Date:
Monday, December 18, 2006
Contact:
Mike Westbay, Communications Manager, office: (509) 577-1617 (Yakima)
cell: (509) 728-4712
YAKIMA - On I-90, between Ellensburg and Elk Heights, WSDOT maintenance crews are currently experiencing great difficulty in getting the highway back to a bare and dry condition due to the extremely cold temperatures. Deicers don't work as well in temperatures below 20 degrees. The temperature in the Ellensburg area has been below 12 degrees for over 24 hours.
Drivers are having difficulty making the adjustment for the change in weather and highway condition. There have been several spin outs and vehicles going off the road. "People need to know that when they enter the Kittitas Valley, especially westbound between Ellensburg and Elk Heights, there is compact snow and ice on the highway and they need to slow down through that area." said Casey McGill Assistant Regional Administrator for Maintenance and Operations.
What WSDOT is doing:
· WSDOT offers several ways to get up-to-date traffic information before you leave your home or office from our Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov.
· On a new, updated winter website, www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter, drivers can find links to all kinds of winter driving-related information including preparing a vehicle for winter driving, a list of winter emergency kit items, safe driving tips and information on mountain pass travel advisories.
· Drivers can access WSDOT’s mountain pass report line information via the Web at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes.
· Also new this year, drivers with web service on their cellular phones and PDAs can access small-screen I-90 pass updates at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/small by clicking on the "mountain pass reports" link.
What drivers can do:
· “Drivers need to be cautious when there is compact snow and ice and sometimes
driving at posted speed limits is too fast for the roadway conditions,” said Sgt.
Ed McAvoy with the Washington State Patrol.
· Drive slower during traction advisories
· Call 511 for current traffic and weather information
· Tune to highway advisory radio messages on AM 530 and AM 1610
· Prepare for winter driving conditions
· Allow more time to travel
· Fill the gas tank
· Check fluid levels - antifreeze - windshield washer fluid - motor oil
· Check tire pressure - lights - battery and wiper blades
· Make sure your cell phone battery is fully charged
· Take warm clothes and a blankets so you can turn the car off and still stay warm
· Carry food and water in case you get delayed in a remote area
· During traction advisories - don't use cruise control - don't use the overdrive·
setting on an automatic transmission these give you less control and take
longer to slow down.
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