A major flippin' part of Ambaum has finally been flippin' paved!

Asphalt paving has finally flippin’ begun on Ambaum Blvd. SW, with the first layers added to a section between SW 126th and SW 112th on Monday and Tuesday this week (May 9 & 10).

We drove it Wednesday morning (May 11), and the smoothness makes one heck of a flippin’ difference to our little Mini Cooper Blogmobile (read our previous, too-snarky-for-some flippin’ story here, and be sure to read the Comments…).

The city’s website says:

“The contractor began laying asphalt Monday night (May 9) on Ambaum Blvd. S.W. As of Wednesday (May 11), the section of Ambaum between S.W. 112th and S.W. 126th streets had been completed.  Grinding work and paving will continue, moving south from S.W. 126th St. this week and into next week.

During the nighttime work, traffic is being channeled and also detoured in some areas. No parking will be allowed on the street and driveway access may be temporarily affected during these times.  Use of alternate routes such as 4th Ave. S.W. is recommended.

Asphalt laying had been delayed because of the wet weather, although the contractor is ahead of schedule.  Rain also has been causing delays in the grinding process since wet pavement prevents lanes from being clearly marked.”

As for the remaining section that remains rough and un-paved, Steve Botkin from the City of Burien says:

“Not sure of the paving schedule now that the rain has returned, but at least they got it started.”

Beginning May 16, the State Route 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct corridor between the West Seattle Bridge and Seattle’s stadiums will be reduced from three to two lanes in both directions. This work is a critical step toward taking down the seismically vulnerable southern mile of the viaduct within the next year.

The southern mile of the viaduct corridor will remain two lanes in each direction through 2013 and possibly longer, until the central waterfront portion of the viaduct is replaced. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is delivering on its commitment to keep SR 99 open during construction; however, lane closures have always been a key part of the plan. The lane reduction provides crews with the space they need to continue construction of the new southbound SR 99 lanes. WSDOT has invested $125 million in alternative routes, transit service and traveler information to prepare for this work.

Viaduct weekend closure
In order to reconfigure this section of the viaduct, WSDOT will close SR 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel the weekend of May 14 and 15.

• Friday, May 13 through Saturday, May 14 – All lanes of SR 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel will be closed starting at 11 p.m., Friday.
• Northbound SR 99 will reopen between S. Royal Brougham Way and the Battery Street Tunnel at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14 – The remaining sections of SR 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday.

Lane reductions: May 16 through 2013
SR 99 will be reduced to two lanes in each direction through SODO. Northbound SR 99 will also have a bus-only lane between Spokane Street and S. Lander Street. Information to help drivers plan for the lane reduction and learn about commute alternatives is available here.

Drivers can find regularly updated traffic information for downtown Seattle and SODO through the construction traffic update. Bus riders can sign up for transit alerts at www.kingcounty.gov/metro/signup.

For more information on the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement program, visit www.alaskanwayviaduct.org.

Crews also will close NE 12th Street from 112th Ave. NE to 116th Ave. NE and many area ramps during the same weekend.

The freeway will be totally closed down because they can’t safely take down the bridge while traffic passes under it. With nearly 450,000 vehicles traveling this route on a typical weekend, the closure is Washington State Department of Transportation’s biggest this construction season.

Crews will remove the old NE 12th Street Bridge with large machinery like those seen to the right crunching the old Benson Rd. Bridge in Renton.

Here’s more from a FAQ from WSDOT:

Why is WSDOT removing the bridge?
Removing the bridge will allow crews to finish building a new, longer, wider bridge over I-405 at NE 12th Street. We’re replacing the bridge to make room for new northbound ramps from NE Eighth and NE 10th streets. The project will improve safety and traffic flow between I-405 and SR 520.

Where and when will I-405 close?
Crews will close I-405 in both directions between NE Eighth Street and SR 520 from Friday, April 1 at 11 p.m. to Monday, April 4 at 4 a.m. Crews also will close NE 12th Street from 112th Ave. NE to 116th Ave. NE and many area ramps during the same weekend. Learn more about specific ramp closures.

