WSDOT News

Date:  Friday, July 21, 2006

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

SEATTLE –  The summer construction season continues in full swing. In addition to lots of construction, there are many events that could add lots of traffic to roads in Puget Sound. We strongly recommend drivers consider taking the bus or carpooling to these big events. Many local transit agencies are offering free shuttle service.

New this week

SR 542, Artist Point, Mt. Baker
WSDOT maintenance crews continue to plow the road to off Mount Baker Highway. We expect to have the road open to Artist Point next week.
www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/about/mbrd.shtml

I-405, Bothell
WSDOT is working with Sound Transit to build a new pedestrian walkway over I-405 near SR 527 that will connect the Canyon Park park and ride to a new bus stop on the west side of the freeway. Pre-construction work should begin July 26. Watch for a groundbreaking event August 1. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/CanyonPark/

SR 99, Federal Way
Crews begin work Monday, July 24 on a project to build an HOV lane in each direction for carpools, vanpools and buses between S. 284th Street and S 272nd Street on SR 99 in Federal Way.  Drivers can expect intermittent single lane closures as crews prep the area for construction. www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR99/S284th_S272nd_HOV/

I-5, Downtown Seattle
WSDOT crews will replace lights in the tunnel underneath the Convention Center. To do this, we will need to close up to three northbound lanes just south of I-90 between 10 p.m., Friday, July 21 and 7 a.m. Saturday, July 22 and again at 10 p.m. Saturday, July 22 and 7 a.m. Sunday, July 23. Several ramps will also be closed.

Downtown Seattle
Drivers should prepare for increased traffic downtown during the Bite of Seattle at Seattle Center. Officials expect 450,000 people over three days (July 21 – 23). Consider riding the bus to the event: www.biteofseattle.com/get/default.aspx

Downtown Seattle
The Seattle Mariners are in town. Mariners games start at 1:05 on Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23. Consider riding the bus or carpooling to Safeco Field and check our traffic site before you leave: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/

Work continues this week

SR 9, near Sumas, Whatcom County
WSDOT contractors closed a two-mile section of SR 9 near Sumas around the clock from 7 a.m. Monday, July 24 to 7 a.m., Wednesday, August 2. During the closure, crews will pull out the entire road and put down a thicker road that will better handle trucks and severe weather. Crews will provide a signed detour route for drivers. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/NorthWest/News/2006/07/5_SR9Nooksack.htm

SR 543, Blaine Truck Crossing
WSDOT contractors will temporarily close one lane of the truck crossing between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and noon and 5 p.m. Monday, July 24 through Friday, July 28.  Drivers should be prepared for delays.  Crews are widening and lowering the highway.   www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr543/i5_canadian/

I-5, Everett – Lynnwood
WSDOT contractors began work on southbound I-5 Monday, July 10. Crews will repave 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. Watch for nighttime lane closures for the next several months.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/52ndW_SR526_Safety/

I-5, Everett
WSDOT contractors will close several lanes of northbound and southbound I-5 between SR 526 (the Boeing Freeway) and Marine View Drive every night next week. Drivers should also watch for closures on the ramps to and from US 2 and I-5. 
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/HOVSR526toUS2/

SR 202, Redmond
Crews will close eastbound and westbound SR 202 from SR 520 to East Lake Sammamish Parkway Tuesday (July 22) through Thursday (July 27) night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Both directions will not be closed simultaneously. A signed detour will be available to drivers traveling in the direction of the closure. Additionally, access to 185th Avenue NE from SR 202 will be restricted from July 24 until August 31. 
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR202/SR520_Sahalee/

I-405, Kirkland
Expect nighttime lane closures in both directions of I-405 through Kirkland, the northbound on-ramps at the NE 124th Street interchange, and all lanes of NE 116th Street under I-405.  www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/I405/TotemLake and www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/KirklandNickelStage1

I-5, Federal Way
Crews will reduce I-5 to one lane in each direction overnight and close several ramps this week and weekend in Federal Way. During the closure crews will remove the old pavement on the I-5 bridges over SR 18 and S. 336th Street, repair the aging bridge decks and place a smooth layer of pavement on top of the decks.  www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/hovPiercetoTukwila/i5HOV_Pierce_S320th/ConstructionUpdates.htm

I-5, Tacoma
One lane of the I-5 to 38th Street and SR 16 ramp closed Wednesday morning, July 14. The ramp lane closure will last up to three weeks. Drivers will still be able to reach SR 16 and 38th Street, however, WSDOT expects some traffic delays during the three-week lane reduction. www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/piercecountyHOV/I5_HOV_S48th_Pacific/

Looking Ahead

Downtown Bellevue
Drivers should expect congestion near downtown Bellevue during the three days of the Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair (July 29 – 30) Consider carpooling or riding the bus to the event. www.bellevueart.org/craftsfair/index.htm

SR 99, Alaskan Way Viaduct
WSDOT maintenance crews will close both directions of the Alaskan Way Viaduct August 19 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and again August 20 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to inspect the structure. We will make every attempt to open early on Sunday. www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/

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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