Opus/Concrete Barrier Inc./Bridges/Rushforth

Work on the I-5 repaving and expansion joint replacement through downtown Seattle finished in record time and netted the    contractor a hefty bonus.

OPUS to Build Glass Manufacturing Plant

Snoqualmie, Wash. - Opus Northwest has begun construction of the new corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility for Technical Glass Products at Snoqualmie Ridge Business Park, which is located just off Interstate 90.

The Technical Glass Products building will contain approximately 33,000 sq ft  of office space and a 97,000-sq-ft. manufacturing facility.  The building is a build-to-suit project that Technical Glass Products will own.

 With rents escalating in Bellevue and along the I-90 corridor, companies are expanding their search for affordable locations. Opus Northwest is developing Snoqualmie Ridge Business Park, which is adjacent to a master-planned community and two retail centers, as an easily accessible Eastside alternative for businesses looking for new administrative, technology and industrial space. 

Opus is also building the speculative, 57,000-sq-ft Kendall Lake Building at Snoqualmie Ridge Business Park for companies looking for near-term occupancy.  Kendall Lake will be completed in the spring of 2008.

• Bellevue-based Opus NW LLC is the developer.
• Synthesis is the building shell architect, and Callison is the tenant improvement architect for the project.
• Opus NW Contractors, LLC, is the contractor.

Incentive Bonus Earned For Speedy I-5 work

Mukilteo, Wash. - Concrete Barrier Inc., Mukilteo, Wash. earned a $700,000 incentive bonus from the Washington State Department of Transportation, for finishing a 19-day paving and expansion joint replacement project through downtown Seattle in just 12 days.

The company bid $11,917,111 on the project, which started in August 10, 2007 and ended August 25, 2007. The company was credited two days for a rain delay.

The project started in the northbound I-5 lanes just one mile south of downtown Seattle, a stretch of road traveled by 120,000 cars daily. DOT computer modeling showed possible 35-mile long traffic backups, but a 7-month long public outreach effort encouraging the use of alterative routes and transit shortened that to only a few miles.

The contractor used polyester concrete, with a set-up time of three-to five hours, says Massay Shiferaw, DOT project manager. The contractor also saved time by changing the method used to remove the expansion joints, and adding crew members.

“At first they planned to grind the 40-year-old expansion joints down, but that was taking five hours per joint,” says Shiferaw. “They switched to cutting them with a torch and sending a crew ahead to start the prep work.”

Northwest Bridges Inspected After Minnesota Bridge Collapse

Salem – Engineers in Oregon and Washington finished inspections in September, following orders from the federal government because of the Minnesota bridge collapse. Washington state bridge inspectors are reviewing reports for its recently inspected bridges, “Ten of the 26 steel truss bridges were inspected only six months ago,” says Jugesh Kapur, state bridge engineer. 

Of  higher concern is the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, says Kapur.

Fault lines run throughout the region.  Even quakes smaller than the 5.9 Nisqually, cause the soil around the viaduct to liquefy. 

Repairs for the Evergeen Point Floating Bridge over Lake Washington, received a major boost from the federal government. The project will receive a $138 million grant.  Other funding to fix the bridge, which is subject to constant wind and water forces, and potential earthquake damage, may come from a $17 billion transportation levy, due for a vote in November.

Rushforth Holds Charity Tournament netting $57,000

Tacoma – Rushforth Taylor Construction hit an all time high new record in giving for their 19th Annual Charitable Golf Tournament, giving away over $57,000 dollars for their charities: Tacoma-Pierce County YMCA, Salvation Army, Mary Bridge Children’s Advocacy, Fife Senior Center, Tone Resource Center, First Place for Children, Phoebe House, and Goodwill.

Rushforth’s 19th annual tournament was held at Lake Spanaway Golf Course and was largely made up of the design, development, subcontractor and supplier construction industry. Major sponsors included: Aerotek Construction Management, KeyBank, Akiyama Financial Services, St. Clair Construction, Westmark Products, Bratrud Middleton Insurance and Don Leonard & Sons. Refreshments on the course were provided by Garlic Jim’s/Clubhouse Grill, Tacoma Club, Domino’s, Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante, Asado/Masa Restaurants and dinner was provided by The Vault Catering Company.