PACIFIC NORTHWEST EDITION
A Supplement to:
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April 12 2020 Vol. II • No. 8
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your Pacific Northwest Connection – Patrick Kiel – 1-877-7CEGLTD – pkiel@cegltd.com
Average paving operations saw between 1,000 and 1,500 tons poured at night, which ranged from 1.5to-2.0 mi.
The project paved 9 mi. of freeway in both directions between Johnson Creek Boulevard and the Glenn Jackson Bridge.
ODOT, Kerr Construction Build New I-205 Lanes By Irwin Rapoport
While a few punch-list items remain, substantial completion of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) I-205: Paving & Auxiliary Lanes project in the city of Portland was delivered last December by Kerr Contractors Inc. on-time and on-schedule. Crews began the work, part of the Keep Oregon Moving initiative, on March 26, 2018, with the work zone covering the highway (three through lanes in each direction) from Johnson Creek Boulevard to Glenn Jackson Bridge. House Bill 2017, Keep Oregon Moving funding, provided $30.7 million of the cost. The initiative started as a $26 million contract, awarded in February 2018 and then augmented in December 2018 with a $15 million contract. “The work significantly benefits commuters, and freight operators through bottleneck relief and increased safety in this critical freeway corridor,” said Community Affairs Coordinator of ODOT District 1, Katelyn Jackson. “High traffic volumes and short merging distances on I-205 caused CEG CORRESPONDENT
speeds to drop below five miles per-hour during peak travel times at some locations. The new auxiliary lanes address multiple bottlenecks, improve traffic flow, and require less weaving and merging for drivers, reducing congestion in all lanes.” Region 1 Manager Rian Windsheimer said, “This project makes a difference. If you’re driving I-205, you’re already experiencing the benefits of auxiliary lanes and ODOT RealTime signs. These improvements are delivering on the congestion relief promise in HB 2017, to keep Oregon moving.” Paving the Freeway The project paved 9 mi. of freeway in both directions between Johnson Creek Boulevard and the Glenn Jackson Bridge, providing a smoother ride; constructed three auxiliary lanes to help reduce conflicts with merging traffic, ease congestion and improve safety at key bottleneck locations — one more expected to open in 2020; installed ODOT RealTime signs that give drivers the ability to make informed
travel decisions by providing them with real-time information about traffic flow and roadway conditions; several ramps and intersections were updated to new ADA standards; eight new water quality treatment facilities were built; and improvements were made to the I-205 shared-use path entrance at Glisan Street and other local streets to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. RealTime Sign locations include I-205 southbound at Airport Way and Division Street, and I-205 northbound approaching I-84, among others. “This completed project came in on time and on budget,” said Jackson. “After ODOT installed RealTime signs on Oregon 217, the number of crashes dropped by nearly 11 percent in the first year. They do make a difference in helping everyone get where they’re going safely and efficiently. ODOT expects the new auxiliary lanes to reduce the frequency of crashes by up to 30 percent.” In terms of auxiliary roads, 1.19 new mi. of southbound — I-84 eastbound to Division Street/Powell Boulevard and 2.94 miles of northbound lane — Powell Boulevard to I-84 westsee KERR page 10