Dear Rentonites:

As a reminder, we are having four new trestles built, and Houser Way reworked, before Burlington Northern eliminates the eastside rail line. This is because this is our final opportunity to route Boeing fuselage deliveries off of the track through Renton…starting in one month, all future Boeing deliveries will have to be through town (and the eastside line will be removed up near Bellevue). Work on the rail line will be more difficult after that, so we are getting everything done now.

The longer, higher trestles over Rainier and Hardie Avenues will allow us to get more lanes of automobile traffic under both of these trestles, ultimately reducing congestion on the Rainier corridor…yay!

I need to add that Burlington Northern and our Renton Transportation Staff are doing an excellent job completing all this work in a short period of time, and they are working very well together.

Here is an update we received from our transportation staff today:
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The “double stacking” of railroad ties is a temporary staging of the
track work. They assembler the ties and rails on top of the existing
rails and stretch, and then drag the whole assembly over and place it in
the right location. That will be the last segment, crossing Burnett
toward the depot.

The the remaining concrete panels are placed — all
this we are told by end of day Tuesday. I still think there might be a
little work left for Wed. But all the work that counts and creates
disruption will be done on time, we are told.

Peter

Peter Hahn
Deputy Administrator
Planning, Building, Public Works
City of Renton

Houser Update:

Williams will remain closed tonight. Renton street crews will place
concrete and asphalt in the gaps remaining between the new concrete
track panels and existing street on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008.

Burnett will be closed Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008. BNSF crews plan to remove
the existing track, place the new track panel (already assembled) and
the new concrete panels tomorrow. Renton street crews may place concrete
and asphalt tomorrow. However, it is more likely to occur on Wednesday,
Feb 13, 2008 for Burnett. This way our crews stay out of BNSF’s way.

BNSF track crews plan on being complete tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb 12,
2008. They will then move on to installing track starting west of Hardie
Ave.

Rainier, Hardie, Shattuck Update:

Hardie was open today. The tarp is removed. Partial closures may be
required at a later date (half day max) to complete some work underneath
the bridge (install one diaphragm and paint the associated bolts). The
focus now is on Rainier.

Rainier. Work did not occur on Friday or Saturday night. Scarsella has
requested closures be extended until Feb 20, 2008. The construction
manager for BNSF believes the work can be completed by Feb 16, 2008. So
he suggested a wait and see approach. By Wednesday of this week, he will
have a better feel for how things are going. Basically, it is painting
to be done. Painting will occur on top of the bridge first, then
underneath. Once painting is completed on top, iron workers will place
the steel walkway panels, while painting occurs underneath.

Shattuck. Currently tented for water proofing. Should be done water
proofing this week.

Thanks,

Derek