This was the week for a crumbling hillside beside State Route 169 near Black Diamond to undergo emergency repairs by the state Department of Transportation (DOT). Workers impaled the slope with soil nails (above) and then sprayed it with concrete (left). If the hillside hadn’t been stabilized, it could have collapsed from the normal stress of passing traffic, DOT officials said. The section of highway between Southeast 400th Street and Southeast Auburn-Black Diamond Road, near the Kummer Bridge over the Green River, was closed during the work. The project is only a temporary fix. DOT plans to build a permanent retaining wall on the slope before heavy rains start this fall. About 9,000 vehicle trips are made on the bridge daily, according to DOT, which has a Web page (www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR169/GreenRiverRepair/) with updates about the overall project.
CHARLES CORTES/Reporter
Hill stoppers tackle SR-169’s problem
Jul 05 2008
View Comments
COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in the PNWLocalNews.com community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. So keep your comments:
- Civil
- Smart
- On-topic
- Free from profanity
We ask that all participants own their words by registering for an account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and drive-by commenters.
As a community site, we ask that the community help by using the "Flag" button on each comment if they feel the comment has violated the rules. You can also use the up and down arrows on each comment to voice your opinion about that particular comment.
Want to tell us something but you don't want it to be public? Talk to us privately.

