Date:
Friday, December 15, 2006
Contact:
Patricia Michaud, WSDOT Communications 206-440-4788 (Seattle)
WSDOT on-call pager 206-437-6314 (Seattle)
OLYMPIA - The winds have receded and road conditions have stabilized in the greater Puget Sound area. Crews worked overnight and throughout the day to help re-open routes on more than 30 state highways and three major bridges. They will continue to repair downed signs, restart signals and clear fallen trees on a handful of problem areas. In the areas with a forecast for ice, crews will work again tonight to treat the roads.
The SR 520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge opened earlier this afternoon following minor repairs. Power outages across the state continue to affect our Internet traffic flow maps, ramp meters, travel times, electronic highway message boards, and 511 Traveler Information System.
Grays Harbor County
U.S. 12 in Elma (milepost 14)
Trees have been cleared from the highway and lanes are open, however crews will be on site repairing damaged guardrail.
King County
SR 520 EVERGREEN POINT BRIDGE IS OPEN TO TRAFFIC
Crews re-opened the Evergreen Point Bridge on Friday, December 15 at 1:30 p.m. It was closed Thursday evening at 10:05 p.m. due to high winds. When crews opened the drawspan of the SR 520 Bridge on Thursday, three of the hooks that connect the spans were sheared off by wave action. This is not unusual and is easily repaired. When winds decreased crews started repair work and scanning the bridge for damage.
US 2 just west of Proctor Creek, MP 49
All eastbound lanes blocked due to debris in roadway.
Klickitat County
SR 141 near Trout Lake (milepost 20-24)
SR 141 is blocked by trees and power lines between milepost 20 and 24.
Mason County
SR 302 in Mason County (milepost 2.5)
Downed power lines are blocking eastbound and westbound lanes of SR 302 about 2.5 miles west of SR 16 in Mason County.
Pacific County
SR 105 near North Cove
One lane of SR 105 near North Cove (milepost 23) is closed. Power lines are covering the lane that is closed. Signs are in place alerting motorists to the lane closure.
Skagit County
SR 20 - Farm to Market Road
The signal is out at the intersection of Farm to Market Road and SR 20, which is between Burlington and Anacortes. Drivers should treat intersections with power outages like a four-way stop.
Snohomish County
SR 9 near Bryant
One lane of SR 9 is now open at Pilchuck Creek Bridge. Drivers should use extreme caution. Watch for downed power lines and trees.
US 2 just west of Proctor Creek, MP 49
All eastbound lanes are blocked due to debris in roadway. There is a detour route through Skykomish.
Other travel information
Between Seattle/Bellingham and Seattle/Vancouver, B.C.
Trains 510 , 516, and 517 are on normal schedule.
All Amtrak Cascades train service between Seattle and Portland is cancelled for today, December 15 . Alternative transportation will be provided. Service between Portland and Eugene is operating on normal schedules.
Amtrak Cascades service between Seattle and Portland is scheduled to resume tomorrow, December 16.
The 5-1-1 highway information hotline is available and WSDOT advises people to keep trying if they receive a busy signal.
For general traveler information, visit WSDOT’s traveler web site at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/
Mountain pass reports are on the WSDOT web site at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes
Weather and traffic conditions are changing rapidly, for the most up-to-the-minute highway status, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather/updates.
< Back to News Home