Date:
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Contact:
Meghan Soptich, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4788
SEATTLE – This afternoon crews were out sanding, deicing and plowing with a plan to minimize moisture on roadways in urban areas that could refreeze when temperatures drop. Tonight, crews will be out looking for areas that have iced over.
As drivers hit the roads for the evening commute, they should watch out for patches of black ice on ramps and in shady areas where ice can form. Drivers should slow down, keep extra space between them and the vehicle in front of them and be patient.
How can motorists find the latest information on the highways they plan to travel?
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.
- If you are looking for your abandoned car, call (425) 649-4370 ext. 233.
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.
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.
- There is compact snow and ice left on many of the roads despite continued applications of de-icer.
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 SR 2 has compact snow and ice.
- Many of the roads have begun to dry out, but as temperatures drop they will re-freeze.
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
- Many roads are bare and wet, but well sanded. Many others still have compact snow and ice. It is extremely cold.
- SR 9 at milepost 33 is now open.
- SR 9 north of Arlington is well-sanded but has compact snow and ice, and there are also numerous trees down.
- 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.
Clallam County
- SR 117 had been closed between milepost 0.0 and 1.4 since early Monday morning because of snow and ice. Crews reopened the roadway earlier this afternoon.
- On US 101 heavy snow has downed trees and caused multiple collisions.
Kitsap County
- SR 3 still looks good but motorists should watch for compact snow and ice in shady areas near the vicinities of Austin (mileposts 39-40), Clear Creek (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, drivers will see slush and compact snow on the centerline of SR 3 from milepost 53 to the Hood Canal Bridge (milepost 36).
Lewis County
- The road is wet and slushy in many places. This is likely to turn to ice as the sun goes down.
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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