Date:
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Contact:
Seattle: Stan Suchan, (206) 440-4698
Spokane: Al Gilson, (509) 324-6015
Tumwater: Lisa Murdock , (360) 357-2789
Vancouver: Sylvia Ross, (360) 905-2058
Wenatchee: Jeff Adamson, (509) 667-2815
Yakima: Mike Westbay, (509) 577-1617
Aviation: Nisha Hanchinamani, (360) 651-6312
Ferries: Susan Harris-Huether, (206) 515-3460
Public Transportation & Rail: Theresa Gren, (360) 705-7989
OLYMPIA – As motorists head down the road for the first major holiday weekend of the summer season, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is also heading into one of the largest highway construction programs in its history. Crews are working hard to ensure that travelers reach their destination in a safe and timely manner this weekend.
Most construction projects around the state will be halted on Friday, May 26, at noon until Tuesday morning, May 30. Although there may not be any active construction, drivers should be prepared for shifted lanes, roadway detours and reduced speed zones in places. Planning a travel route ahead of time can save you time and frustration. WSDOT offers the following information about possible traffic impacts in the state and ways to plan for them:
State Highways
WSDOT’s Incident Response Team (IRT) will be standing ready to assist motorists on major highways and mountain passes, searching for stranded motorists, and responding to incidents blocking roadways. IRT is on-call 24 hours a day and will help motorists with flat tires, dead batteries, overheated engines and other services to keep traffic moving on the road. There will be additional IRT coverage on the weekend and Monday, the Memorial Day holiday. IRT service for US 2 Steven Pass will be available Friday, May 26 and again on Monday, May 29 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The following highways, listed by county, are areas where motorists may encounter delays over the holiday weekend:
Clark County
SR 501 near Smythe Creek Road in Ridgefield: The eastbound lane of State Route (SR) 501 is closed temporarily due to a landslide adjacent to the highway. The westbound lane remains open and a portable traffic signal is being used to direct alternating one-way traffic.
Kittitas/Grant counties
I-90 from Snoqualmie Pass to George: Expect heavy traffic on I-90 approaching the Gorge Amphitheatre during a music festival event on Friday through Sunday, May 26 – 28. Amphitheatre gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Klickitat County
US 97 Biggs Rapids – Sam Hill Bridge: A reduced speed limit of 40 miles per hour and a weight restriction is in effect for vehicles crossing this bridge. Only vehicles weighting less than 40 tons, and a maximum of 8.5 tons per axle, are allowed to use the bridge. Several detours are available, including the US 197 Dalles Bridge and the I-82 Columbia River Bridge.
Skamania County
SR 14, City of Bingen: Construction for a water main and pump station has closed the highway shoulders in places and moved westbound traffic toward the highway centerline. Motorists are advised to use caution through this work zone.
Spokane County
I-90 through Downtown Spokane: The freeway is reduced to two lanes in each direction. Lanes are 10.5 feet wide, with no shoulders. Motorists should be alert for traffic slowdowns and congestion. Several on and off ramps have been closed for construction. Access to the central business district is available via the Maple Street off ramp for eastbound traffic and the Division Street off ramp for westbound traffic. Work is underway 24 hours per day, seven days per week, including holidays.
WSDOT asks motorists to watch for construction crews that are working on the highway and Give ‘Em A Brake.
Mountain Passes
On Snoqualmie Pass, expect heavy traffic westbound on Friday, May 26, from noon to midnight. Heavy traffic is also expected eastbound on Sunday and Monday, May 28 and 29, from noon to midnight each day. During the summer travel season, over 30,000 vehicles cross the pass daily, on average. During holiday weekends, traffic volumes can greatly exceed that average, and Memorial Day is one of the four holiday weekends that typically see the heaviest pass traffic volumes each year. The single-day record for traffic over the pass is 58,000 vehicles, set on July 7, 2003.
Although SR 410, Chinook Pass will open this Thursday, SR 123 within Mount Rainier National Park will remain closed indefinitely due to a road washout and rockslide. The SR 123 closure is for a 10.9-mile segment from just south of the Cayuse Pass (intersection with SR 410) to just north of the intersection with the Stevens Canyon Road. Drivers who normally use SR 123 to get to and from US Highway 12 can use Interstate 5 and SR 7 as alternate routes, or by taking SR 410 east to the intersection with US 12 near Naches. We are working with the park to reopen SR 123 as soon as possible, but cannot provide a firm opening date. WSDOT maintains SR 123 within park boundaries under an agreement with Mount Rainier National Park. Mount Rainier National Park is responsible for planning and funding highway improvements and repairs.
Trains
Amtrak Cascades trains frequently sell out on holiday weekends. 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.
Buses
Most public transit systems will follow a holiday schedule and some transit systems will not operate fixed route or Dial-A-Ride service on Memorial Day. Check with your local transit agency for more information.
Aviation
Fifteen of the 16 state-operated airports are currently open for the season. To check the status of state-operated airports, visit: http://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
Washington State Ferries
WSF is expecting heavy traffic for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, which is traditionally the beginning of summer crowds for the ferry system. The holiday schedule will be in effect on Monday, May 29, on the following routes: Edmonds/Kingston, Mukilteo/Clinton, Seattle/Bainbridge and Point Defiance/Tahlequah. There will be no Seattle/Vashon Passenger Only service on Monday, May 29. On Friday, May 26, there will be an extra sailing from Anacortes to Lopez at 3 p.m. On Monday, May 29, WSF will operate on the "Sunday" sailing schedule, which provides additional service from the San Juan Islands.
Holiday schedules and other ferry information can be found at Washington State Ferries’ Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries, or by calling toll-free at 1-888-808-7977.
Know before you go: visit WSDOT’s website
WSDOT offers several ways to get up-to-date traffic and construction information from our website 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.
Know on the road
- 511 – This driver information touch-tone phone line is generated by real-time traffic data embedded in the roadway. Drives can also get up-to-the-minute traffic incidents.
- Overhead electronic signs – These direct and alert drivers on the road.
- Highway advisory radio – These yellow signs with flashing lights alert drivers to tune into radio frequencies airing construction updates and other roadway information.
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