No beer on the job, floating bridge contractor warned

SEATTLE — Gov. Chris Gregoire and Washington Transportation Department Secretary Paul Hammond issued statements Wednesday reminding the contractor on a new Lake Washington floating bridge not to let office workers drink beer on the job. Gregoire says state policy has been reiterated to Kiewit-General-Manson, and Hammond says the department is taking action to prevent it from happening again. KOMO-TV broke the story Tuesday with hidden cameras showing contractor employees drinking at an office in Bellevue. A crew also recorded workers carrying in boxes of beer and beer in an office refrigerator. Kiewit says an internal investigation is under way and it told The Seattle Times that counselors will hold training sessions to discuss alcohol issues. The contractor is building a new Highway 520 floating bridge under a $587 million contract.