East Marine View Drive Improvements

Everett, Washington

Geotechnical Engineering

HWA conducted a geotechnical engineering investigation and environmental soil sampling study along a 1.5-mile segment of East Marine View Drive in Everett, Washington, as part of planned roadway and utility improvements. The project is in an area impacted by heavy metals from the former Everett ASARCO Smelter. The geotechnical investigation provided recommendations for earthwork, roadway widening, traffic signals, retaining walls, storm drains, and water mains.

Pavement

HWA evaluated options for improving 1.5 miles of East Marine View Drive in Everett as part of a freight mobility project. East Marine View Drive is a busy arterial carrying heavy traffic serving the Port of Everett. The roadway consists mainly of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavement that was constructed in 1950. About 0.5-mile of the alignment consists of asphalt concrete (AC) pavement. The scope of work for this project included detailed field reconnaissance and Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) testing at intervals of about 100 feet in the outside wheel paths of the trafficked lanes. In addition, numerous tests were undertaken to determine joint transfer efficiency between individual slabs and the support conditions of cracked slabs. Based on the FWD deflection plots, the optimum location for pavement core holes was determined. HWA arranged and drilled a total of eight core holes drilled through the pavement to provide information on pavement structural layer and to determine if voids are present below the slabs. In addition to conventional overlay and reconstruction approaches, HWA prepared a fully-bonded concrete overlay option. HWA performed laboratory testing, pavement engineering analyses (using the Elmod, Modulus, AASHTO DARWin and PCAPave programs), and prepared a draft geotechnical report. The project was challenging due to heavy traffic which necessitated careful traffic control and the need to produce a range of pavement upgrading options to allow the City to price various options and present alternatives at neighborhood meetings.

Hazardous Materials

HWA was retained by Perteet to conduct an environmental soil sampling study along a segment of East Marine View Drive in Everett, Washington, as part of planned roadway and utility improvements. The project is in an area impacted by heavy metals from the former Everett ASARCO Smelter. The objective of our investigation was to provide information about the distribution of heavy metals with depth along the project alignment, assess construction impacts, and develop soil management recommendations for construction. Our scope of work included drilling and sampling 33 borings, analytical laboratory testing, and preparation of a report for submission to the Department of Ecology.

HWA developed a streamlined approach for handling soil during construction, by delineating specific portions of the alignment based on heavy metal concentrations relative to established site specific cleanup levels. Construction specifications could then be written which directed the contractor to manage soils based on location, without further testing during construction. Soil management options included reuse on site, on-site fill under pavement, or off site disposal, as appropriate. HWA combined the environmental testing with a geotechnical engineering investigation, which provided recommendations for earthwork, roadway widening, traffic signals, retaining walls, storm drains, and water mains.

Inspection

HWA evaluated soil conditions to develop design and construction recommendations for the proposed roadway improvements. Soil borings were conducted in areas where traffic signal bases, deep storm retention vaults and cut and fill retaining walls were planned. Environmental sampling was also performed to access the extent of contaminated soil in areas exposed to heavy metals from adjacent industrial tracts. Additionally HWA provided construction and quality assurance testing services during the construction phase of the project. Inspection activities included monitoring and field testing of soils during utility trench backfill operations, placement and compaction of structural fills, CSBC, CSTC, hot mix asphalt paving, retaining wall construction and road base placement.

Inspection staff also conducted testing and inspection of concrete delivery and placement for curb and gutter, sidewalk, luminary bases and driveways. Geotechnical staff was also on site to monitor the installation of over 100 pipe piles used to support the new sidewalk. Laboratory staff provided all materials acceptance testing during the project including the development of several site specific asphaltic concrete pavement mix designs