520pontoon.jpg
Washington State Department of Transportation officials admitted Tuesday a number of mistakes were made in the construction of pontoons for the new 520 bridge, and it\'ll cost at least tens of millions to fix them.(WSDOT image)

WSDOT admits major mistakes and costly repairs for 520 pontoon fix

BY Josh Kerns  on February 26, 2013 @ 2:10 pm (Updated: 9:01 am - 2/27/13 )

Washington State Department of Transportation officials admitted Tuesday a number of mistakes were made in the construction of pontoons for the new 520 bridge, and it'll cost at least tens of millions to fix them.

Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond told reporters fixing the cracks found in the pontoons built in Aberdeen will likely delay completion of the project beyond the December 2014 target date to open the new floating bridge, likely pushing into 2015.

Hammond said while she doesn't know if the costs will reach $100 million, she feels confident they won't approach the $200 million the state has left in its contingency fund. She said negotiations with the contractors are underway.

Hammond also announced WSDOT is making repairs and design modifications to ensure a 75-year lifespan for the bridge.

While an expert review panel determined the pontoons are structurally sound, it found the department did not follow proper standards to validate the pontoon design elements and did not strictly follow protocols for oversight on the construction site, according to the new findings released Tuesday.

"The results of our internal review show that we did not follow standards of good practice to validate the pontoon design elements, and as an engineer, that is particularly frustrating," Hammond continued. "We also did not strictly follow some of our protocols for oversight and administration of the contract on the construction site."

Hammond also said WSDOT would take disciplinary action against staffers who approved the bridge design without doing computer testing that would have predicted the cracking.

"I agree with the internal review findings that there were technical design, construction management, and decision-making failures by our employees and managers," said Hammond. "I am directing WSDOT's chief of staff to prepare the appropriate disciplinary actions, and make the necessary changes to agency protocols and practices."

Hammond is leaving office March. 8. She'll be replaced by Lynn Peterson, an Oregon highway engineer and government adviser appointed last week by Gov. Jay Inslee.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
More Local News
Top Stories

