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
It’s not the gangbuster activity that the media dubbed the Tacoma Renaissance a few years ago, but the city skyline is dotted with a few cranes, and more are coming in the spring. Photo: ZGF/Tacoma Public Library The redevelopment of the land surrounding the historic Elks Club in Tacoma was designed by ZGF Architects LLP to include a 25,000-sq-ft upscale grocery and five stories of apartments plus a five-level parking garage. The club building itself will be restored by McMenamins into a hotel, spa and pub. Image: Grant Architects The Collector Car Center will be part of the first phase
Public projects – from bridges and arenas to fire stations and utilities jobs – dominate the Eugene construction landscape as contractors and architects also work with public agencies to stretch budgets and protect the environment. Photo: University of Oregon The new University of Oregon Matthew Knight Arena will act as a front door to the campus, bringing modern amenities while preserving the intimate feeling of Ducks basketball. Photo: ODOT Oregon officials broke ground on the $187-million Willamette River Bridge last summer. One of the largest, the $187-million Willamette River Bridge, kicked off last summer and is now in full swing.
Hanging more than 200 ft over a jobsite in downtown Kansas City, Mo., James Hague doesn’t seem to notice the tiny people and equipment below his feet. The senior technician is intently fiddling with a dial gauge that measures the amount of play in a crane turntable—the giant gear that rotates the jib. “A bearing could go bad,” says Hague, suspended from a full-body harness. “And that’s something we want to know before the top falls off.” Photo: Tudor Van Hampton Hanging from a full-body harness, James Hague uses a dial gauge to check the play in a J.E. Dunn
Triad Associates’ board of directors has announced the promotion of David Hilgers, ASLA, LEED-AP, to director of landscape architecture. The position became available when Jeff Cox, ASLA, completed his year-long transition into the role of Trad’s new president. Scott Bigbie, who held Triad’s top spot for 26 years, will remain with the company, concentrating on human resources management, marketing and other strategic assignments. Hilgers earned a Bachelor of Science, Landscape Architecture degree from Washington State University and joined Triad in April 2006. Hilgers has over 14 years of experience in landscape architecture with an emphasis on campus design, urban parks,
It may seem that everywhere you turn there is some sort of breaking news about social media. By now, you or your company may have even gotten involved in some capacity. But to what end? Whether it’s managing your own personal online identity or that of your organization, here are some guidelines to get you started. Setting Goals There are many benefits to creating a social media plan. The key is identifying goals and then using online social networks to achieve those goals. For example, a Seattle-based company recently wanted to increase the number of votes it was getting in
A building permit application is under review by Snohomish County for Swedish Health Services’ ambulatory care and freestanding emergency room in Mill Creek, Wash. The current schedule anticipates construction to begin in March and be completed by the end of the year. Image: Mahlum Architects Swedish Health Services’ Mill Creek Ambulatory Care and E.R. Related Links: Officials Try to Jump Start Columbia River Crossing by Streamlining Costs Facebook Breaks Ground on $188 Million Facility in Eastern Oregon Robert Frost Elementary Opens Designed to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Swedish will lease 55,000 sq ft of