Date:
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Contact:
Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7080 (Olympia)
Cathy Cooper, WSDOT Special Events (360) 705-7411 (Olympia)
OLYMPIA – Close to 9,000 bicyclists plus support vehicles will be on the road July 14 and 15 and WSDOT advises local drivers to be prepared for possible traffic delays.
Organizers of The Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (STP), a 200-mile ride between Seattle and Portland, increased participation for 2007 and the Cascade Bicycle Club reports they have sold all 9,000 entries. Close to 30 percent will finish the ride in one day, (Saturday, July 14), with the remaining bicyclists slated to stop at the half-way point in Lewis County and complete the trek Sunday, July 15.
WSDOT works with event organizers of special events that take place within the highway right-of-way. STP organizers and WSDOT worked together to build a traffic control plan, with drivers advised to be aware bicyclists will be on the road through the weekend. Bicyclists are expected to follow Washington’s Rules of the Road and ride with traffic.
The following highways (and other secondary roads) are part of the STP route:
SR 181 - West Valley Highway in Kent
SR 7 - near Spanaway
SR 507 - from "Roy Wye" to Centralia
Centralia and Chehalis city streets
County roads (Napavine to Winlock to Vader) SR 506 - Vader area Westside Highway - Vader to Castle Rock area SR 411 - Castle Rock to Longview SR 432 - Longview Industrial area SR 433 - Crossing Lewis and Clark Bridge
Two-day riders will have an escort over the Lewis and Clark Bridge and drivers on SR 432 and nearby city streets can expect delays of up to 45 minutes on Sunday, July 15. One day riders will not have a bridge escort and are expected to ride with traffic.
Cathy Cooper, WSDOT Special Events Coordinator, said it’s a good idea to be prepared and leave yourself extra time in areas such as western Pierce County, Thurston and Lewis counties (on Saturday) and near the Centralia / Longview area (on Sunday). The Cascade Bicycle Club has the 2007 STP route on its website at: www.cascade.org/EandR/stp/STP_Details.cfm.
“STP is an inspiring event with riders from all over Washington and the United States. We urge motorists and bicyclists to share the road and be patient in their travels” Cooper said, adding that WSDOT suggests drivers avoid the STP route during the weekend due possible delays.
WSDOT and the Cascade Bicycle Club are providing traffic control at the following locations to aid cyclists and drivers:
Saturday, July 14:
SR 507 at Clark Street in Yelm (police officers directing traffic) SR 507/Carter St. in Yelm (police officer directing traffic) SR 507/Tenino Trail crossing (police officer directing traffic)
Sunday, July 15:
SR 411/Lexington area (police officer directing traffic near Lexington Park) SR 432/433 near the Lewis and Clark Bridge from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Washington State Patrol and flaggers will stop southbound drivers at 15-minute intervals. Members of the Gold Wing motorcycle club will escort groups of cyclists over the bridge.
To learn more about the requirements for special events on state highways, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/trafficoperations/approvalprocess.htm and www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/trafficoperations/bikepolicy.htm.
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