How do I prepare?
Please plan ahead, use alternate routes or defer trips during the 53-hour closure period. Plan for congestion throughout the region and allow extra time for travel. For any questions or more information, contact Steve Peer at steve.peer@i405.wsdot.wa.gov or 425-456-8624.

Be aware of other closures that may impact your trip. The City of Tukwila Southcenter Access Project will start closures in the Renton and Tukwila area on March 28th.

What are the detours?
During the I-405 closure, drivers should avoid the area or take alternate routes. Use the recommended regional routes unless you plan to visit Bellevue. Downtown Bellevue will be open for business. Drivers should expect heavy traffic on the detour routes and throughout the region. Learn more about specific ramp closures.

Architect's rendering of the proposed new Artemis Hotel, to be located in Des Moines. Click on image to see larger version.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The following story is from our sister site The Waterland Blog, which covers Des Moines:}

by Ralph Nichols

The lodging corridor serving Sea-Tac International Airport, which runs from SeaTac into Tukwila, will soon extend south into Des Moines.

Groundbreaking for the Artemis Hotel – a four-star hotel located at 22606 Pacific Highway S. in Des Moines – is expected sometime between mid-spring and early summer 2011.

Yareton Investment & Management LLC, a Washington real estate developer, is preparing to build “a distinctive boutique hotel” on 1.45 acres in the city’s Pacific Ridge commercial zone, according to its website.

The Artemis Hotel will be on the “highly competitive airport lodging corridor … where high-rated hotel chains are situated,” notes the Yareton website, which includes a first look at an architect’s rendering of the building exterior.

Belay Architecture of Tacoma is designing the “sophisticated eight-story mid-rise” hotel – now in the design-review stage – with 320 guestrooms, two full-service restaurants and a bar lounge, a banquet facility, and an outdoor swimming pool.

One restaurant is expected to serve authentic Chinese (not Chinese-American) cuisine.

The development site is four miles south of the airport and the southern terminus of the Link Light Rail route to Seattle, and just north of Kent-Des Moines Road where a state vehicle emissions testing station was located.

“There never was any doubt in my mind that this project would come to fruition,” Mayor Bob Sheckler told The Waterland Blog on Dec. 29.

“This is just one indicator that the city of Des Moines is on its way to economic recovery, and that our ties with foreign investors on both sides of the Pacific are beginning to pay dividends for those investors and our community alike.”

Sheckler played a pivotal role in bringing the Artemis Hotel – once planned for Tacoma – to Des Moines during a trip to China in November 2009.

While he went there to build foundations for a sister-city relationship with Changle, China, and an exchange program between Chinese community college students and Highline Community College, he came home with an agreement to build the multi-million-dollar hotel in Des Moines.

“I hope all the naysayers will be there for the groundbreaking,” Sheckler added.

The city’s 2011 budget includes permitting and development fees from the hotel project that spared three jobs from the chopping block.

Council members Dan Sherman and Scott Thomassen opposed including those fees, which will be received later in the year, in the budget and expressed doubts about whether the hotel actually would be built.

Construction is expected to take place from May through December 2011, and during this time, a segment of Sylvester Road where the bridge is located will be closed:

“After nearly 80 years of service, the Sylvester Road Bridge appears to be retiring,” reads a statement. “Wrought with many condition problems including cracked columns and girders, weathered and worn rails and deck, and an antiquated design, reconditioning does not appear to be the best option for service … Engineers at the City, County, and State levels have concluded that a reconstruction project is the most cost-effective way to maintain the corridor through the bridge site.”

Here are the event details:

WHAT: Sylvester Road Bridge Open House

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 9th from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.

WHERE: Normandy Park City Hall, 801 SW 174th St., Normandy Park

INFO: From the city’s website:

Please come to this informational meeting and examine the proposed construction plans, detour plans, and to learn about this exciting project.
After nearly 80 years of service, the Sylvester Road Bridge appears to be retiring. Wrought with many condition problems including cracked columns and girders, weathered and worn rails and deck, and an antiquated design, reconditioning does not appear to be the best option for service to the West Highline community. Engineers at the City, County, and State levels have concluded that a reconstruction project is the most cost-effective way to maintain the corridor through the bridge site. Built during the depression era, Sylvester Bridge has spanned Fox Creek for 8 decades.

