Sources: WSDOT workers to be disciplined over 520 errors
SEATTLE -- The ongoing design and oversight problems on the new 520 Bridge project have caused unprecedented fall out at the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The KOMO 4 Problem Solvers have discovered that more than a dozen WSDOT workers -- most of them top managers -- have received disciplinary letters stemming from errors on the bridge project.
Those errors have already cost state taxpayers more than $100 million.
The letters went out to top managers across all parts of the 520 Bridge program, including those at WSDOT headquarters in Olympia, according to sources.
When WSDOT announced the results of an internal review of cracking and leaking problems with pontoons destined to hold up the new 520 bridge, the primary focus was on the design by state engineers.
And that's where former Secretary Paula Hammond appeared to indicate the promised discipline would fall hardest.
"We don't expect that we're going to have a flaw in something that we are normally very good at," Hammond said.
But the review also points to significant management errors with the new bridge, and the discipline falls across all levels of the bridge project.
At least 13 workers were given disciplinary letters -- ranging from construction managers who oversaw the pontoons in Aberdeen to managers of the entire project.
Last week Inslee promised to follow through on the disciplinary process.
"We'll be looking at new ways to make sure we don't have a failure of performance again at Department of Transportation," he said.
The first step is that each employee must be notified of the charged against them. Then, a pre-discipline hearing will be scheduled.
WSDOT officials previously said they want the process completed by April 12, at which point the employees will have the right to appeal any discipline decisions.
"So while we're going through this process there's a period where we actually cannot share some of the personnel issues with you or anyone else while that process is going on," Inslee said.
Wednesday was the first day for the new Transportation Secretary. Her office won't comment on the disciplinary letters.
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See more from our 520 Bridge investigation >>>
The KOMO 4 Problem Solvers have discovered that more than a dozen WSDOT workers -- most of them top managers -- have received disciplinary letters stemming from errors on the bridge project.
Those errors have already cost state taxpayers more than $100 million.
The letters went out to top managers across all parts of the 520 Bridge program, including those at WSDOT headquarters in Olympia, according to sources.
When WSDOT announced the results of an internal review of cracking and leaking problems with pontoons destined to hold up the new 520 bridge, the primary focus was on the design by state engineers.
And that's where former Secretary Paula Hammond appeared to indicate the promised discipline would fall hardest.
"We don't expect that we're going to have a flaw in something that we are normally very good at," Hammond said.
But the review also points to significant management errors with the new bridge, and the discipline falls across all levels of the bridge project.
At least 13 workers were given disciplinary letters -- ranging from construction managers who oversaw the pontoons in Aberdeen to managers of the entire project.
Last week Inslee promised to follow through on the disciplinary process.
"We'll be looking at new ways to make sure we don't have a failure of performance again at Department of Transportation," he said.
The first step is that each employee must be notified of the charged against them. Then, a pre-discipline hearing will be scheduled.
WSDOT officials previously said they want the process completed by April 12, at which point the employees will have the right to appeal any discipline decisions.
"So while we're going through this process there's a period where we actually cannot share some of the personnel issues with you or anyone else while that process is going on," Inslee said.
Wednesday was the first day for the new Transportation Secretary. Her office won't comment on the disciplinary letters.
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See more from our 520 Bridge investigation >>>
Well just get used to it...this is a good pre-rape feeling for what is about to happen with the Seattle Tunnel. And OMG, they got a nasty letter in their file...so harsh.
not all state workers are lazy just upper upper management they dont do anything for their pay the actual workers do the job but dont get paid what the job is worth and get all the pay cuts or no raises for 4 years with having to pay more for their medical and u think we are all rich which is a bunch of bull!!! not all of us stayte employees are rich or waste taxes that we all pay including state workers don t lump us all in one group
Inslee to managers who got the letters: " Ok boys, we had to do something, so here is a letter. Now hold out your hands so I can slap them and then you can go back to what your doing." What a joke. If this was private industry overseeing the construction of the bridge, they would all be fired and the company would have gone out of business. But then again, it is the government and nothing ever gets done right by these jokers!
If this was private industry they would find someone else to blame and drink beers at work. Woo-hoo!
@WA Tax Payer Ain't that the truth...
