Date:
Friday, July 14, 2006
Contact:
Contacts: Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4472 (Seattle)
SEATTLE – The summer construction season continues in full swing. This week, Puget Sound drivers will see new projects starting in South Snohomish County and significant roadwork on the Eastside. WSDOT reminds drivers to know before you go.
New this week
Highway 104: Hood Canal Bridge
WSDOT maintenance crews will work on the Hood Canal Bridge this week. The span will be closed to vehicle traffic for up to 1 ½ hours between 9 p.m., July 18 and 2 a.m., July 19 and again from 9 p.m., July 19 to 2 a.m., July 20. www.hoodcanalbridge.com.
I-90: Express Lanes
The I-90 express lanes will be closed Sunday, July 16 from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. for the Seafair Triathlon. www.seafair.com/
I-5: Downtown Seattle
WSDOT crews will replace lights under the Convention Center and Freeway Park. To do this, they must close three northbound lanes between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15. All traffic will be detoured off the freeway and onto the I-90 collector-distributor lanes. Check the traffic page before you head out: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/
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/
US 2: Stevens Pass
WSDOT contractors break ground on a new Iron Goat Trail interpretive site at the intersection of the Old Cascades Highway and US 2. The new site will have restrooms, parking, and a trailhead. This project was 15 years in the making. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/NorthCentral/projects/IronGoatInterpretive/
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 10 to 7 p.m., Friday, July 21. The road will open July 22 and 23 and close again Monday, July 24 through Friday, August 4. 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 17 through Friday, July 21. Drivers should be prepared for delays. Crews are widening and lowering the highway. www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr543/i5_canadian/
SR 542: Artist Point, Mt. Baker
WSDOT maintenance crews continue to plow the road to off Mount Baker Highway. The road is open up to Heather Meadows and visitors can access the Terminal Lake parking lot. We hope to have the road to Artist Point open by the end of July. www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/about/mbrd.shtml
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/
I-405: Kirkland
Contractors will close all but one lane of southbound I-405 at night on Saturday, July 15 to set girders for the NE 116th Street overpass. We will also close two lanes of southbound and northbound I405 near NE 116th Street each night next week.
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 weekend in Federal Way. During the closure Friday, Saturday and Sunday night 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/S317th_DirectAccess
I-5: Tacoma
One lane of the I-5 to 38th Street and SR 16 ramp closed Wednesday morning, July 12. 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
SR 99: Federal Way
Contractors will begin building new HOV lanes between South 272nd and South 284th streets July 26. www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR99/S284th_S272nd_HOV/
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. Construction should begin July 24. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/CanyonPark/
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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