A big milestone was reached injecting the grout into the tendons of the bridge spans of the new Sylvester Road Bridge construction.

Next, the “end diaphrams” will be framed and poured, then curbs, railing and approaches.

We’re getting there!

Completion date estimates are coming into view, maybe the end of February to the beginning of March.

The attention to detail is impressive and problem solving has been incredible – these guys are really good.

Here are some pics – click images to see larger versions:

(Upper Left) Casey Wagner (KC) foreground and Sam Bellah of King County monitor the grout mixing process by employees from ReBar International (RBI) Tony Raybell, Brandon Chevalier and Brian Benton. 440 fifty pound bags of Sika Grout (“powdered rock”) are used to make a “special sauce” that fills the 16 bridge span tendons sealing the suspension cables adding tremendous strength to the bridge spans.

(Upper right) Sam Bellah, Field Engineer for King County makes notes and records the details.

(Lower left) Brian Benton of (RBI) tests the flow of the mixture before the hose is attached to the tendons input valves. 100 pounds of pressure pushes the mixture through and (lower right) closes the valve at the far end when the mixture comes through.

(Upper left) Tony Raybell adds just the right amount of water to the mixing vat as Brandon Chevalier brings the 50 pound bags to the mixer.

(Upper right) Tony Raybell (RBI) loads the mixer.

(Lower Left & right) Casey Wagner, Quality Control Engineer for King County takes frequent samples of the mixture testing temperature and makes several grout cubes for testing. Two days later the cubes are break compression tested for strength. Typically 5,000 pounds is reached in 2 days and 26,000 pounds in 7 days.

Here are some other photos sent to us Feb. 4, courtesy Ron Laiminger, who adds “They have a cable all tensioned and are getting ready to pour the sidewalk and guard rails” (click images to see larger versions):

NPB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s Open House for this week is a brick basement rambler in Shorewood, just waiting to be made beautiful again and at a reduced price!

Daylight basement, carport, large lot and great location.

And it’s got a little Sound view too!

Here are the details:

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 5th, from 1pm – 4pm.

WHERE: 11825 26th Ave SW, West Seattle, WA 98146

INFO:

• List Price: $299,500
• Listing #: 292562
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 2
• Year Built: 1952
• Approximate House SqFt: 2,060
• Lot Square Footage: 10,950

Interior Features:

• Hardwood Floors
• Carport-attached
• 2 Fireplaces

Marketing Remarks:

Brick basement rambler in Shorewood just waiting to be made beautiful again!

Daylight basement, carport, large lot and great location.

A little Sound View too!

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

The recent snow and ice days set the completion date back a bit but progress is being made – click images to see larger versions:

Sub-contractors from RBI, Rebar International, Brandon Chevalier (topside) and Brian Benton lift and position the DYWIDAG (Dew EE Dag) hydraulic ram into place to tension the bridge span cables.

There are four spans with four tendons (tubes) in each, with 22 cables running 230 feet in length. Each girder has 3,850,000 pounds of lift.

The ram stretches each bundle of 22 cables about 15 inches with 5,000 pounds of pull. A Guide plate pushes each 3-part cable seating wedge into place anchoring the cable securely against the girder face.

Each face has an injection port for grout which protects and strengthens the cables. As the cables are tensioned the bridge should arch slightly upward so the “false work” metal support structures can be removed.

Concurrently, bridge rail and curb forms are being constructed.

A large, two story home caught fire in the 1400 block of SW Miller Creek Road in Normandy Park late Friday night (Jan. 20), and was extinguished around 3:15 a.m. by the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department along with help from North Highline, SeaTac and South King Fire.

“The call came in at about 9:30 p.m.,” said spokesman Doug Leudeman. “It was a fireplace-chimney fire that spread into the attic and burned off about 1/3 of the roof with about 300k damage. The folks living there are going to be displaced for a while. Our crews were on the scene until about 3 am and there were no injuries to the residents or the firefighters.”

The first fire engine to arrive (from the Normandy Road station), reported heavy fire involvement of the attic and second story of a large, two-story residence.

“Someone cut the locks off of our storage container and stole camp stoves, backpacking tents, a Honda generator, food, and other items,” said Tod Bookless, Assistant Scoutmaster. “As you probably know, the Boy Scout organization is a 101-year old non-profit and all of the gear that was stolen is used by the local boys on campouts.”

If anyone knows anything about this crime, or has any leads on the stolen equipment, you are asked to call the Normandy Park Police Department non-emergency line at (206) 248-7600.

Residents who are missed due to inclement weather may put up to double their load out on their regular collection day next week.

For more information, visit www.alliedwaste.kent.com for further updates today and throughout the week.

You can also check for updates through the Regional Public Information Network (RPIN), as well as sign up for free email notices at www.rpin.org.

If you register now to run in the 4th annual Cove to Clover fundraiser (coming up March 9-11), you’ll save some serious ¢lover, ‘cuz registration rates are at their lowest right now!

South King Media be a Sponsor for the fourth consecutive year (learn more about becoming a Sponsor here), and we encourage all our Readers to find a way to participate – even if you’re not a runner – as this is a great, fun, local fundraiser.

The race starts near the cove in Normandy Park, then winds its way up ‘Snake Hill’ through Burien before ending up in front of Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub. The 10k will start at the Normandy Park Towne Center and catch up to the 5k route (click here to see a map of the race course).

Last year over $37,000 was raised and distributed to these local charities:

• Highline Area Food Bank: $16,000
• Highline Schools Foundation/Schools: $12,500
• Hospitality House: $3,000
• Para Los Ninos: $2,250
• YETI Club: $1,550
• Emergency Family Relief: $500
• Hi-Liners: $500
• Girl Scouts: $350
• Boy Scouts: $350

There are several new elements this year, including a 10K run and a Talent Show, along with the usual 5k race and Pub Crawl.

