...grant program. This project puts people to work, improves safety, reduces congestion and helps build a more economically vibrant and competitive region.”

Photo: WSDOT

Girders are being placed on one of six bridges that are included in the U.S. 2 Lowering project between Farwell Road and Deadman Creek, part of the North Spokane Freeway megaproject. Other work under this contract includes retaining walls, paving for the interchange, frontage roads and a new 30-ft-wide arched culvert allowing for fish and wildlife passage.

The $1.5-billion TIGER program pays for transportation projects that create jobs, boost economies and improve transportation infrastructure.

In 2003, the State Nickel Gas Tax Package allocated $321 million to fund the portions of the corridor project between 2003 and 2011. Two projects funded by the tax, Francis to Farwell and U.S. 2 to Wandermere, were broken up into a series of eight construction contracts. Graham Construction & Management Inc. of Spokane is the contractor on these last two jobs, which should be finished by summer 2011.

The $43-million Lowering project calls for the construction of five precast girder bridges and one steel girder bridge with a total deck area of 77,190 sq ft with multiple retaining walls over 10,000 sq ft for the NSC/U.S. 2 Interchange. It also includes completion of the mainline paving through the interchange, construction of a frontage road system along U.S. 2 and a new 30-ft-wide arch structure at Deadman Creek to replace the existing box culvert and allow for fish passage and wildlife migration along the creek.

Crews encountered water during the construction of the culvert and installed a 60-ft shoring wall, says Steve Busch, Graham’s chief estimator.

The Lowering project, which started in March 2009, included 1 million yds of excavation, Busch says.

The $37.5-million U.S. 2 to Wandermere contract completes the paving on six lanes of freeway between Farwell Road and existing Highway 395 at Wandermere. Two bridges will be constructed to span the final gap at the north end of the route.

This project will offer free-flowing traffic on 5.5 mi of the NSC, improving freight and motorist mobility for traffic traveling north and south in Spokane. The job has been under construction since September and is scheduled to open in 2011.

This project features the largest drilled shafts in the state – 140 ft with a diameter of 10 ft, Busch says.

Although the NCS has been a challenge for Graham, Busch said the billion-dollar corporation has the in-house expertise to lead the two current projects and supervise subcontractors. Still, it’s a business Graham is used to.

“Everybody forgets it’s all about moving dirt and pouring concrete,” Busch said.

Gilson says WSDOT is now working on design aspects of continuing construction on the NSC south from Francis Avenue toward the Spokane River. The exact makeup of the construction project series has not been yet determined. WSDOT engineers are doing the design.

After this project is completed, there will be traffic on nearly 6 mi on a divided freeway, or half of the 10.5-mi route, Gilson says.

Key Players

Owner: WSDOT
Design: WSDOT
General Contractor: Graham Construction & Management Inc.

Useful Sources

Visit the project’s website at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/US395/NorthSpokaneCorridor