Same with the military - the largest government agency employer.
Any one who says that someone should be fired, just because it sounds good, without a fair hearing, should be the first one to suffer that kind of treatment.Â
Did some people screw up, royally? Yes, it looks that way. But take the time to find out WHO was actually responsible for the decisions and at least find out if they did it deliberately or were managed into that position.Â
And it may well be that each of the separate items by themselves were within standard accepted practices within the engineering field - but that together they made for a bad mix.Â
And do not forget Kewit's influence in this - they are known for shaving the corners in these projects.
Wash dot does not seem to understand about things that float, bridges or roadways. Same department that oversaw the sinking of the old I-90 bridge by not securing watertight doors during a big storm. They also sank the hood canal bridge and also can't seem to build freeway interchanges. Tacoma Hwy 16 --ramp was built wrong size to fit new freeway. Had to be removed and rebuilt.  Kirkland carpool exit 405 -- specified wrong size rebar in on/ off ramps. Had to be torn out and rebuilt correctly. Old galloping gertie Tacoma narrows bridge fell down in a storm and no insurance. The bad engineers work for WASH DOT. Good ones do real work
Are they gonna pay $500,000 each for their ignorance? Or do the taxpayers get to suck it up and they get a wrist slap?
the only way to discipline them is to fire them. make an example out of them.
If they want to discipline them.. they should fire all the managers involved with the project and ax the contract to fix the budgeting BS they are in right now!
Wait til they start boring for the tunnel.Â
@contraryjim With a foreign company. There will be a whole new underground Seattle tour of the Columbia Tower.
Governor Inslee,
If you want the truth behind the damaged pontoons, I suggest you remove the gag order imposed on WSDOT employee's and let Komo Problem Solvers interview them. This gag order was ordered by Paula Hammond. She is hiding something that would incriminate her and her upper management team. One of her favorite managers just resigned a couple days ago. Are the rats leaving the sinking ship? Before you make any judgments on the WSDOT Bridge Designers and their supervisors, let them tell their side of the story.Â
Now if only someone would discipline the morons who raised the center of gravity (raised deck roadway)and nearly doubled the cost of the project, and discipline the morons who chose concrete instead of steel. If it was steel it could have easily been fixed, and they would be done with it by now since it could have been manufactured in the amount of time it took them to dig the graving dock in Aberdeen. Has no one noticed that Marine Engineers do not design concrete boats? There is a reason! It was done and proved to be a staggering failure. Â I guess this is what happens when highway engineers attempt to design something that floats.
@educated Where did you get your education? The University of Morons?Â
@educated Steel? LMAO â¥
@AASHTO DOTÂ @educatedÂ
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't they make battle ships out of steel?
@WA Tax Payer @AASHTO DOT @educated Go back to playing with your Tonka Toys,
@educated You are very far from being educated as an engineer. There is no possible way a steel tub could match the capabilities of the concrete compartmentalized pontoon. The center of gravity was not raised, it was in fact lowered. The roadway had to be raised to allow boat traffic to navigate under, rather than spend more money to have it open again and if you notice WSDOT can maintain the bridge from below the roadway - no interuptions for the commuter in the future. There are 4 floating bridges in the world, they are all concrete. I think I know who the moron is, get some more education.
@Selling 'News'Â Â
You seem to be a little defensive. What's the matter? Are you one of those guys who got caught drinking beer at work?
This is as bad as police corruption cover up. WE ALL KNOW NOW, DOT.
I want to see Kiewit sued for the faulty work they did as well as their owner in prison along with Gregoire and Hammond for that shoddy-back-room-tax-money- fraud-deal. That "unusual" deal is still costing us big bucks. Put these people in prison. Confiscate their bank accounts. We need to get our money back.
@the tide Seems all you know about is police, corruption, perps and victims families. Not sure you will ever get out of your cell block anytime soon but at least you will have more time to study up on the facts.
The discipline should start at the top. I know she is on her way out the door, and I also know someone who works for WSF who told me she is being removed from her position, not resigning. However, her discipline should be a public issue, and the public should not be spared details of her responsibility.
@northwestsurfer Where is the top? Who hired her? Who voted in the person who hired her? THE liberals of this state elected Christine & she hired Paula.
