Date:
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Contact:
Lauren Chudecke, WSDOT Communications, 206.440-4788 (Seattle)
Jamie Swift WSDOT Communications, 360.507.1854 (Olympia)
SEATTLE – Freezing fog coupled with dropping temperatures is keeping WSDOT crews on their toes this morning. WSDOT had crews out all night applying anti-icer to state highways, bridges, curves, and ramps.
Our crews have now switched over to a combination of sand and de-icer as they go back over some icy patches in the greater Puget Sound area. Some of the icier areas this morning include:
- SR 900 to I-405
- SR 900 to I-5
- SR 516 to northbound I-5
- SR 518 to SR 99
Traffic engineers have turned off the ramp meters in many areas of King and Snohomish counties to allow drivers more traction as they get on the freeways. Pierce County does not appear to have the same icy conditions as King and Snohomish counties so engineers there have the ramp meters running.
“The good news is that traffic is light this morning due to the holiday week. This means we don’t expect a lot of crowding on the freeway,” said Dave McCormick, WSDOT Regional Administrator for Maintenance and Operations.
We recommend drivers drive carefully this morning. The old rule of leaving a car-length of space between you and the vehicle in front of you certainly applies this morning.
As always, we advise drivers to know before they go by checking our traffic Web page at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or call 511 for up to date road conditions.
###
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
< Back to News Home