Date:
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Contact:
Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, (206) 437-6314 or (206) 440-4788
Lisa Murdock, WSDOT Communications, 360.357.2789
SEATTLE – WSDOT crews are working around the clock clearing snow, applying sand and deicer and responding to blocking incidents. Typical morning volumes are building.
Drivers should expect slick conditions across Western Washington with snow and/or ice on most highways and freeways. WSDOT urges drivers to stay home unless they absolutely need to travel. Here are some of the critical areas at this hour:
King County
- The 320th ramp from northbound I-5 has reopened.
- Three semis have spun out on SR 522 at 160th, the road is completely blocked.
- The worst areas right now in the south end include I-5 and other state routes in Kent, SR 518 to northbound and southbound I-5.
- We are applying extra abrasives to SR 518 between the Airport Drive through the northbound ramp to I-5.
- In Bellevue, ramps leading to I-405 are icy. WSDOT crews recently deiced the mainline in Bellevue.
- I-90 east of Issaquah is tough because the wind is blowing.
- The I-405/SR 522 interchange is getting better. We have trucks and sanders and tow trucks out there to get traffic moving again
Pierce County
- SR 512 was reopened at 6:36 am after extensive sanding.
- The east end of the Tacoma Narrows bridge is slippery with multiple collisions off to the side, but the lanes are open.
- Difficult driving at SR 167 and SR 410, the interchange is icy.
Snohomish County
- The rest areas at Smokey Point on northbound and southbound I-5 are still closed due to power outage.
Whatcom County
- All roads north of Bellingham have compact snow and ice. Conditions are better south of Bellingham.
- Bellingham has low visibility and winds up to 30 miles per hour.
Skagit County
- SR 9 is now completely open.
Jefferson County
- Chains are strongly recommended for semi-trucks on U.S. 101 between the Big Quilcene River (milepost 297) and Bee Mill Road (milepost 303) in the Mt. Walker.
Island County
- Highway 20 south of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island has compact snow and ice. Drivers should watch for downed trees.
Thurston County
- I-5 at the Thurston/Lewis county line has bumper to bumper traffic.
Lewis County
- Southbound I-5 near Chehalis is completely closed at milepost 88 due to numerous collisions and jack-knifed semis. Crews are in the area applying extra abrasives to the road and tow trucks are on route to clear the area.
Clallam County
- SR 117 (Tumwater Truck Road) near Port Angeles remains closed to traffic in both directions until further notice due to snow and ice glaze.
Snoqualmie Pass
- I-90 Snoqualmie Pass - traction tires advised.
Alternate Passes
- US 2 Stevens Pass – Traction tires required. Chains required on vehicles over 10,000 gross vehicle weight.
- US 12 White Pass – traction tires required
- US 97 Blewett Pass – traction tires advised
Interesting facts:
- We are starting to see typical morning commute volumes. This could become a problem if drivers fail to drive for icy conditions.
- WSDOT has turned off the travel times function on the Web site because it cannot accurately reflect traffic in these icy conditions.
- Drivers can expect these conditions to continue into the morning commute as temperatures
- We have more than 100 trucks on the road right now.
What can drivers do?
- If you can, stay at home and wait until driving conditions improve. If you must travel, drive for winter conditions by slowing down and keeping extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you find yourself stranded, be safe and stay in your car, put on your flashers, call for help and wait until it arrives.
- Check the web before you head out to get an accurate picture of conditions. www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/.
- Drivers can call 511 from any phone to get timely updates on the road. If you’re on the road, have a passenger call 511 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
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