Sylvester Bridge is one of a handful of large concrete bridges built in this area during the twenties and thirties. The new bridge is planned to be a full span bridge, meaning that there will be no supporting columns like the existing bridge has, which are not designed to carry earthquake forces. Design work on the replacement bridge is currently underway. The design of the new bridge is planned to look similar to the existing bridge with concrete rails possibly as depicted above. Construction is planned for Spring-Fall 2011. Unfortunately, a lengthy closure will be necessary for removal of the old bridge and construction of its replacement. A detour for Sylvester Road through traffic has been developed utilizing 16th Avenue and 160th as primary routes with access to 16th via 12th Avenue off Sylvester Road.

For more information, contact Betty Gulledge-Bennett, Communications at 206-263-3436 or betty.gulledge-bennett@kingcounty.gov.

Scott Schaefer recently produced this Sound Slideshow on the bridge, which shows its aging:

Click to Play Scott Schaefer’s Sound Slideshow

There will be a Ribbon-Cutting Celebration for the recently-completed First Avenue South Enhancement Project on Thursday, Nov. 18th at 6pm, in front of Archery Bistro, located at 19803 First Ave South in Normandy Park.

Prior to the ribbon cutting, there will be several short speeches from state and local officials involved with the project.

It’s no secret that this controversial construction project, funded by federal grant money, has caused numerous travel delays in the area, garnering frustration not only amongst commuters, but from business owners whose businesses have suffered because of it.

As many of our Readers and residents know, this project has been blamed for the lack of business at the Normandy Park Towne Center, including the shutting down of the Emerald City Smoothie store located there last March (read our coverage here), so the completion of it will be a welcome relief to the entire area.

In case of inclement weather, a tent will be erected to keep everyone in attendance dry so don’t let the weather keep you away.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt was on hand to award the Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) Grant to fund construction of a pre-conditioned air project that will make Sea-Tac one of the nation’s few airports with a centralized system that covers the entire facility.

Once installed, the project is expected to reduce emissions by more than 50,000 metric tons of CO2, save airlines up to five million gallons of fuel and $10 million in fuel costs per year. The CO2 savings are the equivalent of taking 8,700 cars off the road. The project is expected to create 120 jobs.

“This program is helping airports around the country make needed technological investments so they can be more environmentally friendly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The project will allow aircraft to hookup to pre-conditioned air provided by the airport at each gate. This allows planes to shutdown their auxiliary power units, which emit CO2 gases and other emissions, and cost the airlines fuel to operate. The cooled or heated air would be piped into the aircraft from a central utility plant at the airport. An estimated ten miles of piping will be used to complete the project.

“The Port of Seattle has made environmental leadership a priority; we are committed to reducing Sea-Tac Airport’s carbon footprint and this grant will help us do that,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Gael Tarleton.

The entire project is estimated to cost just over $33 million. The $18.3 million grant funding will cover the first phase of the project which will include 53 of Sea-Tac’s 81 gates. Construction is expected to begin in October and be completed by the end of 2011 for phase one. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012.

The largest previous grant award from the VALE program was for $10.3 million to Philadelphia in 2009.

The remaining cost will be paid through Airport Development Funds which come directly from fees charged to airlines.  These fees will be more than offset by decreased airline operating costs estimated to be as much as $10 million per year for airlines at Sea-Tac.

“The size of this project is unusual for an airport in a temperate climate like ours, but we’ve shown this can make a tremendous impact on our environmental footprint, one of our key goals,” said Mark Reis, Sea-Tac Airport Managing Director. “The positive effects also include reduced noise from aircraft while they are parked at the gates.”