“Cover to Clover is unlike any other 5K or 10K,” reads a note on the C2C website. “For one thing, it is very hard. So hard in fact that it is fast becoming a test piece for NW runners. For starters, “Snake Hill” rises nearly 1000′ in the first mile of the course. Around mile 2 you’ll encounter ‘The Uprising,’ a runner obstacle that has been constructed in the middle of a live Celtic battlefield. For your suffering, you will be rewarded with on-course Celtic pipers and a finish line festival that delivers the goods (2 beer gardens, 2 stages with live entertainment, free root beer garden and free hot dogs for children).”

The Cove to Clover is a 501(c)(3) umbrella charity which distributes all proceeds to local charities. The organization is very lean and run by passionate volunteers.

“Be assured, your participation will be making a positive impact on your community,” the website adds.

This year there will also be a ‘Corporate Team Challenge,’ where companies can participate by registering their employees; here’s more info:

“It’s easy to do; just have each member of your team use a ‘Registration Code’ representing your company’s name. Also, be sure to email us at

“'The Uprising' will be at least double in size and absolutely impossible to scale. I suggest organizers begin working with City officials on a solution to help the estimated 2000 runners that will likely be stranded. This year you are mine…ha, Ha, HAAA!"

corporate_teams@covetoclover.com to let us know the code you are using so we can insure you get proper credit for each registration. We’d also like to have a team captain’s name and email address, so that we can pass on the information of who joined your team. Then all you have to do is promote the race at your company and encourage your co-workers to register online using your ‘Registration Code.’

The team with the most team members (registered with your unique code) will be recognized with a special award at the finish line. Cove to Clover will throw an extra special catered party for the winning team at a later date. We don’t want to be pinned down to a location, since the size of the winning team may require a bigger venue.”

Also, the sponsorship window will be closing relatively soon, so if you’re with a business that wants to do good and get great local exposure, contact sponsorship@covetoclover.com ASAP to let them know of their interest.

NPB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s Open House for this week is a spotless late 50s home with three bedrooms.

The kitchen has all built-ins, living room has a cozy fireplace, dining area with sliders to large covered deck, picturesque yard with lawn & garden sheds.

The basement offers a rec room with fireplace, bar, a safe, 3/4 bath, utility room, storage and garage wired for welding.

Home has A/C throughout.

Parking for trailer or RV.

Here are the details:

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 15th from 1pm – 4pm.

WHERE: 16259 14th Ave SW, Burien, WA 98166.

INFO:

• List Price: $285,000
• Listing #: 281085
• Beds: 3

• Baths: 1.75
• Year Built: 1959
• Approximate House SqFt: 1,7700
• Lot Square Footage: 10,795

Site Features:

• Cable TV
• Deck
• Fenced-Fully

• Gas Available
• Outbuildings
• Patio

Marketing Remarks:

Spotless late 50s home features 3 bdrms, kitchen w/all built-ins, liv rm w/cozy frplc, dining area w/sliders to large covered deck, picturesque yard w/lawn & garden sheds.

Bsmt offers rec room w/frplc, bar, 3/4 bath, utility rm, storage and garage wired for welding.

Home has A/C throughout.

Parking for trailer or RV.

Safe in rec room stays.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

New Normandy Park Mayor Clarke Brant.

The Normandy Park City Council elected William ‘Clarke’ Brant to serve as Mayor for 2012 – 2013.

Brant was first elected to the City Council in 2006 and, in November 2009, re-elected for a second term. He has served as Mayor Pro Tem the past two years. Mr. Brant is a Navy Veteran, a former Patrol Plane Commander, Aviation Safety Inspector-Air Carrier Operations-FAA, and is now retired from Delta Air Lines.

Brant earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Washington and a J.D. from the University of Puget Sound, School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law.) He is a former member of the A.L.P.A. Board of Directors and a past member of the Washington State Bar Association.

Mr. Brant and wife, Nancy, have lived in the community since 1979 and raised their two sons in Normandy Park.

New Mayor Pro Tem Doug Osterman.

The City Council also elected Doug Osterman to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for 2012 – 2013. Osterman was elected to the City Council in 2008 and recently re-elected for a second term. Mr. Osterman is employed by King County as the Watershed Coordinator for the Green River, Duwamish River, and Central Puget Sound Salmon Habitat Recovery Team located in Seattle, Washington. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management, Montana State University; a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Land Resources, Montana State University; and a Master of Regional Planning, Washington State University.

Mr. Osterman and wife, Julie, have lived in Normandy Park over 15 years and have two sons, Mitchell and Anders.

Police say that on Tuesday evening (Jan. 10), police had over a dozen Car Prowls and Theft from Mailbox reports covering a wide area in the Northern part of the City, near City Hall. There were reports of additional car prowls just outside the area as well.

“All of the cars that had items stolen were unlocked,” police said. “There were numerous cases where cars were parked next to each other and the locked cars were left alone and the unlocked cars had items stolen from inside.”

NP Police Chief Rick Kieffer also added:

Please keep your vehicles locked at all times. Stow or remove valuable items that you want to keep. Theft from vehicles can take place even when the vehicle is inside a garage.

Mail should be sent from secure US Postal Service Mailboxes or at the Post Office. Never place outgoing mail in your mailbox. Several Netflix movies were removed from mailboxes and the disk taken.

These types of crimes can lead to other crimes such as identity theft. If you believe you have a loss you can contact the Police Department for additional information.

Chief Rick Kieffer would like to remind citizens to Dial 911 if you hear or see anything suspicious happening day or night.