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Flooding response in high gear, WSDOT opens US 2 east to Wenatchee

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Date:  Thursday, January 08, 2009

Contact: Public Road Condition Inquiries: Call 5-1-1/ out of state callers call 1-800-695-ROAD (7623).

WSDOT Road Condition Call Center 360-705-7000

OLYMPIA – WSDOT is making progress on reopening highways to get families and freight moving through Washington again. Crews have spent today clearing debris and plowing snow slides on US 2 Stevens Pass and opened US 2 east to Wenatchee this evening. US 97 remains closed, but vehicles can access I-90 taking SR 28 to Quincy then SR 281 to George where they can intersect with I-90 to continue to Moses Lake.

"We cant control the weather or floodwaters, but we can control how we respond to these challenges. We appreciate everyone's patience and they should know that our crews have been working hard, around the clock to reopen and find appropriate detours," said Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond.

Crews are still working to open more than 75 closures around the state. I-90 remains closed from milepost 33 near North Bend to milepost 106 near Ellensburg and will not open today. High to moderate avalanche danger, washouts, roadway erosion, unstable slopes and mudslides continue to threaten the roadway. Washouts are occurring in several places.

WSDOT crews have spent today assessing conditions on all state highways, making minor repairs and getting emergency contract crews underway. While rain is subsiding, many rivers are still out of their banks. WSDOT is working on establishing a detour route for trucks and vehicles stopped on either side of the I-5 closure.

Motorists and freight shippers should anticipate additional travel delays and road closures. Both I-5 and I-90 will remain closed until water levels have dropped and the roadway is determined to be suitable for traffic. It is too early to estimate the time for these openings.

Route information is available at the WSDOT web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov and drivers are encouraged to check conditions along their entire route. WSDOT has established a county-by-county list of road closures at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/update/.

Close to 40,000 drivers cross Washington's Cascade Mountains each day, most travel on I-90. Approximately 7,000 trucks typically cross all the mountain passes daily. The area of I-5 through Lewis County see close to 55,000 drivers each day, with 10,000 of those being trucks.

Read the WSDOT blog http://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/ for more WSDOT stories, see photos from around the state on Fickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot and videos on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/wsdot.

There are no service bulletins for the Washington State Ferries at this hour and we are encouraging pilots to check for notices to airmen (NOTAMS) before flying. Several temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) are expected throughout the state in response to emergency operations associated with the flooding and other weather related issues. TFRs are expected in western Washington, as well as areas in Spokane, Palouse, and Walla Walla. The TFRs are intended provide a safe environment for search and rescue operations. Current TFR information is available at: http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr_map_ims/html/index.html.

Closures by county

Clallam County:

  • SR 112 in Clallam Bay near Hoko-Ozette Road and the Green Creek Bridge has now reopened.
  • SR 112 is closed at US 101 near the town of Joyce.
  • SR 112 is reopened near Rasmussen Creek - earlier it was closed due to downed trees in the roadway.
  • SR 110 near Ballard Road has now reopened in Forks.

Cowlitz County

  • I-5, Both directions at Exit 22 (milepost 22) - Both exit ramps are closed at Dike Road due to water over the roadway. On-ramps are currently open.
  • SR 411, Both directions between Solomon Road and Cook Ferry Road (mileposts 4-9) Both directions of SR 411 closed due to mudslides and water over roadway.
  • SR 503, Closed both directions near Speelyai Creek Bridge (milepost 31) Both directions of SR 503 closed due to flooding over the roadway.
  • SR 504 near Kid Valley area (mileposts 17-20) Two separate slides are blocking one lane at mp 17 and mp 20. Crews are working to clear the slide and traffic is getting through.

Grays Harbor Co:

  • One-way alternating traffic is moving through on US 12 from milepost 8 to milepost 9 vicinity of Wynoochee River to Devonshire Road. Earlier both directions of the roadway were closed due to water over the roadway.
  • US 12 is closed in both directions from the Grays Harbor/Thurston County line to Moon Road in Rochester due to water over the roadway.
  • SR 107 in Montesano is closed to traffic due to water over the roadway.
  • Both directions of SR 109 between Hoquiam and Ocean City are closed due to water over the roadway.

King County:

  • SR 202 - Closed from the northern city limit of Fall City to Fish Hatchery Road due to water over the roadway. This is about a one-mile stretch. Fall City residents can use Preston-Fall City Road to get into Fall City.
  • SR 202 - Closed from SR 203 to 356th Avenue SE in Fall City.
  • SR 202 - Closed from the northern city limit of Snoqualmie to North Bend Way in North Bend.
  • SR 203 between Fall City and Monroe - SR 203 is closed from Fall City to the Tolt River, and from NE 55th St. to NE Carnation Farm Road. SR 203 is also closed between Duvall and Monroe.
  • Drivers can use SR 203 between the Tolt River and NE 55th St. and between NE Carnation Farm Road and Duvall.
  • SR 410 - Closed in both directions from Greenwater to Enumclaw due to water over the roadway.
  • I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass - Closed in both directions from North Bend to Ellensburg due to high avalanche danger.
  • SR 169 - All lanes of SR 169 are closed near Cedar Grove in Maple Valley because of water over the roadway.
  • SR 169 - Right lane of northbound SR 169 closed from 140th Ave SE to the Cedar River near Maple Valley due to flood damage.
  • SR 169 at Green River Bridge - WSDOT engineers closed the SR 169 Kummer Bridge over the Green River near Black Diamond on Tuesday, Nov. 18 for up to six months. Engineers say heavy rains forced movement of the soil that support the southern bridge piers. If the soil continues sliding, it may not support the bridge piers. Significant repairs are needed. The bridge may be closed up to six months.

