Week of Jul. 2, 2007

County repaving program ‘rocks’ with new asphalt mix

Crews prepping to repave a strip of roadway.

The King County Roads Services Division will be kicking off its annual pavement  overlay program in the next two weeks. This year, the emphasis is on using new techniques to get the best return on the county’s investment in asphalt on side streets and residential areas.

“We are always looking at ways to improve the travel surface, durability, and cost of a project,” said Jim Eagan, a managing engineer with the Road Services Division. “We realized that with the rising cost of oil, we had to look at ways to get the most out of the products we are using.”

Five years ago, Eagan and his staff developed a comprehensive pavement management plan for the entire county. They inventoried all roadways in unincorporated King County, and first tackled the busiest streets with the most deteriorated surfaces.

A roller puts the finishing touches on new asphalt.

Eagan said this year crews will use a different asphalt mix on these less traveled roads. Asphalt is basically a mix of rock and the sticky liquid found in crude petroleum. When these components are mixed and cooked, they bond together into a flexible, durable surface that suits motorized travel.

The Roads Division has been investigating the use of different asphalt mix designs to maximize the use of increasingly expensive petroleum-based products. Everyone has seen prices rise at the gas pumps, and for the county the cost of materials for paving projects has risen 60 percent over the past four years. In 2007, Eagan estimates the division will use more than 103,000 tons of asphalt.

“Using an asphalt mix with bigger rock provides a certain durability to the road that is needed on arterials that experience higher volumes of traffic and heavier vehicles like trucks and buses,” said Eagan. “But to provide the most economical and longest life to the entire county road system, we need to consider what each road is used for and match that to the most cost-effective asphalt mix.”

Any cost savings is important, because King County has more than 1,800 miles of roadways to maintain. The asphalt road surface wears out over time due to use, age and weather. Overlaying roads with an asphalt mixture restores this surface and protects the underlying roadbed from compaction and erosion, which extends its life, and is much more cost effective than having to rebuild a road.

Roads that need repaving are grouped together by location to minimize costs and to allow for efficient and cost-effective dispatch of crews. This summer, the division will be repaving 23 miles of roadway in North King County, and 32 miles in the south for a total cost of $8.1 million. The work will be carried out mostly in unincorporated areas, with some work inside cities that contract with the division.

“This is an example of how we are continually looking at ways to improve safety on our roads and make the best use of our tax dollars,” said Harold Taniguchi, director of the King County Department of Transportation. “In recent years, we have taken some big steps to preserve our arterial system. This latest innovation will allow us to make significant improvements to the smaller roads that are critical links. between residential areas and the regional transportation network.”

Road and bridge work gears up next week South Park Bridge. There are several road projects scheduled to begin next week that could disrupt local traffic. On Monday, July 9, crews will begin separate projects on: the Baring Bridge in Index; 276th Avenue Southeast in Hobart; North Fork Road Southeast near North Bend; and 396th Drive Southeast near Snoqualmie. Crews will also close the South Park Bridge over the Duwamish River on both Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15. More information about most of these projects can be found on the King County Road Services Division Website.

Holiday alters bus schedules on July 4 King County Metro Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule on Wednesday, July 4. Sunday Family Fares apply on the holiday 4, and Metro drivers will be selling Regional Day Passes for $2.50. All Metro offices will be closed. photo: Metro will operate on Sunday schedules on the fourth. For those coming to Seattle to view the big fireworks show on the waterfront, the Elliott Bay Water Taxi and the West Seattle land shuttle, Route 773, will operate on a Saturday schedule. Metro also has special shuttle service for the horse racing at Emerald Downs on July 4. There is regular bus service to most other holiday events. Certain trips may be rerouted near some of the community celebrations, and there could be traffic delays. Visit Metro Online for complete information about service and reroutes. Ride free shuttle to Redmond Derby Days On Saturday, July 7, Metro is providing free circulating shuttle service from the Redmond Senior Center at 8703 160th Ave. NE, to and from Derby Days events in downtown Redmond. The shuttle loops past three stops every 20 to 30 minutes starting at 9 a.m. and ending around 10:50 p.m. In addition to the senior center, the shuttle will also stop at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse and the south side of Redmond Town Center. For more detailed shuttle information, including a map of the route, visit Metro Online.

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