Date:
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Contact:
Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4472 (Seattle)
SEATTLE – It’s shaping up to be another busy week on Puget Sound highways as WSDOT makes good on its promise to deliver projects during the 2006 construction season. Here are the highlights for the week of May 5 – May 12.
New This Week
Washington State University graduation ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May 6. Drivers may see heavier traffic across the passes.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/
The Seattle Yacht Club celebrates the opening day of boating season. This means the Montlake bridge (SR 513) will be closed to traffic between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, May 6.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/
I-90, Snoqualmie Pass
Contractors will close one eastbound lane of I-90 near Easton from Sunday night (May 7) through Friday morning (May 12) to repair the Kachess River bridge deck.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthCentral/Construction/
Finishing this week
I-5, Shoreline
This project to add a northbound lane between 175th and 205th, wider shoulders, noise walls and repaint the lanes with new, raised plastic material is substantially done, two months ahead of schedule.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/NE175th_NE205th_AuxLane/
Work Continues
SR 527, Mill Creek
We hit the homestretch on this widening project between 132nd and 112th streets. For the next two weeks (May 8 – May 19) contractors will close one lane in each direction every day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to do final paving.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR527/CorridorWiden/132ndSE_112thSE/
SR 16, Tacoma
The 6th Avenue off-ramp will be closed around the clock this weekend (May 5 – May 8) while crews rebuild as part of the SR 16 widening project. This ramp takes drivers to the Pt. Defiance Zoo and the ferry. Plan ahead and use the detour route, Orchard Street.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/PierceCountyHOV/sr16_olympic_union
SR 167, Auburn
Drivers will see a lot of construction activity between 15th Street SW and 15th Street NW this week (May 7 – May 12) as we begin work on the HOV project. Please watch for lane shifts, ramps closures and shoulder work.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/HOV15thSW_15thNW/
SR 516, Covington-Maple Valley
Drivers are experiencing delays through the work zone near 208th Ave NE where contractors are adding turn lanes and bus pullouts. SR 516 is reduced to one lane of alternating traffic. Drivers should consider alternate routes between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR516/208thand209thSE/
What can drivers do?
We may sound like a broken record, but it is important that we remind drivers that there are many ways for them to get information and avoid traffic delays. Drivers should plan ahead, check our real-time traffic map and pay attention to the signs along the way. If you can, consider alternate routes or adjusting your driving schedule to avoid the worst traffic.
Know before you go: visit WSDOT’s Web site
- WSDOT offers several ways to get up-to-date traffic and construction information from our Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov before you leave your home or office:
- Traffic map - The color-coded map shows where traffic is heavy and light so you can alter your commute accordingly
- Travel times - Real-time point-to-point travel times
- Traffic cameras - take a look at traffic conditions on a growing number of highway locations throughout the Puget Sound region
- E-mail alerts - Sign up for one of nine e-mail alert lists. You’ll get advance notice of upcoming construction closures delivered right to your inbox
- Construction update report - comprehensive, seven-day advance listing of lane, ramp and road closures
- Project pages -Find your highway and see the long and short-term construction plans
Know on the road
- 511 - This driver information phone line provides real-time traffic, incident and closure information
- Overhead and roadside electronic signs - Emergency and incident alerts and, in some Seattle-area locations during rush hours, point-to-point travel times
- Highway advisory radio - Yellow signs with flashing lights alert drivers to tune into radio frequencies airing construction updates
- Work zones - watch for construction zone signs, barrels, barriers and cones. Slow down and stay alert when driving through construction zones, not just for the construction workers, but also for you and your passengers. Far more motorists are injured in work zone collisions than construction workers.
WSDOT and our contractors are doing our part to stay out of your way and keep traffic moving. We do most of our work at night or on weekends when there are fewer drivers on the highway. We make every effort to limit lane closures and only close lanes when we absolutely have to. We also strive to get in, complete our work quickly, and get out, giving the roads back to drivers as quickly as possible.
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