“The FAA is encouraging airlines and airports to find creative ways to reduce aviation’s impact on the environment,” said Administrator Babbitt.  “NextGen technology will also help aviation go even greener by significantly reducing the amount of fuel burned during air travel.”

Photographer Francis Zera was on hand to witness the demonstration, and he shot these pics for us:

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt

Gael Tarleton, Port of Seattle Commissioner

Rep. Jim McDermott

A worker begins the unfurling of the VALE hose...

...and unfurls...

...unfurls some more...

...and more...

...hooks it up to the underbelly of the plane...

…then watch as it gets turned on:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Metro Transit’s new RapidRide “A” Line will debut this Saturday, Oct. 2, and when it does, according to a breathlessly-worded press release:

“…thousands of passengers in South King County will be riding on smart new buses that will come so often there will be no need for a schedule.”

On Friday (Oct. 1st), King County Executive Dow Constantine, along with local leaders and transportation officials, got a preview of the new “A” Line that will run along Pacific Highway South/International Boulevard. The line, which will operate between the Tukwila Link station and Federal Way Transit Center, will be the first of six RapidRide lines scheduled for introduction in the coming years offering frequent and more convenient service for thousands of Metro customers.

“Metro’s first RapidRide line will combine the best features Metro has to offer customers,” Constantine said. “In addition to shorter travel times and 10- to 15-minute service much of the day, the ride will be better, too. RapidRide will be operated with a new fleet of environmentally-friendly hybrid buses, offer new technology features and free Wi-Fi service during the trip. It will mark a new generation of Metro bus service we can all look forward to.”

These improvements are expected to cut travel times by one-third along the busy 11-mile line serving the cities of Federal Way, Des Moines, Kent, SeaTac, and Tukwila. The “A” Line will offer twice as much service as the current Route 174 and will conveniently connect with Link light rail stations to offer passengers even more travel options to downtown Seattle.

Additional amenities will include:

• Larger well-lit shelters offering more protection from the wind and rain.
• Stop-request signals at stations so riders can alert bus drivers when they are waiting for a bus at night.
• More benches and bike racks at stations.
• More green lights and other improvements to keep buses moving.
• Free Wi-Fi service on all RapidRide coaches allowing passengers to go online during their trip.
• New automated stop announcements and electronic signage on RapidRide buses that will display upcoming stops, landmarks, transfer opportunities and other customer service messages.

These improved features will allow Metro to deliver on the promise of offering more frequent, all-day bus rapid transit service as part of Metro’s “Transit Now” program. The line is expected to draw more than 2.5 million riders annually within the next five years, a 50-percent increase over current ridership.

The RapidRide “A” Line also promises to be a good investment. Despite a steep decline in Metro’s operating revenues, the service has already attracted millions of dollars in federal grants due to its potential to efficiently serve thousands of riders in some of the county’s most densely populated areas.

The system has so far received $61.6 million in federal and state grants, with an additional $20 million included in President Obama’s 2010 budget. Combined, these grants are expected to cover nearly 40 percent of the capital cost of putting RapidRide on the road.

While the “A” Line officially debuts Saturday, additional amenities will be coming later this fall. That’s when riders will begin seeing real-time bus information signs phased in at 24 RapidRide stations. The service will begin shortly after the start of regular RapidRide service once Metro has calibrated data that allows the system to function.

And later this year riders all across the county will benefit from new on-board technology introduced on regular Metro buses. Automated stop announcements and electronic signage should be standard on all 1,400 Metro buses within about 18 months.

Customers interested in learning more about RapidRide can explore the “A” Line for free on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2 and 3. Metro street teams will also be on hand at selected locations along the line to talk with riders and answer questions.

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Brunk

Next Tuesday (Aug. 10), the Washington State Department of Transportation’s new, high-tech “Smarter Highways” signs will light up above nearby northbound I-5.

The WSDOT says in a statement that these signs will “automatically alert drivers to change lanes when an incident blocks traffic or to adjust their speed before reaching slower-moving traffic. The new signs will help reduce rear-end collisions, allow for earlier escape to alternate routes and smooth lane shifting caused by incidents like stalls or collisions.”

