Date:
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Contact:
Melanie Coon, WSDOT Communications, (360) 507-4242
OLYMPIA –Washington State Department of Transportation crews have been working non-stop for almost three days clearing ice and snow in the western half of our state from Bellingham to Vancouver. They are still going strong.
WSDOT brought in as many as 19 additional trucks from central and eastern Washington to help clear snow, fight ice and improve traction. More than 220 vehicles worked overnight plowing snow and treating trouble spots.
Crews were also out pre-treating roadways in anticipation of more ice and snow focusing particularly on ramps, overpasses and bridges. In the past three days, WSDOT crews have treated at least 22,000 lane miles of highway in western Washington, nearly enough to circle the globe. WSDOT considers a lane mile to be 12 feet wide by one mile long.
Crews were out all over western Washington, but focused on a few stubborn areas, including:
I-90 between Bellevue and Issaquah
SR 18 near the Peasley Canyon Road
SR 16 between I-5 and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
SR 101 on the Kitsap Peninsula
SR 512 on the South Hill near Puyallup
An intense system of snow formed over Snohomish County, moving south into the Seattle/Bellevue metro area right in the heart of the evening commute Wednesday, coating roads with snow and ice and presenting its own set of traffic challenges.
The snow fell fast and hard in some areas, lessening the effect of some anti-icing efforts earlier in the day by our maintenance crews. Interstate 90 between Bellevue and Issaquah and SR 18 near Peasley Canyon were areas where spin outs and disabled vehicles littered the roadway, often catching our plow trucks in the back ups. Other trouble spots included SR 16 between I-5 and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
Crews pre-treated these areas; however, the large amount of snowfall diluted the solution before crews could treat the roadway for a second time. We also had more snow over a longer period of time.
Our efforts to pre-treat the roads before the storm paid off in other areas. The entire I-5 corridor between Everett and Tacoma performed relatively well, with traffic moving slowly but steady in both directions.
Traffic on the SR 520 Bridge recovered quickly after WSDOT Incident Response Team towed a Metro bus out of the westbound lanes. We towed at least three busses during the evening commute. Maintenance crews reacted quickly after a vehicle hit a median barrier blocking traffic. Our crews quickly moved the barrier out of the way and resumed plowing and sanding.
Crews were able to stay ahead of well known trouble spots by stockpiling material close to these areas in advance, avoiding long trips to restock supplies.
The moisture on the roads will turn to ice when temperatures drop below freezing. Drivers will be facing another risky commute Thursday morning.
What can drivers do?
* Drive for winter conditions. Driver should slow down and keep extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
* Check the web before you head out to get an accurate picture of conditions. www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/
* Drivers can go to our Highway Weather Update web page for the most updated information on all roads across Washington State: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather/updates
* Drivers can call 511 from any phone to get timely updates on the road.
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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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