WSDOT News

Date:  Thursday, June 26, 2008

Contact: Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7080 (Olympia)
Nisha Marvel, WSDOT Aviation, (360) 651-6310
Susan Harris-Huether, WSDOT Ferries Division (206) 515-3460
Tonia Buell, WSDOT Public Transportation and Freight Systems, (360) 705-7439

OLYMPIA – Fourth of July is a Friday for 2008 and WSDOT’s Web site offers new tools for drivers hitting the road.

Drivers headed out on Washington’s highways for Independence Day 2008 can check the WSDOT Web site www.wsdot.wa.gov/Congestion/IndependenceDay/ to find out just how the holiday weekend travel could compare to a typical summer weekend. Traffic analysts looked at the typical weekend travel in July, and also how many cars were on the road the past two Fourth of July weekends that started on a Friday.

The information on WSDOT’s Web site will help drivers find the best times to travel on US 2, I-90, I-5 at the Canadian Border and I-5 from south of Olympia through Lewis County. These are locations that typically see an increase in weekend and holiday travel. In many cases, the data showed typical summer weekend travel, however travel is expected to increase by noon Thursday, July 3, but then be low on Friday, July 4. Sunday, July 6 and Monday, July 7 are expected to also see more cars than a typical summer weekend.

While gas prices have reached $4 a gallon or higher nationwide, AAA projects www.aaanewsroom.net/Main/Default.asp?CategoryID=8&ArticleID=623 40.45 million Americans will still travel during the July 4th holiday weekend. This is a 1.3 percent decrease from 2007 and represents the first year-to-year decrease in close to 10 years.

In Washington, gas prices could keep drivers closer to home, with an increase in traffic on routes to local area attractions and ocean beach highways.

WSDOT Ferries Division and the Washington State Patrol (WSP) are gearing up for another busy Fourth of July weekend. WSDOT is providing extra service to accommodate the anticipated heavy holiday ferry traffic, and WSP will be out in force screening for customers carrying illegal fireworks.

Work at most construction project sites around the state will move off the highway from noon Thursday until Monday morning. Drivers should be prepared for shifted lanes, roadway detours and reduced speed zones in places. On US 2 in Chelan County, a temporary traffic signal is at the junction of US 2/97 (MP 104-105), the Peshastin East Interchange Project - (Junction of the Stevens and Blewett Pass Highways). The speed limit through the work zone is reduced to 35 mph and drivers can expect delays at peak travel times.

Know before you go: WSDOT offers several ways to get construction information from our Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ before you leave your home or office.

• Traffic map - The color-coded map shows where traffic is heavy and light so you can alter your commute accordingly
• Travel times - Real-time point-to-point travel times
• Traffic cameras - Take a look at traffic conditions on a growing number of highway locations throughout the Puget Sound region
• E-mail alerts - Sign up for one of several e-mail alert lists. You’ll get advance notice of upcoming construction closures delivered right to your inbox
• Construction update report - comprehensive, seven-day advance listing of lane, ramp and road closures
• Project pages - Find your highway and see the long- and short-term construction plans

• Overhead electronic signs – These direct and alert drivers on the road.
• Highway advisory radio – These yellow signs with flashing lights alert drivers to tune into radio frequencies airing construction updates and other roadway information.
• IRT: WSDOT’s Incident Response Team (IRT) will be ready to assist motorists on major highways and mountain passes, and respond to incidents blocking roadways. IRT is on-call 24 hours a day and will help motorists with flat tires, dead batteries, overheated engines and other services to keep traffic moving on the road. There will be additional IRT coverage on the weekend and Monday.

• Amtrak Cascades trains frequently sell out on holiday weekends. Be sure to purchase your tickets well in advance and arrive early at the station for your departure. For more information, visit: www.amtrakcascades.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

• The 16 state-operated airports are open for the season. To check the status of state-operated airports, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/airports/Amenities.htm or call 1-800-552-0666. WSDOT Aviation encourages pilots to check with their local Flight Service Station for current Notices to Airmen and temporary flight restriction status before each flight. To contact the Flight Service Station, please call 1-800-WX-BRIEF. Temporary flight restriction information is available at: airspace.nifc.gov/mapping/nifc/index.cfm

• Most public transit systems will follow a holiday schedule and some transit systems will not operate fixed route or Dial-A-Ride service. Check with your local transit agency for more information.

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