The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About010317_ca06Department of Public Works O Consent Agenda Page 1 of 1 Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Agenda Request To: Board of Commissioners Philip Morley, County Administrator From: Monte Reinders, Public Works Director/County Engineer ,!e Agenda Date: January 3, 2017 Subject: Elwha River Bridge - Comment Letter Attachment: Exhibit A - Design Alternatives - US 101 Elwha River Bridge Statement of Issue: Since the removal of the Elwha River dams, the river has changed significantly. One such change has been the recent downcutting of the river channel adjacent to the pier foundations of the US 101 Elwha River Bridge. In October 2016, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) did borings which revealed that the pier foundations are bearing on gravel, not bedrock. WSDOT immediately responded by placing riprap around both foundations and is continuing to monitor the situation as they develop long-term alternative solutions. Exhibit A is a list of the proposed WSDOT design alternatives. Since Exhibit A came out WSDOT narrowed the design alternatives to Alternatives 5, 6, and 7. Analysis/Strategic Goals/Pro's Et Con's: Highway 101 is the primary route connecting East and West Jefferson County. This road is vital for providing critical services and for supporting the West Jefferson County economy. Some of the WSDOT alternatives include closing the bridge and rerouting traffic to SR 112/113. SR 112/113 do not provide reliable access and frequently close during winter months due to landslides and downed trees. Extended closure and rerouting of traffic is not a desirable nor practical option. Consequently, staff recommends the Board sign the attached letter supporting Alternative 7. This alternative limits traffic interruption, provides a modern bridge, provides safe passage for pedestrians and bicyclists, and improves safety by correcting the roadway geometry. Fiscal Impact/Cost Benefit Analysis: None. Recommendation: Please sign and mail the attached letters to the Washington State Department of Transportation Olympic Region Manager with a copy to the Communications Manager. Return a copy of the signed letter to Public Works (Attn: Zoe Ann Lamp). Department Contact: Zoe Ann Lamp, Transportation Planner, (360)385-9162 Rev' ed By: 42 8 i4D- V. u or Date 1820 Jefferson Street Port Townsend, Kate Dean, District 1 David W. Sullivan, District 2 Kathleen Kler, District 3 January 3, 2017 John Wynands Region Administrator WSDOT, Olympic Region P. O. Box 47440 Olympia, WA 98504-7440 RE: US 101 Elwha River Bridge — Design Alternative #7 Dear Mr. Wynands: We appreciate WSDOT's ongoing effort to ensure that US Highway 101 at, the Elwha River Bridge, remains open to traffic. As the primary route connecting East and West Jefferson County US Hwy. 101 is essential to maintaining vital services for our residents and supporting the West Jefferson County economy. We have reviewed the design alternatives and strongly support Alternative 7. This alternative: • Keeps the highway open during the anticipated lengthy construction period. • Provides improved pedestrian and bicyclist passage. • Improves public safety by correcting the roadway geometry. We encourage you to accomplish this project as soon as possible to avoid prolonged interruption of access to our citizens on the West End. Thank you for this opportunity to provide comment on the US 101 Elwha River Bridge proj ect. Sincerely, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Kathleen Kler, Member David Sullivan, Member Kate Dean, Member cc: Claudia Bingham -Baker, WSDOT Olympic Region Communications Manager Phone (360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jefflioccaco.jefferson.wa.us •7i WSDOT Design Alternatives - US 101 Elwha River Bridge EXHIBIT A DECEMBER 2016 #1- NO BUILD 1 DESCRIPTION In the'no-build' option, the Elwha River Bridge would be abandoned without plans to reopen or reconstruct the bridge. Turn-arounds would be constructed at both ends of the bridge. SRs 112/113 would be signed as the alternate route. Schedule: l week to close.1 year to construct turn- grounds. Cost: $400,0004600,000 PROS• • No permitting or right of way required • Signing and barrier can be quickly installed • Reroute uses existing state highways • Extended travel and emergency response times • Reliability - SR 112 is frequently closed due to slides and downed trees during winter months • Traffic on SR 112 would increase 3 -fold, from 1,144 vehicles per day to 4,554 vehicles per day, with 16% truck traffic $1.2 M cost of eventual bridge removal #2 - REPLACE US 101 WITH SRs 112 & 113 In the'replace with SRs 112/113' option, the Elwha River • Limited easement and R/W requirements from state/ local • Right of way required Bridge would be abandoned without plans to reopen or agencies • Multiple construction seasons reconstruct it. SRs 112/113 would be improved to better . Modern design provides pedestrians and bicycles safe • Intersection improvements needed for permanent rerouting accommodate the increased traffic volumes. Necessary transit along US 101 • Extended travel and emergency response times detour upgrades would require 2 to 5 years to complete, . Lower speed limit for new route according to geometric design with full upgrades to National Highway System