Date:
Friday, January 25, 2008
Contact:
Al Gilson, Communications Manager
WSDOT Eastern Region
2714 N. Mayfair
Spokane, WA 99207
(509)324-6015
gilsona@wsdot.wa.gov
SPOKANE, WA-The recent weather-related emergency highway closures in the Palouse were a challenge for Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews and the motoring public. While many drivers and residents were inconvenienced by the closures, a few motorists created an even bigger problem and a safety hazard for themselves and WSDOT crews.
Over the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, snow and wind combined to create snowdrifts, some up to six feet high, across portions of State Route 27. The WSDOT closed a section of the highway between Tekoa and Fairfield last Sunday and Monday to prevent drivers from entering areas that were impassable and where crews were working.
A number of drivers went past the official closure signs and attempted to continue on the highway. While some of them were able to reach their destinations, several ended up driving off the road into the hidden ditches, got stuck in drifts, or had to turn around when the roadway became totally blocked. A few also had to travel in locations that were barely wide enough for their vehicles to squeeze through.
These drivers also created a serious safety concern. WSDOT Crews were operating graders, plows, and loaders clearing snow from the roadway with limited visibility in constrained work areas. The operators were not expecting to encounter through traffic and were not able to accommodate these drivers. There was also no room for other vehicles to pass through the work zone or turn around with the equipment and snow blocking the roadway.
Fortunately, there were no incidents where motorists collided with WSDOT equipment.
By violating a highway closure, drivers could cause serious injury to themselves or highway crews, and they could face a fine of $124 or more.
Winter is not over. More snow is expected in the Palouse and wind is often part of the weather patterns. Under Washington law, RCW 47.48.040, the white sign with black lettering “Road Closed” marks a location where all private and commercial vehicle traffic is restricted. Only official law enforcement, authorized emergency services, or WSDOT vehicles are permitted to pass. Residents inside the closure would need to contact the Washington State Patrol or WSDOT for access.
The WSDOT reminds motorists to drive safely and observe these emergency road closures, for their own safety and the safety of WSDOT crews.
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