I-405 in Renton (Stage 2) – Sustainable Construction Methods [Video]
Construction site
Something about big cement trucks, orange cones and the smell of hot asphalt that might not bring sustainability to mind. I’ve been following the I-405 Renton phase 2 construction (see my earlier post) since it began last summer (2009) as CH2M HILL with Gary Merlino began the process of widening I-405 and replacing the Benson Road Bridge – for WSDOT no small feat .
One reader asked how was widening the freeway sustainabile. My answer, the widening will allow future implementation of managed lanes that promote higher vehicle occupancy and reduce the need for any further freeway widening.
But back to the construction, while you might think “scorched earth”, and reformation of land, this construction project has incorporated new ideas (promoted in Greenroads.us practice) of applying sustainable construction practices. Rather than allowing dust and silt from construction to leech into anadromous (salmon bearing) streams, this project incoprorates stormwater run off practices using an innovative “bathtub” where silt and other pollutants are settled before water continues to streams. Also, in removing the previous (too short) Benson Road bridge and other construction materials, the project recycled and salvaged many materials that could be reused including wood left as formwork in the original bridge.
Video of details on the project from King 5 after the break…
Thanks to Celso Hermogenes and King 5 for bringing attention to green construction methods.
PS: A very cool project but you might not think so next weekend (2am July 10 to 11 am July 11) when there will be full closures of I-405 to remove the Benson Road Bridge.
This is great that you point this out, as roads aren’t going away and many bridges will need to be replaced for them to succeed. Also, check this project out-http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/I4744/
This is a revamp of I-40 in Wake County(Raleigh), NC. This was the worst bottleneck and part of the reason I got serious about my sustainability in relation to roadways and transit, I could not stand sitting in this traffic bubble. My hope is that the new lanes will one, become HOV or two be a place for Triangle Transit to run its trains. Also cool is the bidding process that speeds up completion time and lowers costs and the conveyor belt that’s going to result in less lane closures.
Kristen
Very cool project for the Triangle on I-40 including ues of GARVEE bonds and Design Build. I should have noted this I-405 project is a design build also and should cut months off the traditional Design Bid Build construction process. Reducing congestion, fuel consumption etc.
I love the conveyor belt ideas in construction that I’ve seen in practice on the east coast. I imagine it is much safer (and less congesting) than having trucks pulling in and out of the center of the roadway. Looking forward to seeing more of that technique.