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February 5, 2024

Best in State: Gold Award
Successful Fulfillment of Owner/Client Needs

Photo from ACEC Washington
The project on US 12 included installation of a bridge over Dry Creek.

Skillings

Project: US 12/Nine Mile Hill to Frenchtown vicinity corridor
Client: WSDOT

The team from Skillings, in collaboration with WSDOT, tackled the challenge of minimizing the use of barriers along the US 12/Nine Mile Hill to Frenchtown corridor project. The project initially included a potential 222,180 feet of barrier, but Skillings’ design, adhering to strict WSDOT guidelines, reduced this to just 12% of the corridor’s length. Median widths exceeded 50 feet for most of the corridor, and a vertical alignment within a 3% grade limit was maintained.

This design not only enhances safety by reducing crash frequency and severity, but also leads to estimated savings of $3.4 million over the project’s design life. The team’s unique approach treated eastbound and westbound directions as separate alignments, maximizing safety.

The project focused on sustainability, minimizing maintenance needs, optimizing operational efficiency, and reducing life-cycle costs. The design even protects the unique Alkali bee, a significant crop pollinator in the region, much to the delight of local winemakers who were consulted in the design.

The project incorporated full-diamond interchanges at both ends of the corridor, eliminating at-grade intersections and enhancing safety. Skillings fulfilled WSDOT’s goals, maintained a strong owner-engagement relationship, came in under budget, and completed the project on schedule.


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