Date:
Monday, November 27, 2006
Contact:
Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4472 (Seattle)
SEATTLE - Washington State Department of Transportation crews have been working non-stop for the past two days clearing ice and snow in the lowlands and heading up to the passes to assist in road clearing there. We have 190 vehicles in Western Washington working this storm.
Here are some of the critical areas at this hour:
Whatcom County
- White out conditions in the northeast part of the county (Lynden to Sumas). Visibility is at zero on the Guide Meridian (SR 539) and Badger Road (SR 546) and parts of Highway 9 near Sumas.
- Many roads north of SR 20 have compact snow and ice.
- I-5 south of Bellingham is now clear.
- I-5 between Bellingham and the border still has compact now and ice on the roadway.
- WSDOT crews are working to clear the compact snow and ice from the road.
Skagit County
- WSDOT is preparing to close SR 534 due to downed trees from Conway to McMurray.
- The squall hovering over Whidbey Island is headed toward Mt. Vernon where it is snowing very hard right now.
- Highway 9 is still closed between SR 534 and Bryant Road due to falling trees since 5 am. This five mile section will reopen when WSDOT crews determine it is safe.
- The new forecast is predicting heavy snow, up to 10 inches, this afternoon and evening in Skagit County.
Snohomish County
- It is starting to snow again in east Snohomish County
- WSDOT crews have completed work on primary routes, they are now working on smaller state highways.
King County
- WSDOT maintenance crews have finished their work on the I-5 express lanes. The lanes are now open in the northbound direction.
- The forecast is changing and the snow set to hit King County is likely to move north into Snohomish County now.
Pierce County
Thurston County
Clallam County
- It is snowing hard in Port Angeles and from Forks to Sequim.
- SR 112 is closed from milepost 23.0 to milepost 61.0 in both directions, between the SR 113 interchange near the community of Pysht and the U.S. 101 interchange near Port Angeles, in Clallam County. Crews have cleared the heavy snow but power lines and debris are still littering the road.
- SR 117, known locally as Tumwater Truck Road, is closed from milepost 0.0 to milepost 1.4 in both directions due to downed power lines. When the lines are cleared, we will reopen the roadway.
Snoqualmie Pass
- I-90 Snoqualmie Pass - traction tires are advised.
Alternate Passes
- US 2 Stevens Pass – traction tires required eastbound, traction tires required westbound, all vehicles over 10,000 gross vehicle weight must use chains.
- US 12 White Pass – traction tires advised
- US 97 Blewett Pass – traction tires advised
Interesting facts:
- Drivers flocked to WSDOT’s mountain pass Web pages over the holiday weekend. On Wednesday, Nov .15, the Snoqualmie Pass Web page had 51,000 page views. On Wednesday, Nov. 22, the same page has 121,000 page views, an increase of 137%
- We expect showers in the lowlands tonight and temperatures will drop. It is likely King and Snohomish counties will see black ice in the morning.
- WSDOT has more than 190 trucks on the road in greater Puget Sound working this storm. Equipment includes snow plows, sanders, dump trucks, graders and deicers.
- We have more than 250 people working the roads.
What can drivers do?
- Drive for winter conditions. Driver should slow down and keep extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Check the web before you head out to get an accurate picture of conditions. www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/
- Drivers can go to our Highway Weather Update web page for the most updated information on all roads across Washington State: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather/updates
- Drivers can call 511 from any phone to get timely updates on the road.
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