Date:
Monday, August 25, 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 – WSDOT has tools available to help drivers who do plan to head out on the road for the last official weekend of summer.
Drivers headed out on Washington’s highways for Labor Day 2008 can check the WSDOT website www.wsdot.wa.gov/Congestion/LaborDay/ to find out just how the holiday weekend travel could compare to a typical summer weekend. Traffic analysts looked at typical weekend travel in late August and how many cars were on the road on past Labor Day weekends.
The information now available 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 locations typically see an increase in weekend and holiday travel. Labor Day remains a heavy travel day for both I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass and US 2 over Stevens Pass. Both locations show late afternoon peaks on Monday.
WSDOT expects heavy traffic Labor Day afternoon and evening on eastbound SR 16 over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge as more drivers than normal will be using the manual toll lanes.
The WSDOT Ferries Division www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2008/08/Laborday_081908.htm reminds travelers to allow extra time for ferry travel over the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend. The longest backups are expected to occur Friday afternoon and evening, Aug. 29; Sunday afternoon and evening, Aug. 31; and Monday morning, Sept. 1.
Compared to 2007, AAA projects www.aaanewsroom.net/Main/Default.asp?CategoryID=8&ArticleID=634 a slight decrease in the number of Americans traveling during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Approximately 28.64 million Americans (more than 83% of all holiday travelers) expect to travel by automobile, a 1.1 percent decrease from the 28.97 million people who drove to their holiday destinations last year.
Work at most construction sites around the state will move off the highway from noon Friday until Tuesday morning. Drivers should prepare 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 www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/US2/97_PeshastinEast_IC/ - (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.
Know on the road: call 5-1-1. The statewide 5-1-1 driver information line is generated by real-time traffic data from sensors embedded in the roadway. Drives can also get up-to-the-minute traffic incidents.
Also, look for:
- 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 over the weekend and Monday.
Trains
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.
Aviation
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/
Buses
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 www.wsdot.wa.gov/choices/bus.cfm for more information.
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