520 bridge pontoon cracks

Millions of dollars must be spent to fix the pontoons being built for a new 520 bridge, transportation officials said tuesday, after underwater inspections revealed that the pontoons worst cracks grew over the winter. Theres more trouble for one of the big concrete pontoons destined to hold up the new 520 floating bridge. One pontoon, 360 feet long, will be towed to portland next week. The first pontoon for the new state route 520 floating bridge will be towed through the ballard locks this weekend on its way to lake washington. West approach bridge north questions and answers view of the sr 520 floating bridge, looking west from medina. Drawing a connection to the new 520 pontoons, the insider says one cracked pontoon can compromise the rest. A total of 77 pontoons were constructed in aberdeen and tacoma before being floated to lake washington, where the pontoons form the backbone of the new sr 520 floating bridge. Cracking is discovered in one of the cycle 1 pontoons constructed in aberdeen. Seattle repairs and design modifications are coming to the pontoons that will support the new state route 520 floating bridge, the state department of transportation announced tuesday. Cracks in the pontoon end walls which extended into the keel slab beneath the pontoons were.

In addition, the bridge s roadway deck is higher above the water than the old bridge s roadway, which keeps windswept waves from washing over traffic during. Washington state department of transportation design errors in several of the pontoons that will handle the new bridge caused cracks and leaking, and that soaked up. Seattle underwater cracks have been found in the new pontoons under the state route 520 bridge and it will cost tens of millions of dollars to fix the problem, state transportation secretary. The evergreen point floating bridge, also known as the 520 bridge and officially the governor albert d. Cracked 520 bridge pontoons headed for drydock repairs. Expert panel formed to determine cause of new cracking on rte. More problems found with troubled 520 bridge project. Leaks found in some pontoons for seattle floating bridge. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program washington. When the new bridge opens in 2014, something will have to be done with all that concrete. Wsdot puts 520 bridge pontoon casting site up for bid. State fires top bridge engineer over 520 pontoon flaws the. New state route 520 floating bridge opens to traffic on april. More cracks found in new pontoons for 520 bridge kepr.

Past storms sheared off components on the old sr 520 floating bridge and caused pontoon cracks and leaks that required. Washington secretary of transportation paula hammond said tuesday that cracks in the pontoons for the state route 520 floating bridge. The state chose to design the pontoons for the sr 520 bridge on a fast track, rather than make contractors responsible for them, and inspections have now revealed that preexisting cracks on the pontoons have grown worse over the winter. In the case of sr 520, thats 77 giant boxes of air, the largest of them 28 feet tall, 75 feet wide, and 360. Now crews are preparing to overhaul the bridge and make it even longer. The floating bridge contract requires the new, sixlane sr 520 floating bridge to open to traffic by july 2015, but includes incentives for an earlier opening in december 2014. Videos regarding the pontoons constructed for the new sr 520 floating bridge. It was the longest floating bridge in the world until 2016. The property was used from 2011 to 2015 to build the huge pontoons used on the new 520 floating bridge. Ensuring the pontoons dont crack and suck in water is critical. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program julie meredith, p.

Big bill and big delay to fix new 520 pontoons the seattle times. Several of them sprung leaks and cracks after the cement set in aberdeen. What it takes to keep a 7700foot floating bridge from doom wired. Nov 15, 2012 you may have heard about some issues with the large concrete pontoons being built for the new 520 bridge across lake washington. Pontoons, cranes, and barges, state route 520 floating bridge construction, lake washington near medina, 2014. Aug 26, 20 well moor the pontoon on lake washington until its ready to be joined with other pontoons, forming the backbone of the new floating bridge. The sr 520 pontoon construction project built 33 of the new floating bridge s 77 pontoons at a casting basin in aberdeen, wash. Nov 11, 2011 the floating bridge on seattles route 520 already has the distinction of being the longest one in the world. The washington state department of transportation and its contractors have reached agreements on the cost of repairing four pontoons from the first construction cycle and modifying another four pontoons from the second cycle for the new state route 520 floating bridge.

Two of the four cracked pontoons for the new highway 520 bridge will be towed back out of lake washington and hoisted aboard dry docks where engineers think they can be fixed faster than if they. Apparently, the pontoons have developed cracks and leaking, both in the casting yard, and on site. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program floating. Mar 30, 2016 kurt schlosser geekwire like a battleship made of concrete, its quiet and cold at the bottom of a giant bridge pontoon. Wsdot says cracks in new sr520 pontoons are par for the. Sr 520 program overview pontoon repairs financial update construction updates. Washington transportation secretary lynn peterson told the combined. Sep 23, 2012 the state route 520 bridge and its 33 massive pontoons have floated on lake washington for 50 years.

