Kleinfelder was awarded a contract in July 2001—and again in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010—to provide on-call geotechnical and rock slope engineering services to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as part of the Unstable Slopes On-Call Services Contract.
Washington State highways cut through mountainous terrain prone to rockfall, rockslides, landslides, and debris flows. Additionally, in the wet winter months of Washington, the amount of slope failures increase—forcing WSDOT to implement emergency service contracts to address cut slope failures. WSDOT has taken a proactive response to these unstable slopes, leveraging Kleinfelder’s expertise in unstable soil and rock slopes to address these potential failures well ahead of time.
The primary task assignment addressed more than 260 unstable slopes previously flagged by WSDOT as being unstable and in need of remediation. At each site, Kleinfelder conducted geotechnical and geological investigations, then developed a conceptual design based on specific site, including problem description, problem correction, estimating factors, and final scope and estimated time schedule for the repair. Later assignments included investigating rockfall mitigation options and emergency services for new and unexpected slope failures.
Kleinfelder worked closely with WSDOT during all tasks as part of the on-call contract, learning the WSDOT data system and uploading data directly to the system with little required oversight. This close relationship has resulted in safer slopes and Kleinfelder’s ongoing work with WSDOT for 12 years and counting.
Location:
Washington (various locations)
Owner:
Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
