New ‘ramp support’ over I-5 needs to be replaced
Nov 18, 2022, 1:57 PM | Updated: 2:11 pm
A construction company needs to replace the SR-520 concrete pier cap that resides above I-5 in Seattle, which inspectors found to have cracks and holes during an October inspection. (Courtesy of WSDOT)
(Courtesy of WSDOT)
A construction company needs to replace the State Route 520 concrete pier cap supporting a ramp that resides above Interstate 5 in Seattle, which inspectors found to have cracks and holes during an October inspection.
Tony Black, the Construction Communications lead for SR 520, tells me the concrete pier cap was built back in July of this summer.
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“[Washington State Department of Transporation (WSDOT)] inspectors discovered that there were some cracks and holes in that cross beam portion. And so we were working with Walsh Construction to come up with either a repair or replacement plan.”
Walsh, who assumes the cost, decided they are going to rebuild it. Right now, WSDOT is waiting on a demolition plan to let them know how they’re going to take it down and how they’re going to rebuild it.
Is the concrete to blame?
“What we’re still trying to figure out is the exact cause of why that concrete did what it did. That’s still currently under investigation between our contractor and ourselves,” Black explained.
When asked if this was due in part to the concrete strike, he replied, “I don’t… I don’t have an answer for [that]. I’m not sure. I don’t think so.”
What’s interesting about this situation is that WSDOT is building two other concrete piers, which don’t have any issues. They are trying to figure out what happened between the time the defective pier was put in and the time they took off the wooden platform for inspection.
When asked how is this going to impact drivers, Black said “No, still on track to open in 2024. I don’t want to say it’s an easy fix, but it’s not something that’s going to delay the overall timeline of the project.”
He also reassures me it’s not going to cost the taxpayers any additional money.
“It’s not built up to WSDOT standards. And there are contracts, we have ways that we can make sure that if something isn’t done right. It doesn’t affect the bottom line as far as dollars, you know, for the taxpayers primarily.”
The new concrete should fully work well with the rebar so that there aren’t any new issues.
The rebuild is not expected to impact commuters because it is already blocked off for construction.
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