DOT Managers neglect their job and caused a $100 million (and counting) mistake, and they get a letter asking them to do their job.
In the real world where we all work for our money, we would be fired for smallest indiscretion.
Fire 'em all. Hire me and I'll build the darned thing myself for a 10th of what they were charging. Sure, it may take me a hundred years to get the thing done, but at least it'll be done right. Not that I know anything about building bridges, mind you...
@Donkey Kong just google how to build a floating bridge
When I first read it i thought they were being diciplined for make five hundred and twenty errors.
@AnchorBaby The clue is Tracy wrote it, in some respects she is right but when you see it you wonder.
@Seahawker  The govt union will protect any of these yahoos from being fired. If you knew you could do a s----y job and still keep your job, what kind of motivation do you have to perform at the highest standards? What kind of lesson does this teach our kids? Get a govt job and you can be a screw-up and never be accountable. Nowhere else does that exist.
@Sick and tired @Seahawker Actually, the union only represents the lower level engineers, once you get into management you are not represented. And I'm talking lower mid level management here, not just the top levels in Oly.
@OrcasThunder @Sick and tired @Seahawker Actually, the bridge division doesn't belong to an union. Get your facts straight before posting nonsense.Â
One thing I think they really NEED to do immediately is make sure that no more of these contracts are written as poorly as this one apparently was. Seems to me they have very little recourse with the contractor in this contract. It's totally unreasonable to expect the taxpayers to foot the bill for the contractors mistakes/shoddy workmanship. I wonder how much this bridge is really going to cost before this is over.
BUT WHO SIGNED THIS ONE????? AND WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AUTHORIZING PERSON AND THE CONTRACTOR????
@Joy Whitney The contract is a part of the bidding documents, available for anyone to see; it is what all the contractors take into account. The owner is the one authorized - WSDOT. The ultimate responsibility is former Governor Gregoir. I wonder where Obama has her slated for now?
@Selling 'News' @Joy Whitney As a Walmart Greeter.Â
"We'll be looking at new ways to make sure we don't have a failure of performance again at Department of Transportation," he said.
 GEESH! Just fire these inept, non-caring employees and replace them with people that can do the job correctly.Â
@Tooby Roosday You have to find out who they are first - otherwise you risk firing good people along with the bad.Â
They need to take the time to investigate.
@OrcasThunder Please re-read the article and you'll see they already do know who they are.
"At least 13 workers were given disciplinary letters -- ranging from construction managers who oversaw the pontoons in Aberdeen to managers of the entire project."
@Tooby Roosday @OrcasThunder That's a news report - from "sources"...If these people are known, give them the chance to have a fair hearing, to prove they should not be let go.Â
Not only because it's the fair thing to do, but because it may provide insight into who was actually responsible - and managed to hide behind the paperwork and their authority.Â
They say they "know" the 13...but who really pulled the strings? These may simply be the 13 who did a bad job of hiding their involvement, there may even be some who were in a position to have to sign what they were told to sign...perhaps we should look for those who did the telling?Â
Wouldn't you want at least that much fairness if your own job performance was questioned? Or...are you one of those who simply bends over when the boss walks by, just in case he/she feels like screwing someone today?
There is a process, let it work.
@OrcasThunder @Tooby RoosdayYes, OT, do tell us how you are all about firing incompetent government workers.  This will be a first.
@Getov Mylon @OrcasThunder @Tooby Roosday Which only illustrates your lack of knowledge about the issue.
Workers that can't produce - or who are unfit to work in the jobs - have been let go...I've seen it happen.
But there are procedures in place that protect both the worker AND the State from unfair actions.Â
In the case where the employee cannot do the job, the first effort is to find a better fit between job and worker - this gives the employee a chance to redeem themselves, and allows the State to see it's initial investment in the person to pay off. Both hiring and firing cost the State money - it is often far more productive to adjust the worker's assignment than to simply let them go - and better off in the long run for both.Â
In these cases, where WSDOT is dealing with finding who was responsible, there needs to be an investigation to determine that. It takes time to actually find out, who actually signed off on the changes AND who may have used leverage to force them.Â
Once that determination is made, the findings should be applied against those who were actually responsible for the bad judgement, not just take a meat cleaver ti the Agency and cut everyone off at the ankles. And there are a number of reasons for doing this...