standards . $1.2 M cost of eventual bridge removal requiring up to 10 years to complete. • Another approx. $95 M investment to bring SRs 112/113 up to National Highway System standards over 10 years Schedule: 2 to 5 years for necessary upgrades, 10 years for • Utilities would require relocation full NHS standards Cost: $40-50 M for immediate upgrades; up to $95 M to reach full National Highway System standards 03 - ALTERNATE HIGHWAY WEST OF SR 112 In the'alternate highway' option, WSDOT would construct • Roadway service life expectancy 20 years . Would require purchasing large amount of right of way. BRIDGE a two-lane highway on or near Eden Valley Road between • Provides pedestrian facilities for safe transit along US 101 • Extended emergency services response times, extended US 101 and SR 112. The existing Elwha River Bridge would commute times between Forks and Port Angeles (10-15 be used until the new route was complete," after which the minutes) bridge would be removed and traffic would be routed onto • $1.2 M cost of eventual bridge removal the new highway. WSDOT would also upgrade existing . Utilities would require relocation. US 101 and SR 112, including building new intersections, Krepaving, and adding safety features. 'Assumes bridge remains structurally sound. Schedule: 2 to 3 years Cost: $35 M to $45 M Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: This material can be made available in an alternate format by emailing the Office of Equal Opportunity at wsdotada@wsdot.wa.gm or by calling toll free, 855-362.4ADA(4232). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request by calling the Washington State Relay at M. Title w Notice to Public: It is the Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its federally funded programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated, may file a complaint with WSDOT's Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact CEO's Title VI Coordinator at (360) 705-7082. DESCRIPTION PROS CONS #4 - RETROFIT EXISTING BRIDGE In the'retrofit' alternative, WSDOT would retrofit the Extend bridge service life expectancy by 10-15 years Existing bridge is over 90 years old and new bridge would be existing bridge and stabilize its foundation. Existing bridge Limited interruptions to traveling public required within 10-15 years' traffic would use the bridge with occasional single lane Minimal environmental impacts Future deck replacement within 5 years would cause closures and detours onto SR 112/113 until the project significant traffic impacts, including a detour, during was complete.' construction Utilities would need to be relocated •i 'Assumes bridge remains structurally sound. i Schedule: 1-2 years with future deck replacement. Cost: $10 M to $15 M #5 - NEW BRIDGE ON EXISTING ALIGNMENT In the'existing alignment' alternative, WSDOT would Limited easement and R/W requirements from state/local Long term detour required remove the Elwha River Bridge and build a new bridge at agencies Extended emergency services response time, increased the same location. Existing traffic would be routed onto Modern design provides pedestrians and bicycles safe commute time between Forks and Port Angeles (due to t . SRs 112/113 until the construction was complete. transit over Elwha River detour) New bridge with 75 -year life expectancy Increased construction timeline; construction on new bridge Minimizes environmental impacts, but they're greater than could not begin until existing bridge was removed Schedule: 2 to 3 years retrofitting • Utilities would need to be relocated Cost: $15 M to $20 M r #6 - NEW BRIDGE ON PARALLEL ALIGNMENT In the'parallel alignment' alternative, WSDOT would build Limited easement and R/W requirements from state/local Right of way needed a new bridge adjacent to the existing bridge. The existing agencies Requires permanent alignment shift onto bridge, making bridge would remain open to traffic during construction.' Existing bridge is detour during construction curve at end of bridge sharper After construction was complete, traffic would be diverted • Limited interruptions to traveling public Utilities would need to be relocated onto the new bridge and the old bridge would be removed. Modern design provides pedestrians and bicycles safe transit over Elwha River Assumes bridge remains structurally sound. New bridge would have 75 -year life expectancy Minimal environmental impacts, but they would be greater Schedule: 1 to 2 years than using existing alignment Cost: $15 M to $20 M #7 - NEW BRIDGE ON NEW ALIGNMENT In the'new bridge on new alignment' alternative, WSDOT • Existing bridge is detour during construction • Increased right of way and permitting deadlines for would build a new bridge on a new alignment across the Limited interruptions to traveling public construction Elwha River. The existing bridge would remain open Modern design provides pedestrians and bicycles safe Utilities would need to be relocated to traffic during construction' After construction was transit over Elwha River complete, traffic would be shifted onto the new bridge and New bridge would have 75 -year life expectancy the old bridge would be removed. Better roadway geometrics at east end of bridge, including the intersection at Olympic Hot Springs Road 'Assumes bridge remains structurally sound. Schedule: 1 to 2 years + Cost: $18 M to $25 M