Date:
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Contact:
Contacts: Meghan Soptich, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4788.
SEATTLE – WSDOT crews are out sanding, deicing and plowing this evening with a big assist from drivers. Although temperatures are dropping across Puget Sound, drivers are helping to minimize the number of collisions that cause backups and prevent crews from getting to the trouble spots. This afternoon WSDOT crews worked to minimize moisture on roadways in urban areas that were in danger of refreezing when temperatures drop. Tonight, crews are out looking for areas that have iced over.
As more 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?
- 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 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.
- 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.
- When traffic volumes are at normal levels it prohibits our plows from being able to properly treat the roads.
Here are the current trouble areas:
Whatcom County
- ***NEW as of 5:50 p.m.*** Both directions of SR 539 (Guide Meridian) near Linden is closed at SR 546 due to a disabled semi. The highway could stay closed for several hours.
- Chains are 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.
Thurston County
- Southbound I-5 from Maytown to Chehalis is still slow from earlier collisions and closures.
Pierce County
- Conditions on the Tacoma Narrows bridge deck are much better.
King County
- 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.
- Despite continued applications of deicer, compact snow and ice remains on many of the roads and could get more slick as temperatures drop.
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.
Skagit County
- Many roads are bare and wet, but well sanded. Many others still have compact snow and ice. It is extremely cold and getting colder.
- SR 9 north of Arlington is well sanded, but has compact snow and ice, and there are also numerous trees down.
- SR 20 from Sedro-Woolley east to the gate at MP 134, SR 9 north of Sedro-Woolley and the I-5 corridor from MP 231 to MP 207.7 are all well sanded, but have compact snow and ice.
Clallam County
- SR 117 between milepost 0.0 and 1.4 reopened early Tuesday afternoon.
- On US 101 heavy snow has downed trees and caused multiple collisions.
Kitsap County
- SR 3 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
- I-5 is bare and wet, traffic is going by at a slower than usual pace, but smoothly.
- US 12 and SR 6 are mostly wet with slush in some higher elevations.
- SR 508 bare and wet with some compact snow in places.
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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