Date:
Monday, November 26, 2007
Contact:
Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7080
OLYMPIA – Urban drivers endured their fair share of the holiday stop-and-go while cross-state travel flowed smooth on the busiest travel weekend of the year.
WSDOT posted information on typical cross-state holiday travel on its Web site and drivers adjusted to travel early or late, plus more drivers traveled Friday and Saturday. This combination, along with mild weather conditions and few traffic incidents kept traffic moving across the state.
Local, urban highways faced the typical holiday and post-holiday crawl, although most drivers kept moving. A lack of major traffic incidents and WSDOT Incident Response Team drivers helping clear breakdowns and minor collisions kept the roads clear and drivers safe.
Facing its first surge of holiday travelers, SR 16 in the vicinity of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll plaza had significant eastbound traffic slowdowns and backups late Thanksgiving Day. This was created by a high volume of holiday travelers, coupled with long waits at the Bremerton Ferry terminal resulting in travelers choosing to take the bridge rather than waiting for the ferry.
In preparation for the holiday weekend, WSDOT worked with its toll operator Transcore to ensure that all manual lanes would be fully staffed throughout the weekend. Backups started around 5 p.m. and continued through 10 p.m. During this time, variable message signing indicating "congestions ahead" was activated by WSDOT.
Even with full staffing and all lanes open, the system was overwhelmed by the high number of infrequent bridge travelers. Bridge users are warned to plan ahead for holiday slowdowns in December and those with Good To Go! accounts are urged to use the 24th Street on-ramp that bypasses the toll booth plaza.
The mild weather we had over the holiday weekend may change as weather reports indicate lower temperatures and possible snow across the state this week. WSDOT maintenance supervisors will monitor weather reports and call out additional personnel and extra plow trucks with anti-icers if forecasts call for ice or snow conditions. WSDOT Traffic Management Center (TMC) operators monitor Washington State Patrol reports, weather reports and traffic cameras, dispatching crews accordingly.
Most of the heavy snowfall will be in Eastern Washington and the higher elevations across the state, but all drivers are encouraged prepare for winter driving conditions. Motorists are advised to slow down, drive for conditions and prepare their car for winter travel. Remember, ice and snow, take it slow.
Know Before You Go:
• On WSDOT’s updated winter Web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter, drivers can find links to all kinds of winter driving-related information including preparing a vehicle for winter driving, a list of winter emergency kit items, safe driving tips and information on mountain pass travel advisories.
• 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.
• At www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather drivers can look at weather forecasts and road temperatures throughout the state.
• At www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts, the color-coded map shows statewide traffic conditions, including construction delays and highway incidents.
• 511 - This driver information phone line provides real-time traffic, incident and closure information. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.
• Drivers with Web service on their cellular phones and PDAs can access the Seattle area traffic flow map, ferry schedules, mountain pass reports at www.wsdot.wa.gov/small.
On the Road:
• Overhead and roadside electronic signs – Overhead and freeway signs provide 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
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