Wsdot determined that these cracks needed to be repaired and sealed to ensure the 75 year design life for the. Wsdot says more than 30,000 linear feet of cracks have been repaired in those pontoons since the inaugural day storm of 1993. Wsdot admits 520 bridge problems result of design flaw kuow. In pontoon v, a 360foot longitudinal pontoon, inspectors found a leak at. How to build the worlds longest floating bridge route 520. Jun 27, 2012 expert panel formed to determine cause of new cracking on rte. Wsdot is in negotiations with its contractors for pontoon issues encountered in spring 2012 and has not made an official determination on any potential schedule effects. Flaws in the design led to cracks during posttensioning of the first. The pontoons for the new sr 520 floating bridge improve the bridge s safety and reliability. Sr 520 pontoon construction project completed march. Sr 520 floating bridge and landings project seattle, washington page 4 scope of work the new bridge consists of a floating bridge structure at 7,708.

Are shortcuts compromising safety of new 520 bridge. Pontoon t was floated out of the vigorowned dry dock thursday, aug. Wsdot is moving forward with pontoon construction to replace the. The 44 other pontoons needed to support the new bridge were built at a casting basin in tacoma. By the time construction was completed in march 2015, 77 pontoons had been built in aberdeen and tacoma, and floated. The new floating bridge, shown from the west, is now estimated to be completed by september 2015. Pontoon cracks will push 520 bridge completion to 2015. The original evergreen point floating bridge, also named for state governor albert d. Wsdot puts 520 bridge pontoon casting site up for bid the. Construction of the new sr 520 pontoons continued in 20. New highway 520 pontoon bridge bridge engineering engtips. Eastside floating bridge pontoons upcoming construction. Sr 520 i5 to medinaevergreen point floating bridge change order.

Washington transportation secretary paula hammond announced this week that wsdot is making repairs and design. Drinking on the job, leaks and cracks with the new 520 bridge pontoons, and now the problem solvers have uncovered alleged construction flaws at safeco field and with the iconic bay bridge in. The sr 520 floating bridge project has been riddled with problems. Two of the four cracked pontoons for the new highway 520 bridge will be towed back out of lake washington and hoisted aboard dry docks where engineers think they can be fixed faster than if. Expert panel formed to determine cause of new cracking on. The washington transportation department says more cracks have been found in pontoons under construction in aberdeen for the new highway 520 floating bridge on lake washington at seattle. Seattle one washington state department of transportation employee was fired and another was demoted over the design flaws that caused cracks in the first batch of new state route 520 bridge.

A toll bridge until 1979, its common name is the 520 bridge or evergreen point floating bridge. How to build the worlds longest floating bridge route. Each cycle was composed of six pontoons, which were. What it takes to keep a 7,700foot floating bridge from doom. Pontoon cracks will push 520 bridge completion to 2015 the state plans to spend tens of millions of dollars in contingency funds to repair existing cracks and prevent. Ensure a 75year design life for sr 520 bridge pontoons repair plan includes. But the state department of transportation says drivers dont need to worry. Cracks in some pontoons have forced costly repairs. Mistakes that resulted in major cracks and leaks in the first set of concrete pontoons destined for the new 520 floating bridge. First 520 bridge pontoon to go through ballard locks this. Crews sealed cracks with epoxy, posttensioning and a carbonfiber wrap august 26, 20 construction crews have completed repairs to a s.

The pontoons are being fabricated in aberdeen on the coast of washigton, and being floated to the site on lake washington between seattle and bellevue. Bill calls for reports to lawmakers on costly wsdot. The washington state department of transportation and its contractors have reached agreements on the cost of repairing. Four of the giant pontoons showed severe cracking last year, after.

Kurt schlosser geekwire distressed boaters or swimmers will have. Two of the four cracked pontoons for the new highway 520 bridge will be towed back out of lake washington and hoisted aboard dry docks where engineers think they can be fixed faster than if they stay in the lake. This is the second of two pontoons repaired in drydock, while two remaining pontoons from cycle 1 will be repaired on lake washington. How do earthquakes affect the floating section of the sr 520 bridge. A problem solvers investigation first revealed extensive cracks and leaks in those. Fixing 520 bridge pontoon cracks to cost tens of millions. Once the cracks have been repaired, transverse post tensioning would be installed through the pontoon. If a 100year storm event were to occur, the pontoons are designed to prevent large cracks. Work has been under way to address cracking discovered last month. Rosellini evergreen point floating bridge 2016 bridge completed 2016.

Investigation uncovers widespread leaks on new 520 pontoons. Sr 520 i5 to medinaevergreen point floating bridge. May 17, 2016 pontoon construction site, state route 520 floating bridge, aberdeen, ca. Design of pontoons to accelerate forming and casting tylin international, pnd engineers, inc. The bridge is now delayed 6 months in its completion until the summer of 2015. Despite some leaks and cracks, pontoons for the new highway 520 bridge are solid enough for construction of highway columns and other attachments to proceed, state engineers say. Rosellini bridge, carries washington state route 520 across lake washington from seattle to its eastern suburbs. State fires top bridge engineer over 520 pontoon flaws. Millions of dollars must be spent to fix the pontoons being built for a new 520 bridge, transportation officials said tuesday, after underwater inspections revealed that the pontoons worst cracks.

Rosellini, opened on august 28, 1963, carrying the fourlane state route 520 at the time designated temporarily as the evergreen point branch of primary state highway 1 until the 1964 state highway renumbering. Additional work on the 520 bridge pontoons could cost tens of millions of. Wsdot begins repairs on the affected pontoon and preemptive. Jay inslee pledged wednesday to correct whatever it was that went wrong at the washington state department of transportation that led to the costly state route 520 bridge pontoon. Repairs to pontoon w have been completed at a drydock location on harbor island, ensuring that cracks are sealed, the pontoon is watertight and the new state route 520 bridge will meet its 75year design life. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program february. Sr 520 pontoon and floating bridge progress update. The final three aberdeenbuilt pontoons were completed in march 2015. Divers map cracks in pontoon for new 520 bridge the. Work on 520 bridge continues as divers check fixes, cracks. Cracked 520 bridge pontoons headed for drydock repairs the. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program floating bridge. You may have heard about some issues with the large concrete pontoons being built for the new 520 bridge across lake washington.

Wsdot will be held accountable for 520 bridge mistakes, but the tax payers will have to foot the bill. These four pontoons are pontoons furnished by the state pfs provided to the designbuilder kgm on the floating bridge and landings project. Pontoon cracks will push 520 bridge completion to 2015 the state plans to spend tens of millions of dollars in contingency funds to repair existing cracks and prevent future flaws from. The floating bridge on seattles route 520 already has the distinction of being the longest one in the world. Small cracks have appeared in at least two the first six pontoons built for a new floating bridge in lake washington, but transportation officials said friday the problem is manageable leaks can. The 7,710footlong 2,350 m floating span is the longest floating bridge in the world.

The new bridge is designed to withstand sustained winds of 89 mph a 100year storm. Oct 01, 2012 all of the cracks had been repaired, 520 program director julie meredith told us. Courtesy washington state department of transportation. Food bridge wins design contest for old 520 floating. Fixing, sealing and strengthening highway 520 bridge pontoons has cost. Wsdot is proud of the pontoon construction work completed to date. Discover sr 520 floating bridge key facts and common questions. Food bridge wins design contest for old 520 floating bridge.

Komo investigators uncover more problems with kiewit. Are shortcuts and pressure to meet construction deadlines compromising safety of the new 520 bridge. Building a new 520, the worlds longest floating bridge. Approximately 10 gallons of epoxy would be used for each pontoon. Major work has been completed for the sr 520 pontoon construction project. State fires top bridge engineer over 520 pontoon flaws the seattle. Crews built a massive pontoon construction facility in aberdeen, and constructed, inspected, repaired and floated out the first six pontoons for the new sr 520 floating bridge. If a 100year storm event were to occur, the pontoons are designed to prevent large cracks from developing that would allow water to leak in and sink the bridge. Cracks in the pontoon end walls which extended into the keel slab beneath the pontoons. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program june 6 20 i5 to medina pontoon repairs at vigor industrial drydocks memorandum to document environmental compliance. Wsdot insists the cracks in its pontoons were both expected and repairable and the.

During the third year of construction, crews in aberdeen finished constructing pontoon cycles 2, 3 and 4. Sr 520 bridge replacement and hov program june 6 20 i. Repairs on a second pontoon, pontoon w, are moving ahead at a seattle dry dock and are on track for completion in several weeks. The new 520 bridge s construction site on lake washington is seen in november looking west. Some cracking is normal, but a harsh internal audit by the state department of transportation found mistakes in concretedrying temperatures for the first batch of six pontoons for the new highway 520 bridge.