Crews working for WSDOT made quick work of a big job stabilizing a slope at the SR 169 bridge over the Green River. They completed the most difficult work of the first phase nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.

At 5:30 p.m. Friday, contractors finished applying a spray-on concrete on the slope at the southeast end of the Kummer Bridge. They also installed 63 specialized soil-nails to stabilize the hillside. This is the same method crews used in July for an emergency repair. With these additional soil-nails, there are more than 90 in place.

The contractors will return to the site next week to complete final tasks, clean-up and remove equipment. This work will require up to one week of single-lane closures during daylight hours. North and southbound traffic will alternate across the bridge with assistance from flaggers.

“Finishing this stage early is great news,” said WSDOT Project Engineer Mike Askarian. “We’ll have both lanes open to traffic more than a week ahead of schedule.”

In late September, crews will begin the second phase of repair work. A series of drainage pipes will be installed to drain water from the landslide area. Crews will drill horizontal holes up to 300 feet into the hillside approximately 30 feet below the surface of the land south of the bridge.

“The drainage pipes will remove a lot of the excess water that saturates the land every year because of intense rain,” said WSDOT Project Engineer Mike Askarian. “By getting rid of the water, we’ll reduce the risk of more slide activity.”

Installation of the drainage pipes should be completed by early November.

The soil-nail and drainage pipe solution will cost approximately $2 million. WSDOT has received federal money to pay for these repairs.

Drivers can find more information and regular updates on this project at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR169/GreenRiverRepair/