Date:
Friday, December 16, 2005
Contact:
Olympia: Fred Chang, (360) 705-7078
Seattle: Stan Suchan, (206) 440-4698
Spokane: Al Gilson, (509) 324-6015
Tumwater: Nick Dawson, (360) 357-2716
Vancouver: Sylvia Ross, (360) 905-2058
Wenatchee: Jeff Adamson, (360) 667-2815
Yakima: Mike Westbay, (509) 577-1617
Aviation: Nisha Hanchinamani, (360) 651-6312
Washington State Ferries: Susan Harris-Huether, (206) 515-3460
Public Transportation and Rail: Theresa Gren, (360) 705-7904
OLYMPIA – With winter conditions already in place in several locations, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) would like to remind motorists to check for the latest road and weather conditions before setting out on their holiday travels over the next two weekends. Call 511 or check the traffic and road conditions at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic.
WSDOT has several additional sources of traveler information:
Mountain Passes
The following mountain passes are closed due to seasonal high-avalanche risk. The passes are not expected to open until April or May of 2006. For updates on Washington State’s mountain pass highways dial 5-1-1. Online pass reports, including video snapshots, are available at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/
- North Cascades Highway (SR 20) - Closed from seven miles east of Diablo Dam (milepost 134) on the west side of Rainy Pass to nine miles west of Mazama (milepost 171) on the east side of Washington Pass.
- Cayuse Pass (SR 410/123) - Cayuse Pass is located at the junction of SR 410 and SR 123. North of the summit, SR 410 is closed from south of Crystal Mountain Blvd. at the Mount Rainier National Park boundary. South of the pass summit, SR 123 is closed at Steven Canyon Road. Access to the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort from SR 410 remains open.
- Chinook Pass (SR410) - Closed from the intersection of SR 123 (west of the pass) to Morse Creek, east of the summit (east of the pass).
State Highways
Most WSDOT construction projects are winding down for the season. To accommodate travelers, construction activities on active projects will not occur between noon Friday, December 23 and Tuesday morning, December 27; and again between noon on Friday, December 30 and Tuesday morning, January 3, 2006.
WSDOT and the Washington State Patrol (WSP) will work together to help motorists reach their destinations safely and efficiently over the holiday weekend. WSDOT’s Incident Response teams (IRT) are on call 24/7 to provide traffic control, detours and clean-up at major incidents. IRT also travel major highways during peak traffic hours looking for travelers needing assistance.
Motorists may encounter delays over the holiday weekends at the following highways:
- I-5 at Mt. Vernon (Skagit County) - Vehicles over 15.5 feet high are restricted beneath the 2nd Street Bridge on I-5.
- I-5 in Tacoma (Pierce County) - The ramp from South 38th Street to northbound I-5 will be closed through summer 2006.
- SR 504 East of Coldwater Lake (Cowlitz County) - This section of highway closed December 2nd due to snow and ice conditions and the possibility of avalanches. It will reopen in the spring when no more significant snowfall will occur.
- I-5 in Vancouver (Clark County) - Between NE 99th Street (Exit 5) and the I-205 merge, lanes in both directions are narrowed to allow interstate widening and bridge replacement. A 50 mph speed reduction is in place.
- I-5 in Vancouver (Clark County) - On Friday, December 23rd, there will be intermittent flagging between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the NE 134th Street on ramp to southbound I-5 for trucks entering and exiting construction work zone.
- SR 20 near Newhalem (Whatcom County) - There are single lane closures with a signal at the Falls Creek rock slide ditch.
Private Aircraft Travel
Ten of the 16 state-operated airports are currently closed for the season. They are expected to remain closed until Spring 2006. To check the status of state-operated airports, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/airports/Amenities.htm or call 1.800.552.0666.
WSDOT Aviation encourages pilots to check with their local Flight Service Station for current Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) and temporary flight restriction (TFR) status before each flight. To contact the Flight Service Station, please call 1.800.WX.BRIEF.
TFR information is available at: airspace.nifc.gov/mapping/nifc/index.cfm.
Rail/Public Transportation
Amtrak Cascades trains frequently sell out over the holidays. Be sure to purchase your tickets well in advance and arrive early at the station for your departure. For more information, visit www.AmtrakCascades.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.
Many transit systems will not operate regular, express, or Dial-A-Ride bus service on Christmas Day, Sunday December 25, 2005 or New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2006. Others will operate on a limited Holiday schedule. Some transit systems may shut down early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and most transit systems will operate on modified schedules on Monday, December 26, 2005 and January 2, 2006.
- Christmas Day - Sunday, December 25, 2005: Sound Transit Express and Tacoma Link will operate on a Sunday schedule, Sounder Commuter Rail will not operate, and many transit systems will not operate bus service or will operate on a Holiday schedule.
- Day after Christmas - Monday, December 26, 2005: ST Express and Tacoma Link will operate on a Sunday schedule, Sounder will not operate, and many transit systems will operate a Holiday schedule.
- New Year's Day - Sunday, January 1, 2006: ST Express and Tacoma Link will operate on a Sunday schedule, Sounder Commuter Rail will not operate, and many transit systems will not operate any bus service or will operate on a Holiday schedule.
- New Year's Day (Observed) - Monday, January 2, 2006: ST Express and Tacoma Link will operate on a Sunday schedule, Sounder Commuter Rail will not operate, and many transit systems will operate a limited Holiday schedule.
For specific information about routes and schedules, please contact your local transit system.
Washington State Ferries
Since both Christmas Day and New Years’ Day fall on Sundays, customers traveling for the holidays need only know that Washington State Ferries will be observing the holiday on December 26 and January 2.
For information on specific route schedules over the winter holidays, please refer to: www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/commuter_updates/
For more ferry information visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/
What Motorists Can Do to Promote Safe Winter Travel
WSDOT encourages motorists to prepare for safe winter travel. Winter driving safety improves when motorists:
- Allow extra travel time.
Know the current road conditions - call 511 or visit WSDOT’s traveler website: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/
- Be prepared. Fill the gas tank, and check the levels of other fluids such as windshield washer fluid, anti-freeze and motor oil. Check tires, lights, car battery and wiper blades. Check cell phones.
- Carry water, food, blankets, first aid kits, medications, jumper cables, cat litter or sand, a shovel, ice scraper, warm clothes, flashlights and extra batteries.
- Listen to radio reports for advisory information. Tune radio to 530 AM or 1610 AM for roadway conditions.
- Wear seat belts and make sure all passengers also “buckle up.”
For more safe winter driving tips, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/
511 Travel Information
Real-time traffic and weather information is available by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. The new system builds upon the Washington State Highway hotline that now manages 4.6 million calls each year. Updated every few minutes, 511 provides callers with a variety of information:
- Puget Sound traffic conditions
- Statewide construction impacts
- Incident information
- Mountain pass conditions
- State's ferry system information
- 800 numbers for passenger rail and airlines
- Weather
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