May 23rd 2013

We have found some locations of unsuitable sub-grade (the native soil below the roadbed when Rich Road was originally constructed years ago) which will add a couple days to the project as they will be over-excavated and replaced with a more suitable material for a roadbed. This will be done in only certain spots where needed. This extra excavation should be done by Thursday afternoon and will leave the roadway in better driving condition for the long weekend as well as improve the roadbed for the road improvements. Many of the locations where there were dig-outs and potholes prior to the project starting were caused by this unsuitable soil below the roadway and this over-excavation will make the roadway last longer when it is paved.


The contractor is not planning any work Friday-Monday for Memorial Day Weekend

Work will resume on Tuesday with culvert and irrigation pipe installation.

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's back to Work We go...

I'll bet you've missed us.  What?!?! Now, be nice!

Here is the {Totally Weather Dependent} schedule for the next two weeks or so.

We will start slow....

Week one:

 May 6^th, Begin moving equipment back to project. Restore signs to proper locations. Return message boards to project.

May 7^th, Additional remobilization, complete the rest of removal of obstructions. (fence removal)

May 8^th, Grubbing Right-of-Way (This means digging up roots and vegetation beside the roadway)

May 9^th, Grubbing Right-of-Way

May 10th  , Pulverizing existing asphalt from STA: 18+50 to STA: 65+00. (This is engineering talk for digging up and crushing what is left of the asphalt. From this point on, you will be on a dirt road until the paving phase of the project.)

Week two: 

May 13^th , Dirt Excavation & finish wall

May 14^th, Dirt Excavation

May 15^th, Dirt Excavation

May 16^th, Dirt Excavation

May 17^th, Dirt Excavation

We will endeavor to keep you posted on the project's projected progress, via this blog and our twitter feeds @Thurston_PW and @TCPWProjects

Project Update- Winter Shutdown Letter

RICH POUR - Sept 21 ,2012

They poured the final part of the deck today. After allowing the weekend for the concrete to cure, they will be removing forms Monday or Tuesday. You should be back to having two lanes open by the later part of next week. 

The next step is to install barrier at the edges of the bridge.

Once that is complete, the project will go into winter hibernation, as will this blog. 

Watch the Thurston County Public Works website for notification of when we will resume both construction work and blog posts next spring.

And remember to follow our Public Works Twitter feed to stay notified of road conditions throughout the county this winter.

Update for Sept 5th,2012

For Rich Road this week there will not be too much activity until Friday when the girders will be placed. Saturday they will be doing some welding on the girders.  They are anticipating winter shut down by the end of this month.  Over the winter both lanes will be open and functioning.The contractor will return to the project in the spring. 

Rich Road Happenings- Aug 27 - Sept 7.

Rip rap was placed today under the bridge and along the abutments. There were traffic hold ups while this was done. With placement now complete traffic impacts should return to the one lane traffic. There will be small windows of time when the one lane is stop controlled by flaggers for moving construction equipment. On or around Sept 7th a crane will arrive to place the last 7 girders (5 are already in place) and that will cause traffic impacts. In the mean time work will continue on building the walls.

PICTURES! And an Update! July 31st, 2012

Here are some pictures from last weeks girder placement... look at the size of those things!

The voided slabs for the first half of the new bridge are in place.  The contractor will be working on placing a temporary deck on the slabs and building approach ramps.  Work on the welded wire faced structural earth wall has begun and will continue through late fall.   Several utilities are in the process of relocating their facilities so work on the project can continue.