  • Heartstopping
    Daredevils post breathtaking pictures atop Seattle landmarks

  • Snowy Passes
    Escape cold Seattle; go skiing at Crystal Mountain

  • Dirty Wars
    Director Jeremy Scahill says Obama hasn't been fighting a clean war
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (61)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    time for a beer - lots of beers
    February 26, 2013 1:39 pm
    I'm reaching for some happy smoke. On time over budget. Made in Japan what else did you expect?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bulluga wrote...
    In your haze what hat did you pull Japan out of?
    February 26, 2013 3:27 pm
    Japan??
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MittensRomney wrote...
    Ask anyone who has ever lived in Japapn for a significant amount of time.
    February 27, 2013 3:11 am
    As a matter of integrity and name value, there would would be no repairs needed. But it will cost a hell of allot. In this case, we only have ourselves to blame.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bulluga wrote...
    Mittens on Japan
    February 27, 2013 9:05 am
    First there is nothing about Japan on this WSDOT project. Japan makes good products - like the Lithium Ion batteries in the Boeing 787, 'there would be no repairs needed'?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    This is what happens when you allow companies to run everything with limited oversight
    February 26, 2013 1:57 pm
    This is another region where I disagree with so many Republicans, They try to act like Private Companies are going to take care of everything if we just let them, and they would do such a better job with everything than the Government would... Well guys, here ya go, a contract awarded to a private Company where they facked everything up and are going to cost tax payers 100's of millions of dollars... Sometimes OVERSIGHT and REGULATION is needed so stop acting like every Regulation is a frackin detriment to society.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Amorget wrote...
    Private?
    February 26, 2013 2:04 pm
    The head of the DOT seems to think they are at fault too. From reading the last couple paragraphs it seems their people didn't do the things they needed to do before signing off on the designs. The article doesn't even state who designed the pontoons, if it was a private company or engineers at WSDOT. If it was only built by a private company they can't be faulted for a bad design that was given to them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    amorget - Read up on it, the company IGNORED the designs provided to them by DOT
    February 26, 2013 2:30 pm
    The DOT provided a laundry list of specs to the company and it ignored them, In an independent investigation it was found that the company used the wrong type of concrete substituting it for cheaper Chinese made concrete... That's right, the company shipped Concrete across the Pond instead of using Concrete made a few minutes down the road that would have been the proper material
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bulluga wrote...
    Cbrew Figure out what you are talking about
    February 26, 2013 3:11 pm
    WSDOT does not put out a 'laundry list of specs'. The concrete would have had to be submitted to WSDOT and approved. Cement is cement and it was turned into concrete right on site by your local concrete producer. There is no factual proof there is anything wrong with China supplied cement. You keep getting cement mixed up with concrete.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Balluga...
    February 26, 2013 5:11 pm
    The WSDOT built a test pontoon using different cement and recommended that Kiewet use the same cement they did not instead they spent tons of taxpayer dollars to ship cement from china... There are whistle blowers all over this project.. The found all sorts of problems
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bulluga wrote...
    Cbrew
    February 27, 2013 7:42 am
    The test pontoon was conceptual. Another mock up was built on site at Aberdeen by the contractor. Both were approved by WSDOT. WSDOT approves all materials and knows where they come from. The cement from China is the same as from Washington, it is just more competively priced. There were few price considerations for the test pontoon built at Satsop.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MittensRomney wrote...
    I always hate the idea of buying cement from China, then I realised
    February 27, 2013 3:19 am
    that the cement in the united states is owned by companies headquartered in foreign countries as well. We should claim dominion over all of our American assets including oil, Gas and Minerals because it is wrong to allow a financial agreement made between persons living decades or even centuries ago, something giving non American ownership over in earth minerals and monopolization over a source for a product that is geographically located here. Just so it can be sold back to us at a profit. There is something felonious there, right?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bulluga wrote...
    Amorget complete your reading
    February 27, 2013 7:37 am
    As stated in all articles, the design was by WSDOT engineers, with no peer review, it was not private. They are the entity that approves all materials used and methods of construction.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Cbrew, you are barking at the wrong tree,
    February 26, 2013 2:19 pm
    It appears your department of OVERSIGHT and REGULATION failed big time, and we the taxpayers are on the hook for the illustrious group.....can't wait to hear about the "appropriate disciplanary actions" imposed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    mnpat - The Fact that DOT did not catch the problem
    February 26, 2013 2:32 pm
    Proves my point, that when You hear Repubs screaming about too much Regulation, This is what they're asking for Cost overruns in the millions because the private firm that's building the Pontoons used inferior materials, read up on the issues a private investigation found the problems and WSDOT wasn't on top of it at all... Guess this is what we need, fewer regs and oversight.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    The DOT is the General Contractor Cbrew,
    February 26, 2013 2:42 pm
    When you are the General Contractor, you are responsible for everything, special inspections, design review and oversight....if, as you have stated, the firm used inferior materials, it is because the GC (State) failed to do there job with inspections and oversight. They have absolutely no one to blame but themselves.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Kiewit is the contractor mnpat
    February 26, 2013 5:00 pm
    You honestly don't know what you're talking about... DOT provided the specs and provided the information needed to make the pontoons correctly Kiewet chose to ignore the information provided to them... Look it's obvious you don't know anything about this topic so why continue posting about it?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bulluga wrote...
    Cbrews
    February 27, 2013 7:45 am
    You do not know what you are talking about either. WSDOT is the owner and specifier. A contractor cannot 'choose' to ignore specifications. They can select methods and materials that meet specifications and which are in turn approved by the owner. That is what happens. It is not 'information provided' it is specifications required, and they have to be followed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • USMC0311 wrote...
    not just private companies fault
    February 26, 2013 2:56 pm
    It looks to me like there is faults on all sides. But that doesn't matter, as long as they have a case to make for the addition of tolling on i90. In the end its the tax payer that gets it up the b uttox.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fbergford wrote...
    Put the pipe down!
    February 27, 2013 7:54 am
    Dude you are re_tarded! WADOT's engineers designed the pontoons, and then a private company was awarded to build them! The company was following the blueprints from WADOT! This has nothing to do with private companies...this was the GOVERNMENTS FAULT
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Roark wrote...
    Did you read the story?
    February 27, 2013 8:23 am
    It's the government that screwed up. They passed the flawed design. The WSDOT didn't do their job. Not one word of blame in this story goes to the contractor.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    cbrew....It sounds like you are being obtuse.
    February 26, 2013 2:04 pm
    While an expert review panel determined the pontoons are structurally sound, it found the department did not follow proper standards to validate the pontoon design elements and did not strictly follow protocols for oversight on the construction site, according to the new findings released Tuesday. "The results of our internal review show that we did not follow standards of good practice to validate the pontoon design elements, and as an engineer, that is particularly frustrating," Hammond continued. "We also did not strictly follow some of our protocols for oversight and administration of the contract on the construction site."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Obtuse Moondoggie?
    February 26, 2013 2:34 pm
    You're failing to understand the statement you're quoting - we did not stricly follow some of our protocols for OVERSIGHT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTRACT ON THE CONSTRUCTION SITE... In other words they didn't get involved enough because the Private firm fackin blew it... DOT should have been MORE involved and they weren't, Oversight and Regulation is exactly what would have prevented this issue and Oversight and Regulation is exactly what most Republicans attack on a constant basis, there's a balance, all i'm saying is people need to know that there is a balance and not think that if we just de-regulate we'll be better off because obviously here's an example of why we wouldn't be.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bulluga wrote...
    What Cell are you writing from?
    February 26, 2013 3:16 pm
    It is becoming obvious you know nothing about working with a contract for WSDOT or any owner for that matter. There is nothing a contractor can do for WSDOT that does not require their approval before proceeding.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Holy crap you're stupid balluga
    February 26, 2013 5:03 pm
    Why don't you take a look at the reports from an independent investigation instead of getting online and pretending to know what the fack you're talking about
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bulluga wrote...
    Cbrews
    February 27, 2013 7:49 am
    You are not reading the engineers statements, an independent investigation? The findings were in the design not the execution of the specifications. I know 'facks' and I know the facts.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Cbrew, your almighty government is the one that picked the contractor
    February 26, 2013 2:08 pm
    And also admitted that WSDOT staffers "...approved the bridge design without doing computer testing that would have predicted the cracking." I'm not saying the contractor is not to blame. This probably isn't their first rodeo (rodeo = fat guv contract)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Shark75 - They Picked the Contractor and DIDN'T PROVIDE OVERSIGHT
    February 26, 2013 2:37 pm
    Read up on the topic and maybe you won't sound so ignorant Shark, the Contractor IGNORED The recommendations the DOT provided and the DOT wasn't overseeing the project closely enough to tell them they were flat wrong, they used the wrong material to begin with and Isn't it repubs constantly saying that Regulation and Oversight is the bane of free enterprise? Well here ya go, here's what happens when the Government closes it's eyes, this company went and bought cheaper material from China and as a result we tax payers are going to be in for Millions of dollars.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2112 wrote...
    Republicans have had no position of real power in this state for 3 decades
    February 26, 2013 5:31 pm
    Blaming it on them? Come on. This shows that whoever is in power can be bought and paid for in any relationship that is too cozy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MittensRomney wrote...
    Doesn't matter what party it is.
    February 27, 2013 3:34 am
    The history of this area is rich with politicians screwing us Washingtonian people. Its a dirty state. Its down on individual rights ( unless you are a bicyclist ) and up with police protectionism. And its huge, filled with many of the worlds top companies, no reason to try and name them all. The amount of money this state brings in compared to what it has left over is way off balance. With this much wealth that we give by our constant taxation we should already have good roads and a balanced budget. But its not a - swap party to fix. Its impossible for either party to take action with Washington's corrupt system and budget woes, that you can only get by removing the election donation and fundraising system WA uses and initiating public funding of our elections.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Roark wrote...
    Funny isn't it?
    February 27, 2013 8:28 am
    It's always republicans who get the blame even when they had absolutely no power in this state when this happened! It's NEVER a democrat who screws up, even when it was Gregoire's WSDOT, and the state house is all democrats!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    There really isn't a problem here. The money grows on trees. Just toll more roads.
    February 26, 2013 2:09 pm
    Nothing to see here folks, keep it movin...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    Even if you know little about Cement.
    February 26, 2013 2:12 pm
    You can have a good pour without problems. So what happened. The company who built this pontoon is on the hook for the cracks not the Tax paying public.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Newton,
    February 26, 2013 2:20 pm
    It's the concrete, not cement.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bulluga wrote...
    How thick was your patio pour?
    February 26, 2013 3:32 pm
    You do not know much about big concrete pours or you would know that all big pours have minor cracking. The cracks do not go all the way through the slab, they are minor, typical expected and repairable curing issues.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    The current 520 bridge...
    February 26, 2013 2:17 pm
    ...was built 50 years ago using technology from those days.

