportunity to help shape a new ITD Bridge section drove him to apply for the job.

Q: What made you want to tackle this new job?

A: “I enjoy mentoring younger staff. As the state bridge engineer, I will be in a position to provide mentorship to young engineers and technicians and provide opportunities and resources for them to grow and succeed.

“Also, this position gives me the opportunity to influence the direction of the bridge industry in Idaho and nationwide.”

ITD Chief Highway Engineer Blake Rindlisbacher, who will supervise Johnson’s new position, also is excited about the announcement.

“I’m excited to welcome Mike to his new role as State Bridge Engineer,” he said. “Mike started his career with ITD more than 30 years ago, when he was a part of ITD’s Engineer in Training program alongside [Division of Highways Construction & Operations Administrator] Dave Kuisti and I. He then worked as a consulting engineer for a number of years before returning to ITD. We are fortunate to have Mike on our team and I’m confident that Idaho will continue to deliver a high quality bridge program under his leadership.” 

(Photo courtesy of Idaho Transportation Department.)

Oregon DOT Names Horner Assistant Director of Operations

Leah Horner, who has worked in several high-profile transportation roles and has a long track record of public service, will join ODOT as its next assistant director of operations.

“Leah brings an incredible breadth of experience,” said ODOT Director Kris Strickler. “She also knows people, how to bring them together, how to listen and how to build consensus. She believes in the power of public service and customer service and I look forward to her using her knowledge and experience to help move the agency forward.”

In her most recent role, Horner worked as Gov. Kate Brown’s deputy chief of staff and infrastructure director, providing counsel on public policy, high-profile initiatives and overseeing the policy advisor team. She previously served as the governor’s jobs and economy policy advisor and director of regional solutions.

In her new role, she’ll oversee operations at the 4,700-person agency. Operations includes more than 2,700 employees who build and maintain the state’s multimodal transportation system. It also includes public transportation, policy, data and analysis and

the urban mobility office tasked with delivering ODOT’s Urban Mobility Strategy.

“The team at ODOT has a commitment to their work that is unparalleled,” Horner said. “I am incredibly humbled to be rejoining this team and to be able to lean into operations in a way that impacts the unique transportation needs of every corner of the state.”

Horner was ODOT’s government relations manager from 2014 to 2018. She then served as legislative director of the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Horner, who started Feb. 15, will be one of the agency’s four assistant directors. The others oversee revenue, finance and compliance, government and external relations and the office of equity and civil rights.

Horner, who lives in Tualatin, holds a master’s degree in economic development and entrepreneurship from the University of Houston and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Hawaii. 

Michael Johnson

Leah Horner

Workers Construct 27,000 Sq.-Ft. Elevated Public Park

To date, construction crews have built 17 multi-story concrete columns that will support the bridges; placed pre-cast concrete beams; installed shoring towers to support the false deck; constructed the false deck creating a platform for workers and the installation of forms; installed curved foam forms that were custom-made with a distinctive hourglass shape and began placing concrete on the upper deck.

OVERLOOK from page 1

• Placed pre-cast concrete beams;

• Installed shoring towers to support the false deck;

• Constructed the “false deck” creating a platform for workers and the installation of forms;

• Installed curved foam forms that were custommade with a distinctive hourglass shape; and

• Began placing concrete on the upper deck.

In total, crews will place more than 836 tons of reinforcing steel or rebar on Overlook Walk structures.

Crews transformed the area north of Pike Street between July and December 2022 by constructing a 27,000-sq.-ft. elevated park.

“I could not be more proud of Jessica [Murphy, construction program manager] and our entire Waterfront Seattle team, including our incredibly talented contractors, for the day-to-day work they do to ensure the successful delivery of our new Waterfront,” said Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects Director Angela Brady. “The Overlook Walk is one of the crown jewels of our work effort and, once complete, is sure to become one of the city’s most celebrated locations.”

Construction of Pike Pine Streetscape and bicycle improvements began in February. Work started between 4th and 6th Avenues on Pike and Pine streets and crews will be active with for the next 2-to-3 months progressing with construction.

The work is being executed in phases with no more than four blocks under construction at any given time. When complete, improvements will extend from 1st Avenue to Bellevue Avenue; access to all properties on both Pike and Pine streets, including businesses and residences, will be maintained during construction work. The first item on the construction checklist is breaking pavement and excavation. Several large concrete pours also were completed.

The new design of Pike and Pine streets will provide a more pleasant pedestrian and bicycling experience. The

In total, more than 836 tons of reinforced steel or rebar will be inside the Overlook Walk structures.

Construction crews are making good progress on Overlook Walk, an elevated public park and connection between the waterfront and Seattle’s urban core. It features the construction of two different bridges next to each other to create one seamless connection from Pier 62 to Pike Place Market.

Officials Expect Overlook Walk Project to Open in 2025

OVERLOOK from page 10

design features a protected bike lane, consistent quality of sidewalk paving, more visible crosswalks, wider sidewalks, greenery and landscaping and signature crosswalks from 1st Avenue to Bellevue Avenue.

Upcoming Construction

The upper deck of Overlook Walk will look more like a park that can be used for running, biking or exercising. Construction workers will install the final precast beams by utilizing a 182-ft.-tall crane. Foam forms were used in addition to typical wood forms and put in place ahead of the concrete pours in order to achieve the curved shape. These foam forms are custom made and custom cut to sizes to match shipping and concrete placement schedules, according to SDOT. Installation of these forms began in fall 2022, with the first concrete pours for the north and south walls taking place in early 2023. The bottom deck, web walls and top deck pours, will follow soon after.

The Overlook Walk is expected to open in early 2025.

For the rest of this year, construction includes:

• Construction of pedestrian improvements to some east/west streets in the heart of Pioneer Square, which will reconnect this historic neighborhood back to the city’s gateway to the Puget Sound;

• Construction of improvements on Pike and Pine streets, which will set the stage for a safe and vibrant pedestrian experience from Capitol Hill to Pike Place Market;

• Marion Street Bridge; and

• Colman Dock construction is expected to be complete in late 2023;

“I can’t wait to stroll down from Pike Place Market, enjoying the view of Elliott Bay, people-watching along the way and arriving at the Waterfront and the Aquarium,” said Seattle Department of Transportation Director Greg Spotts, Director said. “Thank you to the Waterfront Seattle team for all your great work.” 

(All photos courtesy of Waterfront Seattle.)

Construction workers will install the final precast beams by hoisting them up using a 182-ft.-tall crane.

The first item on the construction checklist is breaking pavement and excavation. Several large concrete pours also were completed.

The design features a protected bike lane, consistent quality of sidewalk paving, more visible crosswalks, wider sidewalks, greenery and landscaping and signature crosswalks from 1st Ave. to Bellevue Ave.

TEC Equipment Becomes First Volvo EV Dealer in Ore.

Volvo Trucks North America announced that its largest West Coast dealer group, TEC Equipment, has completed the Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle (EV) Dealership training program at its fourth location in Portland, Oregon. TEC Equipment’s Portland dealership, which also serves as its corporate headquarters, is Oregon’s first dealership to achieve the certification, signifying that TEC’s sales and service teams have completed the robust training required to support customers with deploying Volvo VNR Electric trucks. In July 2021, TEC Equipment – Fontana became the very first Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealership, and 18 months later has the honor of being named the 25th in North America.

“TEC Equipment continues to be an excellent partner to Volvo Trucks in the introduction of electromobility solutions to heavy-duty fleets operating throughout the West Coast,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. “We appreciate their ongoing leadership — from the deployment of the first Volvo VNR Electric in North America and the accomplishment of being the first Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealership in the nation, to now supporting more than a dozen fleets in maintaining their Volvo VNR Electrics and

certifying their fourth dealership location in a new state.”

TEC Equipment - Portland has installed the necessary equipment and diagnostics tools for a dedicated EV service bay, as well as trained and equipped four technicians on their service team to manage maintenance and repairs. The dealership also maintains a stock of all the key parts and components required to maintain a Volvo VNR Electric to minimize service times and quickly get customers back on the road.

The Portland location is conveniently located along the I-5 corridor and will feature heavy-duty EV charging infrastructure to help support the state’s growing zerotailpipe emission vehicle goals. TEC Equipment’s other Volvo Trucks Certified EV dealership locations include Fontana and La Mirada in Southern California and Oakland in Northern California. The organization is also working toward certifying its Dixon, California, location as part of the Electrified Charging Corridor Project.

“Our team has greatly benefited from all of the hands-on electromobility experience we have gained by working with Volvo Trucks and its Certified EV Dealership program. With the innovative technology tools that Volvo has developed to help customers

evaluate the benefits of fleet electrification, our Portland dealership team is well-prepared to assist our customers through the Volvo VNR Electric sales process, as well as maintain their EV fleets,” said Grant Small, vice president of operations, Oregon for TEC Equipment. “Oregon is among the first states to commit to adopting similar meas-

ures to California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule, and we are now fully ready to support area fleets in achieving their electrification goals.”

To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo VNR Electric, visit https://www.volvotrucks.us/trucks/vnr-electric/ 

TEC photo

TEC Equipment’s Portland, Ore., location was recently designated as a Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle (EV) Dealership, marking the dealership group’s fourth location and Volvo Trucks’ 25th location to complete the rigorous sales and service team training to support the Volvo VNR Electric.

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