James (Jim) Elmer , founder and president of James W. Elmer Construction Co., Spokane, Wash., was sworn in as Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) national chairman at ABC’s 2010 National Convention in San Diego on February 3. Elmer’s 38 years of construction experience includes working on several heavy industrial construction projects involving fossil fuel and nuclear power plants. Elmer began his involvement with ABC in 1986, and served as chairman of several committees, including the Government Affairs Coordinating Committee. He has also served as a member of ABC’s board of directors and the Legislative Committee. In 1998, ABC presented him
The Skanska Oregon office broke ground on the TriMet Merlo Bus Maintenance Facility to support many of TriMet’s Westside bus lines. The $13.5 million construction project is TriMet’s largest single project funded through the ARRA. Comprised of two buildings totalling 25,000 sq ft, construction includes a new fuel/wash building with lift equipment to raise buses for mechanical maintenance, a bus washing system and specialized fueling system. The second building houses a new LIFT operations building for the program providing door-to-door service for elderly and people with disabilities. TriMet breaks ground on the Merlo Bus Maintenance Facility in Portland, Ore. Related
WSDOT awarded the last of four Recovery Act projects to pave I-5 in Cowlitz County. Lakeside Industries Inc. of Longview was awarded the $4.57-million construction contract to pave approximately 17 mi of I-5 between Todd Road and the Kelso Weigh Station between mile posts 26.5 to 43.8 this summer. WSDOT is delivering this second tier stimulus project following lower-than-expected bids on initial Recovery Act funded highway projects in Washington State. Related Links: TriMet’s Largest Stimulus Project Begins CH2M HILL Completes Ice Road for Savant Alaska Site Work Completed for Olympia Building Ash Grove Cement Mercury Control System Installation Continues Crews
CH2M HILL completed a 27.5-mi tundra ice road on the North Slope of Alaska, 11 days ahead of schedule and on budget. CH2M HILL completes a 27.5-mi ice road along the tundra of the North Slope, Alaska. Related Links: WSDOT Starts Two ARRA Projects TriMet’s Largest Stimulus Project Begins Site Work Completed for Olympia Building Ash Grove Cement Mercury Control System Installation Continues Savant Alaska, LLC hired CH2M HILL to be the lead contractor for the Badami Unit Redevelopment Project, 2009-2010 Tundra Winter road. The road was needed to transport equipment from the North Slope of Alaska to the Badami
The Ash Grove Cement Co. is on schedule with the $20-million voluntary installation of a new activated carbon injection mercury control system at its plant in Durkee, Ore. Upon completion in July, it is expected to achieve 75-80% mercury control efficiency. The pulse value assembly sits on top of the Ash Grove plant’s ACI system baghouse in Durkee, Ore. Related Links: WSDOT Starts Two ARRA Projects TriMet’s Largest Stimulus Project Begins CH2M HILL Completes Ice Road for Savant Alaska Site Work Completed for Olympia Building “Foundations, structural steel, primary ductwork and the baghouse for the ACI system are now in
DBM Contractors, Inc., with support from alliance partner Pennine, completed the design/build installation of the ground improvement at the $255-million Washington State Department of Information Services building on the Wheeler site in Olympia. Crews installed 2,200 stone columns to a depth of between 15 ft and 30 ft to improve the soils below the structural foundations and to increase the soil bearing capacity, reduce static settlement and reduce liquefaction risk in the liquefiable soils. Related Links: WSDOT Starts Two ARRA Projects TriMet’s Largest Stimulus Project Begins CH2M HILL Completes Ice Road for Savant Alaska Ash Grove Cement Mercury Control System
A limited-access highway being built in north Spokane has received $35 million from a federal economic stimulus program that will pay for a 3.7-mi stretch of roadway and could generate up to 106 jobs. Photo: WSDOT Graham Construction and Management of Spokane is constructing a four-lane divided highway for U.S. 395 between U.S. 2 and Wandermere along with two bridges and an interchange as part of the North Spokane Freeway project. Here a crane lifts a spiral rebar cage into place to construct a pier. The North Spokane Corridor is expected to be a 60mph, 10.5-mi-long highway linking Interstate 90
The $119.9-million Nalley Valley project is designed to fix a pickle of a traffic bottleneck where Interstate 5 meets State Route 16 in South Tacoma. Contractor Guy F. Atkinson Construction, Renton, Wash., is replacing the original road structure that travels over the valley named for Nalley Inc., a Northwest food manufacturer that produces chili, pickles and other canned food. Photo: WSDOT Crews are in the process of setting girders on a new bridge connecting Interstate 5 to westbound SR 16 as part of the Nalley Valley project, which rebuilds one of Tacoma’s worst freeway traffic snarls exacerbated by vehicles having
Max J. Kuney Construction, Spokane, will be the primary contractor for the next phase of safety improvements along Interstate 90, between Hyak and the Keechelus Dam. Kuney submitted the low bid of $76 million, which was 30% under estimates by the state Dept. of Transportation’s engineer. Photo: WSDOT Crews place a girder for the new detour bridge at Gold Creek just east of the Snoqualmie Pass. The Interstate-90 widening project will widen five miles of roadway to improve safety and reliability. Photo: WSDOT A worker ‘hangs out’ while positioning the heavy concrete bridge girder over Gold Creek during construction last
The next phase of Portland Streetcar will be doing loops around downtown Portland upon its opening in 2012. The 3.3-mi extension will add the east side to its service line, closing a loop of service long in the planning. Photo: Portland Streetcar Inc. Crews working on the newest phase of the Portland Streetcar Loop project first saw cut an 8-ft swath out of the existing roadway and excavate down approximately 13 in. Then crews lay the rebar cage and align the track prior to pouring concrete. The project will extend service another 3.3 mi, adding 28 new stops and bringing
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