Date:
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Contact:
Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4472 (Seattle)
Spring is right around the corner and that means WSDOT contractors and crews are springing into high-construction gear. While WSDOT will formally kick off construction season Monday, March 26 at Safeco Field, we aren’t waiting to begin our popular construction week release because the number of significant road closures won’t let us.
New this week
SR 20, North Cascades Highway
WSDOT maintenance crews begin the annual task of clearing the North Cascades Highway for spring. They will begin plowing the greater-than-normal snow pack and expect it to take up to six weeks. Work begins Monday, Mar. 26. They aim to have the pass open mid-May. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Passes/NorthCascades
I-5, Mt. Vernon
WSDOT maintenance crews will close one southbound lane of I-5 and the Kincaid Street on-ramp to remove hazardous trees on Sunday, March 18 and Sunday, March 25. The lane and ramp will be closed from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. We expect congestion to be as long as two miles, and up to an hour delay. Drivers can check conditions by going to www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/mtvernon/I5_CollegeWay_S.htm
SR 99, The Alaskan Way Viaduct
WSDOT maintenance crews will close both decks of the Alaskan Way Viaduct for the bi-annual inspection. The Viaduct will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 24 and Sunday, Mar. 25. Drivers should use alternate routes.
Downtown Seattle Protest
As many as 5000 people are expected in downtown Seattle on Sunday, Mar. 18 at noon and Monday, Mar. 19 at 3:30 p.m. for a protest march. While the march is planned for the downtown core area, drivers should plan for congestion getting on and off of I-5 during these times, especially during the Monday evening commute.
Significant Work Continues This Week
I-5, Everett
WSDOT contractors will close all lanes of I-5 between 41st and Broadway streets March 19-22 to demolish the Cascade View Bridge over I-5. Crews will close southbound I-5 Monday and Tuesday. They will close northbound I-5 Wednesday and Thursday. Detours are in place.
Weather permitting, crews will also close the southbound exit to 41st Street starting at 10 p.m. Friday March 23 through 5 a.m. Monday March 26. Drivers should take the exits to either Everett Ave. or SR 526. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/HOVSR526toUS2/
SR 524 east of SR 9, South Snohomish County
If the weather cooperates, WSDOT contractor crews plan to completely close SR 524 between SR 9 and SR 522 from 10 p.m. Friday, March 23 to 5 a.m. Monday, March 26. During the closure crews will install a new culvert at Whistle Creek, just east of SR 9. Crews will provide a detour. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR9/sr522_212thst.
I-5, Tacoma
WSDOT contractors will be implementing overnight double left-lane closures at night through Mar. 23 in both directions of I-5 through downtown Tacoma for drainage and pavement work. The work is part of the I-5 HOV Improvements – South 48th Street to Pacific Avenue project. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/PierceCountyHOV/I5_HOV_S48th_Pacific/
Looking ahead
I-5, Skagit County
WSDOT invites drivers of big farm equipment, buses, large trucks and emergency vehicles to practice driving a full-scale test roundabout set up at the Bow Hill Weigh Station, southbound I-5, just south of exit 236, Friday, Mar. 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
I-5, Burlington
WSDOT breaks ground on a new $117 million project to widen SR 20 from two to four lanes between I-5 and SR 536 Monday, April 9. This project will be noticeable to drivers who use SR 20 to get to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR20/sr536fredonia/
Whatcom County email alerts
WSDOT debuts the Whatcom County email alert April 2. The alerts, sent straight to email inboxes, will keep Whatcom County drivers up-to-date on local construction projects. To sign up for any of our email alerts, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/EmailUpdates.htm
SR 202 / SR 203 Roundabout
WSDOT breaks ground on the SR 202 / SR 203 roundabout the first week of April. The $4 million project is expected to reduce traffic collisions and improve traffic flow in the fast growing area. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR202/PrestonFallCity_SR203/
Statewide Work Zone Memorial Event
The 2007 Give ‘em A Brake Memorial event will be held at the Olympia Headquarters building and include formal remarks from WSDOT executives, fallen workers’ families and the reading of the 57 names of fallen workers.
What can drivers do?
We may sound like a broken record, but it is important that we remind drivers that there are many ways for them to get information and avoid traffic delays. Drivers should plan ahead, check our real-time traffic map and pay attention to the signs along the way. If you can, consider alternate routes or adjusting your driving schedule to avoid the worst traffic.
Know before you go: visit WSDOT’s Web site
WSDOT offers several ways to get up-to-date traffic and construction information from our Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov before you leave your home or office:
- Traffic map - The color-coded map shows where traffic is heavy and light so you can alter your commute accordingly
- Travel times - Real-time point-to-point travel times
- Traffic cameras - take a look at traffic conditions on a growing number of highway locations throughout the Puget Sound region
- E-mail alerts - Sign up for one of nine e-mail alert lists. You’ll get advance notice of upcoming construction closures delivered right to your inbox
- Construction update report - comprehensive, seven-day advance listing of lane, ramp and road closures
- Project pages -Find your highway and see the long and short-term construction plans
Know on the road
- 511 - This driver information phone line provides real-time traffic, incident and closure information
- Overhead and roadside electronic signs - Emergency and incident alerts and, in some Seattle-area locations during rush hours, point-to-point travel times
- Highway advisory radio - Yellow signs with flashing lights alert drivers to tune into radio frequencies airing construction updates
- Work zones - watch for construction zone signs, barrels, barriers and cones. Slow down and stay alert when driving through construction zones, not just for the construction workers, but also for you and your passengers. Far more motorists are injured in work zone collisions than construction workers.
WSDOT and our contractors are doing our part to stay out of your way and keep traffic moving. We do most of our work at night or on weekends when there are fewer drivers on the highway. We make every effort to limit lane closures and only close lanes when we absolutely have to. We also strive to get in, complete our work quickly, and get out, giving the roads back to drivers as quickly as possible.
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