    Why on earth with today's materials technologies should there be even a remote chance of a problem making these pontoons?

    WSDOT let go independent oversight inspectors who wouldn't sign off on Kiewet's shoddy work.

    But hey, they have a $200 Million "reserve fund".

    Hammond says that as if it's not the public's money being flushed down the pontoon...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bulluga wrote...
    Seattle Native
    February 27, 2013 1:46 pm
    The current,as yet floating, bridge leaked so bad after it was assembled they had to add post tensioning to stop the leaks on that one too (designed by WSDOT). Look up the history on that bridge. Independent inspectors cannot be let go for that reason. It would have been because of how they worked or their ethics, not what they would find.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ted Bundi wrote...
    "We also did not strictly follow some of our protocols..."
    February 26, 2013 2:24 pm
    So, who is the PM on this who will get fired? It cost me money out of my pocket.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    like the mistakes on the sprinklers at the transfer station
    February 26, 2013 2:27 pm
    Every thing is all godd, no ones fired/lost their job, all got raises, vaca pay, retirement. Just like most goverment, all most worthless. Can you just think, if they might have to even EARN a living.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Brian Oblivion wrote...
    How about a suspension bridge...
    February 26, 2013 2:31 pm
    that would last for a century or two instead of these floating nightmares? Oh, never mind - it's Seattle.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Roark wrote...
    I asked the DOT that question years ago...
    February 27, 2013 8:30 am
    Apparently the lake is too deep for the foundations needed for a suspension bridge.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }