Date:
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Contact:
Paul Gonseth, WSDOT Project Engineer, (509) 577- 1810
Mike Westbay, WSDOT Communications, (509) 728-4712 (Yakima)
Alissa Bateman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2078 (Vancouver)
WHITE PASS – On Wednesday August 22 only, traffic will be detoured onto Tieton Road from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. while the contractor does controlled blasting near the Rimrock Tunnel (15 miles east of White Pass). The contractor has 12 hours of road closure to complete the days blasting and clearing operation.
The Tieton Road detour, which takes drivers around Lake Rimrock, is a narrow, curvy, two-lane roadway with limited passing opportunities. Drivers should plan additional time to reach their destinations. Delays and back ups are likely to occur. Drivers wanting to cross the Cascade Mountains may find an alternate pass (Chinook Pass, Snoqualmie Pass or Stevens Pass) more appealing.
On Thursday, August 23, through Friday, August 24, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., drivers should be prepared to stop as flaggers direct alternating traffic through one lane in the work zone on US 12 near the Rimrock Tunnel (15 miles east of White Pass). Drivers will experience 20 minute delays during work hours. Both lanes in this location will be open and back to normal two-way traffic for the weekend.
US 12, five miles west of White Pass: Drivers should expect up to 20 minute delays during work hours Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Drivers should be prepared to stop as flaggers direct alternating traffic through one lane in the work zone. Traffic is restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week for the remainder of the project (through the month of September). There is no detour around this location. Alternate routes should be considered.
Drivers seeking to enter Mt. Rainier National Park can do so from the Stevens Canyon Road entrance, just north of US 12 on SR 123. Please be aware that SR 123 is closed from Stevens Canyon Road to the SR 410 junction due to a recent washout of the highway.
WSDOT and the contractor have been working on stabilizing the rock slope on US 12 near White Pass since the second week of July. This work consists of bringing large rocks down from the slope, onto the highway, loading them into trucks and hauling them away from the site. On the slopes above US 12 rock specialists are drilling deep holes, installing long bolts and hanging protective fencing to reduce the risk of rocks falling onto the highway. To learn more about this project, please visit the project web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/US12/WhitePassSlopeStabilization/.
Note to drivers: WSDOT does its best to make work zones safe for the workers and drivers by making work zones visible with orange signs, cones, barrels, electronic messages, amber strobe lights and reflective clothing. Drivers need to do their part to help keep everyone safe on our highways by staying sober, awake, alert, keeping both hands on the wheel, eyes on the roadway, obeying speed limits and directions from flaggers. Please "give 'em a brake" by going slow through the construction zone.
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