Concrete Paving

Location: Pacific Avenue, from South 17th to 25th streets; Commerce Street, from South 11th to 17th streets, Tacoma

Owner/developer: Sound Transit

Project team: Gary Merlino Construction, general contractor and concrete contractor; Otak, architect; Glacier Northwest, ready-mix supplier

The $28 million Tacoma Link light rail project created 1.7 miles of track that connects many of the city’s downtown features with the Tacoma Dome area. The project included over a half-mile of concrete street paving, seven concrete intersections, and pedestrian corridors.

Stamped terra-cotta and black concrete was used for crosswalks instead of thermoplastic striping.

Sidewalk, curb and wheelchair ramps were made in contrasting colors to help identify curb areas, and distinguish rail bed and platform areas. Promenade areas include inlaid art plaques and etchings, with black concrete as a backdrop.

For track construction, concrete was placed into an 8-foot-wide bed with expansion joints every 120 feet to allow tracks to expand and contract. Concrete was stamped and colored to create a cobblestone-like surface.

Finalists in the category included the Hewitt Avenue reconstruction project in Everett and the Taxiway G upgrade project at Spokane International Airport.