PACIFIC NORTHWEST EDITION
A Supplement to:
®
June 2 2024 Vol. VIII • No. 11
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your Pacific Northwest Connection – Sharon Swanson – 1-760-518-4336 – sswanson@cegltd.com
Construction On New Washington Span Reaches Milestone The Washington Department of Transportation recently announced that construction crews have reached a milestone on the new State Route 16 bridge in the city of Gig Harbor. On May 11, the DOT announced that construction crews have made substantial progress on construction of the new span and the new eastbound bridge in Purdy is now open. The newly-constructed bridge is part of a two-pronged project where crews are rebuilding and reconstructing aging culverts with two bridge structures on SR 16 and SR 302 Spur. The 206-ft.-long bridge on SR 16 replaces a 40-year culvert under the highway that blocks fish passage in Purdy Creek. Crews restriped lanes and moved traffic onto the bridge before the crucial opening. With bridge construction complete, crews will remove the temporary lanes that kept people moving through the work zone. This summer, crews will rebuild the creek bed under the highway. Crews expect to wrap up final work by late fall. Work began on SR 16 at Purdy Creek in fall 2022 and it will run through fall 2024. This specific location has specific time frames during the year when crews can perform work
Construction crews are nearing the finish line on a $40 million project after the new eastbound SR 16 bridge in Pierce County, Wash., officially opened.
The 206-ft.-long bridge on SR 16 replaces a 40-year culvert under the highway that blocks fish passage in Purdy Creek.
in the water. Weather and/or material delays can extend the overall construction schedule for each location. Work in the water is allowed July 15 through Sept. 1. Crews will start to “de-fish” the stream, which means removing and documenting fish and other marine life in the stream. The stream will be temporarily diverted through pipes to the other side of the highway so crews can build the streambed in its new location under the bridge. This work includes adding sediment and large tree trunks to provide refuge for salmon and other fish species as they migrate see SPAN page 8