“We’re asking drivers to get familiar with Smarter Highways ahead of time so they know what to do when the sign above their lane shows a yellow arrow or a reduced speed limit,” said Patty Rubstello, WSDOT Systems Engineer. “This is new technology for us and the United States, so we know it will be a big change for drivers.”

The WSDOT is also encouraging drivers to boost their Smarter Highways knowledge:

• Visit the Smarter Highways website here: www.smarterhighways.com
• Watch the four-minute Smarter Highways video here.
• Visit the I-5 Smarter Highways project website here.
• Look at photos of the high-tech signs on Flickr here.
• Talk about Smarter Highways on the WSDOT blog here.

WSDOT traffic engineers have rigorously tested the Smarter Highways on I-5 since May to ensure the complex system of traffic sensors, electronic signs and fiber optic are ready to activate.

“Getting Smarter Highways up and running is more than plugging in signs and flipping a switch,” said Rubstello “We need to make sure all system parts run together like clockwork.”

Installing Smarter Highways on I-5 will help keep people and goods moving during construction to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The I-5 project is funded through WSDOT’s Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program.

Drivers will use Smarter Highways on three of Washington’s busiest corridors. The locations and activation dates are:

• Northbound I-5 between Boeing Access Road and I-90 on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010
• SR 520 between I-5 and 130th Avenue NE in Bellevue in fall 2010
• I-90 between I-5 and 150th Avenue SE in Bellevue in spring 2011

Here’s what the signs look like:

Photo courtesy WSDOT.

To learn more about WSDOT’s new program, visit: www.smarterhighways.com.

On Wednesday, July 14, workers and local dignitaries joined together to celebrate the “topping out” of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s new consolidated rental car facility. When the new structure opens in spring of 2012, it will house all rental car related operations for the airport.

The ceremony, which by most accounts dates back to ancient Europe, marks the completion of the building’s basic structure. After the mandatory speeches, the dignitaries and labor representatives each signed the large steel beam that acted as a back drop for the day’s ceremony.

Bedecked with a banner representing the Iron Workers Local 86, an American flag on one end and an evergreen tree on the other, the beam was lifted by one of the large tower cranes and “flown” around the job site before being maneuvered into place on top of the structure.

With the final piece of structural steel in place, the construction project is around the half way point with a lot of work remaining in order to meet the scheduled opening date in early 2012.

Speakers at the event included Dave Soike, the Deputy Managing Director of Sea-Tac Airport, Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton, SeaTac Mayor Terry Anderson, rental car industry spokeswoman Lorie Tallarico, King County Labor Council AFL-CIO board member Lee Newgent, and Jack Beaudoin, Vice President and General Manager for Turner Construction.

All of the speakers emphasized the degree of cooperation and coordination required across multiple agencies, including the Port of Seattle, City of SeaTac, and the construction company and labor unions, for the project to move ahead and be successful despite roadblocks along the way.

The project was paused in December 2008 when economic conditions deteriorated. Construction resumed in July 2009 after the Port approved the sale of $317 million in revenue bonds to help fund the $419 million project. Almost the entire cost of the project will be paid back by fees paid by rental customers.

In the meantime, over 3,000 family-wage jobs will be generated over the life of the project and the City of SeaTac will collect nearly $2 million in tax revenue.

Much was made of the focus on minimizing the environmental impact. Turner Construction General Manager Jack Beaudoin stated that 95% of the materials used in constructing the facility were recycled, and that nearly 99% of construction waste leaving the site is being recycled. Beaudoin also declared the structure will be “salmon safe” with 85% of the car wash water reclaimed, filtered and reused. LEED certification is also being pursued for the facility

Once the new rental car facility opens, it will bring together operations that today are located at the airport and scattered across several off-site locations. In the process it will increase the number of companies providing cars from the five available at the airport today to a total of eleven. It will also free up more than 3,200 parking spaces in the main terminal garage.

Photographer Michael Brunk attended today’s ceremony and assembled the following slideshow. Click on the images to advance.

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow