WSDOT News

Date:  Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Contact: Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4788 (Seattle)
Lisa Murdock, WSDOT Communications, (360) 357-2789 (Olympia)

SEATTLE - There are a number of trouble spots throughout Western Washington as crews continue to sand, de-ice and plow roads. If you do need to travel, WSDOT urges you to check the routes prior to travel, and be prepared for significant delays.
 
How can motorists find the latest information on the highways they plan to travel?

• Check the web before you head out to get an accurate picture of conditions. www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/ <http://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 <http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather/updates>
• Drivers can call 5-1-1 from any phone to get timely updates on the road.  If you’re on the road, have a passenger call 5-1-1 to get timely updates on the road.  You can also view our traffic page, including mountain pass reports, on your cell phone or PDA’s at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/small

What can drivers do?

• In areas where snow and ice is at its worst, don’t travel if you don’t need to.
• Drive for winter conditions. Driver should slow down and keep extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• If traveling over a mountain pass, carry chains.
• If you find yourself stranded, be safe and stay in your car, put on your flashers, call for help and wait until it arrives. 

What about freezing temperatures and ice on the roadways?

• As with snow, don’t travel if you don’t have to.
• Anti-icer does not work below 25 degrees. The chemicals can prevent or melt anything 25 degrees and over, but not below that.
• Sand does not work when the ice sheet is solid. It just blows off the slick surface.
• Traffic volumes continue to be at their regular high, which prohibits our plows from being able to properly treat the roads.

Here are the current trouble areas:
 
Thurston County

• Southbound I-5 from Maytown to Chehalis is slow from earlier collisions and closures.

Pierce County

• The Tacoma Narrows bridge deck is looking much better.
• An earlier collision (11:15 a.m.) on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (SR 16) partially blocked a lane. The lanes are all open but there are residual backups.

King County

• The ramp from I-405 to SR 181 in Renton is back open.
• Drivers should watch out for patches of ice in shady areas along freeways in King County. Drivers should use caution on I-5 through Lynnwood and on I-405 from Swamp Creek to Kirkland.
• Drivers should watch for icy patches on I-90 near Issaquah.

Snohomish County

• The rest areas at Smokey Point on northbound and southbound I-5 are still closed due to power outage.
• SR 9/SR 522 has been hit hard by icy conditions. Watch for compact snow and ice.
• Eastbound US 2 has compact snow and ice.

Whatcom County

• Chains required on SR 542 (Mt. Baker Highway).
• All roads north of Bellingham have compact snow and ice, with drifting wind gusts. Conditions are better south of Bellingham.
• Bellingham has low visibility and winds up to 30 miles per hour.

Skagit County

• Most roads are bare and wet, but well sanded. It is extremely cold.
• SR 9 MP 33 is now open.
• SR 9 north of Arlington is well-sanded but has compact snow and ice, and is down to one lane of travel in spots.
• SR 20 Sedro-Woolley east to gate at MP 134, SR 9 north of Sedro-Woolley and I-5 corridor from MP 231 to MP 207.7 are all well sanded but have compact snow and ice.

Island County

• Highway 20 south of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island has compact snow and ice.  Drivers should watch for downed trees.

Clallam County

• SR 117 Closed from milepost 0.0 to milepost 1.4 in both directions, known locally as Tumwater Truck Road, in Port Angeles, Clallam County. Heavy accumulations of snow have forced maintenance crews to close the entire 1.5 mile section of roadway in both directions. (This is a 1/2 mile long section in town of PA known as "the truck route" - easy to detour). The closure has been in place since 5:10 a.m., November 27, 2006.

Kitsap County

• SR 3 looks good but motorists should be aware that compact snow and ice is still in place in shady areas near the vicinities of Austin (mileposts 39-40), Clear Crick (milepost 45), the SR 3/SR 308 interchange (mileposts 49-50) , Finn Hill (milepost 52), and the off-ramp from SR 3 to SR 305 ( milepost 13). Additionally, slush and compact snow is visible on the centerline of SR 3 from milepost 353 to the Hood Canal Bridge (milepost 360).

Snoqualmie Pass

• I-90 Snoqualmie Pass - No restrictions

Alternate Passes

• US 2 Stevens Pass - Traction tires advised. Oversized vehicles prohibited..
• US 12 White Pass - traction tires advised. Oversized vehicles prohibited
• US 97 Blewett Pass - no restrictions

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