First, you actually find who is at fault.Â
Second, you avoid throwing out good people with the bad - people who you will need, who will have the experience and knowledge to implement the needs of the State in finding a solution. You can't simply hire someone from the outside who does not understand the process of State contracts - who may even be an industry shill who will make things even worse.Â
Third, the reasons for this procedure is because at times in the past it did not exist, and people were hired and fired at the whim of every small time "boss" who used patronage to staff and run their office. And each boss paid forward to his boss, and you ended up with true corruption all the way up and down the ladder.Â
Do you really want a return to that?Â
Are you really ready to simply fire people who had no say in what was happening, simply to be able to say that you fired people?
Is that the kind of employer you are/would be? Is that what you as an employee want to expect in your own job?Â
There is a process, let it work.
Okay, so now they are spending more taxpayer $$ to slap wrists???
How is that correcting the problems? We are still paying for it.
You are all so silly. Nobody is going to loose their retirement pensions or their jobs. Gregoir is gone. You are all forgetting the bigger picture. I will remind you. As reported by Komo News. The contractor gets billed $10K a day for every day the pontoons leave late from Aberdeen. On the OTHER PROJECT, which is the assembly of the pontoons on Lake Washington. The SAME CONTRACTOR gets PAID $100K a DAY when the pontoons are LATE. THINK ABOUT THAT PEOPLE!!
If I were the contractor making $90K a day, I would be sinking the pontoons in the ocean on their way over. THEY DONT WANT THE PONTOONS DONE!!! It's no wonder they are partying at the construction offices.
Since the outgoing governor stated the there was going to be an investigation into the contracts, there has been nothing more stated about those. WE ARE ALL BEING TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS ON THIS!! This is the kind of BS we get.
I WANT TO SEE KOMO NEWS FOLLOW UP ON THE CONTRACT ISSUES.
I want to see the HEADS OF WASHDOT, our GOVERNMENT, and the ATTORNEY GENERALS on a PIKE!! I want to see them loose their JOBS, their RETIREMENT, and their PENSIONS. They wrote these contracts. They approved the wording and the arrangements. It's not the inspectors, it's these guys for letting this happen.
Again, WE ARE ALL BEING TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS.Â
THESE PEOPLE NEED TO ANSWER TO US!!! THIS IS BS!
Oh no - a LETTER! These poor people. They must be mortified.Â
So what sort of disciplinary actions are these employees going to see?
Oh and I love how Paula Hammond tries to push the blame onto others. She should be one of the ones being disciplined as well!
"When WSDOT announced the results of an internal review of cracking and leaking problems with pontoons destined to hold up the new 520 bridge, the primary focus was on the design by state engineers.Â
And that's where former Secretary Paula Hammond appeared to indicate the promised discipline would fall hardest."
It seems like the state is falling on the sword to protect Kiewit from any wrong doing and taking their share of the blame. The focus has been put on the engineers (who very well may be at fault for some of the mess). But, I remember when this story first broke, it was an inspector who said Kiewit was cutting corners in order to stay on schedule. They were pouring concrete in driving rain and not placing rebar correctly. Those are two gigantic errors when pouring concrete, and i'm not sure why they are being let off the hook.
@JK15 Pouring concrete in the rain always happens in Washington, especially at the WSDOT preferred location in Aberdeen. Those are big pours and all the correct procedures have to be followed. This so called inspector had another agenda which Tracey led us all to believe was true. Remember as was stated in the piece, he was fired and for a reason that was not disclosed as well as did not fight, because he couldn't.
@Selling 'News'Â @JK15
This would be a perfect time to run an expose with this inspector to allow his or her viewpoint, inspection notes, memos, emails, etc. to be presented along with the grounds for this inspectorâs termination and any non-disclosure agreements that may be in force to ensure his or her silence after the termination.I am uncomfortable allowing you the last word written about this inspector.
@Transpopro @Selling 'News' @JK15 All I needed to do was listen to the interview and the questions.
Kinda makes you wonder what is going on in the background... a little grease palming perhaps?
@The WA Mama You are still living in the 19th century or maybe Russia, or just maybe you really are a Husky.