Date:
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Contact:
Myly Posse, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4700 (Seattle)
Lisa Murdock, WSDOT Communications, (360) 357-2789 (Olympia)
SEATTLE - Although most roads in Puget Sound are bare and wet with slush in places, Whatcom County roads are still a challenge for drivers due to patches of compact snow and ice. Temperatures in Bellingham are hovering around 30 degrees, but the forecast is for rising temperatures later today. In the interim, WSDOT is sending extra crews north to help with plowing and sanding operations in Whatcom County.
WSDOT asks drivers to:
Use caution when driving through slush
Drivers heading over the passes should expect compact snow and ice
Know before you go, check your route, call 5-1-1
These are the current trouble spots:
Whatcom County
- Expect compact snow and ice on highways from Bellingham to the Canadian border; ice and slush in places from Bellingham to Burlington.
- Chains are required by the ski area on SR 542 (Mt. Baker Highway) except on all wheel drive vehicles
- We've had 12 trucks working through the night and added 6 more at 4 a.m. this morning.
Skagit County
- SR 9 has compact snow and ice with slush in places.
- SR 20 has slush in places from Clinton to Oak Harbor, Oak Harbor to Sharpes Corner, and compact snow and ice with slush in places from Woolley to Marblemount
- We have 15 trucks and 24 people working 12-hour shifts in this area.
Snohomish County
- Expect slush in places on US 2 from SR 9 to Monroe
- Expect slush in places on SR 9 from SR 522 to Snohomish
- Expect slush in places on SR 522 from Woodinville to Monroe.
- SR 530 has compact snow and ice with slush in places from Arlington to Darrington.
King County
- There are icy patches on SR 410 from Greenwater to Crystal Mountain Blvd.
- Watch for areas of snow and ice on I-90 east of SR 18, and on SR 202
Pierce County
- Crews have been working split shifts since Sunday night. We will continue this schedule through the morning. The “Winter Night Patrol” is now in effect for the Tacoma area until February/March.
Lewis County
- We had 22 people working overnight and mechanics on-call for equipment.
Jefferson County
- The night crew of 11 people began their shift at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night.
Thurston County
- Crews have been working split shifts since Sunday night. We will continue this schedule through the morning.
- The night crew of 22 people began a new shift at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night
Clark County
- Chains are required on SR 14 in the Cape Horn area east of milepost 21 due to freezing rain and ice on the roadways.
Clallam County
- We have been on our winter storm schedule since Monday morning and plan on staying on this schedule through Friday. The night crew of 11 people began their shift at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night.
Kitsap County
- We have about 15 people working in 12 hour shifts.
Mason County
- We have about 15 people working in 12 hour shifts.
Snoqualmie Pass
- Second round of avalanche control work concluded at 9 a.m.. Eastbound traffic was stopped at Denny Creek, six miles west of the summit. Compact snow, ice in places. Traction tires required. Chains required on vehicles over 10,000 gross vehicle weight. Oversized vehicles are prohibited.
Alternate Passes
- US 2 Stevens Pass - Compact snow and ice on the roadway. Traction tires advised. Oversized vehicles prohibited.
- US 12 White Pass - Compact snow and ice. Traction Tires Required. Chains required on vehicles over 10,000 gross vehicle weight. Oversized vehicles prohibited.
- US 97 Blewett Pass - Compact snow and ice. Traction tires advised. Oversized vehicles are prohibited.
What can drivers do?
- 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 at www.wsdot.wa.gov/small.
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.
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Drivers can now get real time traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. This new traveler information system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that managed 4.6 million calls each year. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction, mountain pass condition, and state ferry system information, as well as toll free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.
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