Date:  Monday, December 03, 2007

Contact: Travis Phelps, WSDOT Communications Seattle – 206.440.4472

SEATTLE - WSDOT crews have their hands full this morning with rain, mudslides and standing water. While the traffic is the worst in the Seattle metro area, the storms are doing the most damage in other areas like the Olympic Peninsula and the North Cascades.

Currently, US 2 is closed at Stevens Pass, lanes of I-90 are closed and I-5 is closed in Chehalis.

“Drivers are slowing down and driving for conditions and it’s really to their credit that we haven’t had more serious collisions this morning,” said Paula Hammond, WSDOT Secretary of Transportation. “With the forecast calling for more rain and wind, we need drivers to continue to slow down and drive for conditions.”

However, the storm is packing a double punch. It is not something that will be over when the rain stops falling. The melting snow in the mountain foothills coupled with several inches of rain means swollen rivers in the next 48 to 72 hours.

Central Puget Sound

• Traffic has been slow this morning across Puget Sound as drivers carefully make their way through standing water. WSDOT crews have been out in full force clearing drains, but three inches of rain in 24 hours has clearly exceeded the drainage system’s capacity.
• We see standing water on Highway 99 and in the wheel ruts on all heavily traveled state highways. Additionally, some local cities are closing arterials that lead to highway off and on-ramps, adding pressure to ramps that remain open.
• WSDOT maintenance crews are heading to areas prone to landslides on SR 530 and US 2 in Snohomish and King counties.
• We also have two excavators on stand by near the Hewitt Avenue Trestle in Everett in case debris starts to pile up against bridge supports.
• SR 520 bridge crews are on stand by for this afternoon when winds are expected to pick up. WSDOT puts staff on the bridge when we record gusts of 45 miles per hour.

Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula has been hit exceptionally hard by this wind and rain storm. In fact, WSDOT pulled crews from tree removal work after two workers were injured by falling trees. We expect to have workers back on the road later this morning.

“The downpour is relentless,” said Kevin Dayton, WSDOT Olympic Regional Administrator. “We had five inches of rain in Shelton. We have mud, rocks, trees and other debris blocking dozens of roads. We are prioritizing our clean up efforts, but it’s tough when the list runs two pages long. We know that entire communities are isolated right now and are doing our best to get highways back open.

Because the list of road and lane closures is so long and continues to change, WSDOT recommends listening to radio and TV news reports.

The Cascade Passes
Interstate 90, Snoqualmie Pass, is significantly better than yesterday. The chain requirement has been lifted, but traction tires are advised and oversized loads are prohibited.

US 2 is a different story. West of Leavenworth in the Tumwater Canyon area, the road is blocked by no fewer than 58 separate slides. It is snowing very hard. WSDOT crews are digging the road out as well as conducting avalanche control. The road is closed between Stevens Pass and Leavenworth and will not open until 6 p.m. today (Monday, Dec. 3).

I-5 in Chehalis
The flood waters are reaching dangerous levels in Chehalis. One northbound lane is closed. The second lane is under an inch and a half of water. Crews plan to close all northbound lanes within the hour. Drivers should expect total southbound lanes closures this afternoon. Please plan to take alternate routes or delay your trip.

What can drivers do?
Drivers can continue to drive for conditions.

• Take it slow.
• Do not drive through standing water.
• Tune in to TV news and radio 
• Use the overhead electronic signs when you are on the road

What is WSDOT doing?
We have all available crews on the roads clearing drains, clearing lanes and managing traffic.

Is the WSDOT Web site working?
The WSDOT Web site is currently experiencing an abnormally high number of visitors due to adverse weather conditions in Western Washington. As a result, we are currently offering a simplified version of our Web page to ensure visitors can access current information about this developing situation.

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