WSDOT News

Date:  Thursday, June 29, 2006

Contact: Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications,  (206) 440-4472 (Seattle)

SEATTLE –  Drivers in Puget Sound get a short break from the construction intensity this week as we celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. But watch for crews starting up again on July 5 at noon.

New This Week

Washington State Ferry July 4 schedule
The Washington State Ferry system is working hard to make sure customers get to their destinations over the holiday weekend. Check the holiday weekend ferry schedule. www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

July 4th holiday weekend
WSDOT traffic engineers say drivers should plan travel in off-peak times to avoid congestion and delays this weekend.

• Eastbound I-90 / US 2 – avoid Friday afternoon and early evening
• Westbound I-90 / US 2 – avoid Tuesday, July 4 between noon and 8 p.m.
• The record for single-day traffic on I-90 was set on July 7, 2003 with 58,000 vehicles crossing Snoqualmie Pass.
• I-5 express lanes – the lanes will operate on a typical schedule. They will be southbound in the morning and northbound in the evening. The exception: the lanes will open northbound at noon on July 4 and remain open all night until 5 a.m. July 5. This is to accommodate the large crowds leaving downtown Seattle after fireworks displays Tuesday night.

WSDOT crews and contractors will suspend all construction activity from noon, July 3 through noon, July 5. Many contractors will suspend construction activity from noon, June 30 through noon, July 5.

King Street Station, Seattle
Amtrak celebrates the addition of a new mid-day round-trip service from Seattle to Portland.  The inaugural train leaves King Street Station at 11:20 a.m., Saturday, July 1. Train fans are welcome to join in the celebration at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. www.amtrakcascades.com/Seattle2Portland.aspx

SR 530, West of Darrington
Contractors have finished the slide repair work on SR 530 west of Darrington. A massive slide undermined the road and crews moved in under an emergency contract to stabilize the entire hillside. The work is fairly impressive.
Go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR530/Landslide/ to see the pictures and learn more about this work.

I-90, East of Snoqualmie Summit
Slope stabilization work 14 miles east of the summit begins in earnest July 5. Crews have finished building the bypass around the work area. This bypass allows for two continuous lanes of traffic in each direction past the work site. Speeds limits will remain at 65 mph. This Web site has live pictures of the work area.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/southcentral/cameras

SR 123, South of Cayuse Pass
The contractor expects to finish all road repair work south of the pass by 5 p.m., Friday, June 30. This means the pass will be open for the July 4th holiday weekend. The road has been closed since winter by a road washout and rockslide.

Looking Ahead

I-5, Everett – Lynnwood
WSDOT contractors begin work on southbound I-5. Crews will pave 8.5 miles of I-5 including the Swamp Creek interchange. They’ll also lay down a test section of quieter pavement in August when the weather is warmest.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/52ndW_SR526_Safety/

SR 161, Federal Way
A celebration BBQ to mark the completion of the SR 161 widening project is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Friday, July 14. Neighbors are invited to a BBQ as WSDOT engineers and contractor, Tri-State Construction, celebrate finishing the project under budget and ahead of schedule. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR161/Jovita_S360th_Widen/

I-405, Kirkland
Contractors will close during nights the two right southbound lanes of I-405 Saturday July 15 through Monday July 17, and the two right northbound I-405 lanes Monday July 17 through Wednesday July 19, to set girders for the NE 116th Street overpass. The HOV lanes will be open to general traffic. Northeast 116th Street will be closed during nights from Sunday night July 16 Thursday July 20. 
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/KirklandNickelStage1/

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