Date:
Friday, November 17, 2006
Contact:
Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7080 (Olympia)
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 Marvel, (360) 651-6312
Ferries: Susan Harris-Huether, (206) 515-3460
Public Transportation & Rail: Theresa Gren, (360) 705-7904
OLYMPIA – The WSDOT website has new tools to help drivers navigate Thanksgiving weekend, one the busiest travel weekends of the year. Most construction projects will stop all activity Wednesday, Nov. 22 through Monday, Nov. 27 and WSDOT reminds drivers to plan ahead and drive appropriately for conditions.
WSDOT also encourages drivers to take a few extra minutes and check traffic information if traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass is the most traveled mountain pass in the State of Washington. On average, nearly 30,000 vehicles per day use I-90 Snoqualmie Pass to cross the Cascade Mountains. On previous holiday weekends, as many as 58,000 vehicles per day have crossed the pass. Drivers can expect delays and the length of those delays depend on what day and time they travel. To help plan your Thanksgiving Weekend travel, WSDOT has charted the typical traffic pattern based on historical data. Drivers can see when the peak travel days and times have been and can make informed decisions on when they should travel to avoid long delays. The information was available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/thanksgiving (outdated link).
Snohomish Shopping
Washington State Patrol and WSDOT have teamed up to provide information about holiday travel in the Snohomish County area. The information is available at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/Snohomish/Holidaytraffic.htm
Know Before you Go/Travel Information
WSDOT would like to remind motorists to check for the latest road and weather conditions before setting out on their trip. Check out the traffic and roads at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic. The WSDOT Web site serves up an average of four million page views per day and popularity increases during heavy travel and storm events. The record highest was 12 million page views in one day during a statewide snow storm on January 6, 2004.
Drivers can also get traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction, mountain pass condition, and state ferry system information, as well as toll free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.
State Highways
The deluge of rain and high water caused closures on sections of nearly 20 state highways in Western Washington. WSDOT crews have been battling the water non-stop since Nov. 6.
WSDOT will provide frequent updates to www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather/updates as conditions change.
Most construction activities will stop between noon Wednesday, November 22, and Monday morning, November 27, to accommodate travelers and WSDOT’s Incident Response Trucks (IRT) will be out clearing road and helping drivers.
WSDOT and the Washington State Patrol (WSP) will work together to help motorists reach their destinations safely and efficiently over the holiday weekend. WSDOT’s IRT are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide traffic control, detours and clean-up at major incidents. IRT also travel major highways during peak traffic hours looking for travelers needing assistance.
Mountain Pass Season Closures
North Cascades Highway
SR 20 is closed for the season from milepost 134 to milepost 170. WSDOT expects more traffic than usual on US 2 Stevens Pass due to the opening of Stevens Pass and Mission Ridge Ski Area operations and the Closure of SR 20 - North Cascades Highway.
Cayuse Pass
SR 123 Cayuse Pass is closed for the season from the junction of US 12 to SR 410 (milepost 5.42 to 16.8). Mount Rainier National Park crews closed SR 123 due to roads washed out.
Chinook Pass
Avalanche hazards are so great that it is no longer safe to clear the highway. SR 410 Chinook Pass will open again in the Spring of 2007. Eastbound SR 410 is closed at the Mt. Rainier National Park gate 2 miles east of Crystal Mt. Blvd. Westbound SR 410 is closed at the Morse Creek gate 5.5 miles east Chinook Pass summit.
Rail/Public Transportation
Amtrak Cascades is adding extra trains to accommodate passengers during the busiest travel time of the year. Be sure to purchase your tickets well in advance and arrive early at the station for your departure. For more information, call 1-800-USA-RAIL or visit http://www.amtrakcascades.com/
On Thanksgiving, transit systems will follow a holiday schedule or will not operate fixed route and Dial-A-Ride services. On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, many transit systems will operate on a limited schedule. Please contact your local transit agency for more information.
Private Aircraft Travel
Ten of the 16 state-operated airports are currently closed for the season. They are expected to remain closed until Spring 2007. To check the status of state-operated airports, visit: 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 www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/airports/Amenities.htm
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries will add extra service on several popular routes this Thanksgiving so that families can celebrate the holiday together. For more ferry information and the planned extra routes, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
What Motorists Can Do
WSDOT encourages motorists to prepare for safe winter travel. Winter driving safety improves when motorists:
- Allow extra travel time.
- Know the current road conditions - call 5-1-1 or visit WSDOT’s traveler website www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/
- Be prepared. Fill the gas tank, and check the levels of other fluids such as windshield washer fluid, anti-freeze and motor oil. Check tires, lights, car battery and wiper blades. Check cell phones.
- Carry water, food, blankets, first aid kits, medications, jumper cables, cat litter or sand, a shovel, ice scraper, warm clothes, flashlights and extra batteries.
- Listen to radio reports for advisory information. Tune radio to 530 AM or 1610 AM for roadway conditions.
- Wear seat belts and make sure all passengers also “buckle up.”
For more safe winter driving tips, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter.
< Back to News Home