Kittitas County

  • I-90 Snoqualmie Pass - Remains closed from milepost 33 near North Bend to milepost 106 near Ellensburg and will not open today.
  • US 97 Blewett Pass – Closed from Ellensburg to US 970 due to water, heavy snow and mudslides and debris over the roadway. Crews are working to make repairs as flood waters recede.
  • SR 10 – Remains closed from SR 970 near Cle Elum to Ellensburg due to mud slides and water over the roadway.
  • SR 970 – Closed from I-90 to the intersection of US 97 due to water over the roadway and roadway erosion.

Lewis County

  • Portable camera views in place at I-5 and Labree Rd in Chehalis
  • I-5, Closed in both directions between US 12 junction and Grand Mound (milepost 68-88). Both directions of I-5 is closed due to severe flooding over the roadway. There is no detour available at this time. The Interstate may be closed through the weekend. WSDOT advises drivers to not travel through this area if possible.
  • I-5, Exit 88 at Grand Mound and Exit 68 south of Napavine are restricted to LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY
  • Traffic exiting I-5 southbound at Exit 88 and traffic exiting I-5 northbound at Exit 68 is restricted to local traffic only. Commercial trucks are prohibited with the exception of trucks delivering disaster relief supplies or perishable goods to the Chehalis and Centralia communities. The Washington State Patrol is enforcing the restriction.
  • SR 6, Both directions between I-5 and Old State Route 603 (mileposts 51.37-49.08) Both directions of SR 6 closed due to flooding.
  • SR 6, Both directions at the Raymond East Bridge (milepost 3.5)
  • SR 6, Closed to passenger vehicles in both directions due to flooding between Pe Ell and Doty (milepost 29.8-33)Both directions of SR 6 are closed to passenger vehicles. Trucks have limited access.
  • SR 7, Closed both directions between Morton and the Lewis County Line (milepost 1-16). Both directions of SR 7 is closed between Morton and the Lewis County Line for flooding over the roadway.
  • SR 508, Closed in both directions between Cinebar and Morton (mileposts 20-32) Both directions of SR 508 has been closed due to severe flooding and water over the roadway. There is no ETA for reopening yet.
  • US 12, Closed in both directions from Mossyrock to the Yakima County line(mileposts 86-185) Both directions of US 12 has been closed due to several mud slides and severe flooding over the roadway. Between milepost 86-130, crews were able to one lane to emergency vehicles only.

Mason County:

  • SR 3 is closed in Shelton at Goldsborough Creek.
  • US 101 north of Shelton is now open to traffic.
  • SR 106 is closed in both directions between Creekside Drive and Twanoh Falls Drive until further notice due to flooding.
  • SR 108 is now open traffic near Hurley Waldrip Road.

Pacific County

  • SR 105, Closed in both directions at Camenzind Road north of Raymond (milepost 3) Both directions of SR 105 is closed due to a mudslide.
  • SR 105, Closed in both directions between the North River Bridge and the Shoalwater Indian Reservation (milepost 14 vicinity) Both directions of SR 105 is closed for the night due to a mudslide.
  • SR 401, Closed in both directions near Naselle due to fallen tree and water over roadway (milepost 11-12) Both directions of SR 401 is closed due to tree and water over roadway.
  • US 101, Both directions at the Bone River Bridge (milepost 46) Both directions on US 101 is closed due to a mudslide. One lane open to emergency vehicles only.
  • US 101, Both directions at Carruthers Slough Bridge (milepost 51) Both directions on US 101 is closed due to a mudslide. One lane open to emergency vehicles only.
  • US 101, Both directions near Smith Creek Bridge (milepost 64-65) Both directions on US 101 is closed due to a mudslide and severe roadway damage.

Pierce County

  • I-5 - The right two southbound lanes of I-5 near Fife are closed due to water over the roadway. The left northbound lane is also closed. Backups extend five miles into Pierce County.Note: total I-5 closure listed below in Thurston County.
  • A seven-mile stretch of SR 162 is closed from Orville Road to just outside the town limits of South Prairie (milepost 11 to 17.5).
  • SR 165 near Church Street in Wilkeson is closed due to flood waters.
    Standing water on I-5, SR 16, and SR 512 is creating potentially hazardous conditions for motorists.
  • SR 161 northbound is closed at 317th Street E and SR 161 southbound at 304th Street E due to water over the roadway. No detour available.
  • SR 7 southbound is closed at Elbe. This is a manned closure, local traffic only south of Elbe on SR 7.
    The right lane of SR 7 northbound is closed at 132nd Street in Spanaway due to water over the roadway. The left lane is reopened.

Snohomish County:

  • SR 9 - Crews may close SR 9 between Cathcart Way and Marsh Rd this afternoon because of flooding risks.
  • SR 9 - The ramps to and from 2nd St are closed due to water over the roadway.
  • SR 9 - SR 9 is closed in both directions from Bickford Avenue to SR 96 (East Lowell Larimer Road) due to water over the roadway.
  • SR 203 between Fall City and Monroe - SR 203 is closed from Fall City to the Tolt River, and from NE 55th St. to NE Carnation Farm Road. SR 203 is also closed between Duvall and Monroe.
  • Drivers can use SR 203 between the Tolt River and NE 55th St. and between NE Carnation Farm Road and Duvall.
  • SR 530/I-5 interchange - All ramps at this interchange are closed due to water over the roadway.
  • SR 530 - The roadway is now open at Lincoln Bridge in Arlington to alternating traffic.
  • SR 530 - A mudslide blocks all lanes of SR 530 about one mile west of Sauk Valley Road in the Darrington area. Milepost 55-61.
  • US 2 over Stevens Pass - Closed in both directions from Scenic to Leavenworth due to avalanche danger and unstable weather conditions. The pass will remain closed until further notice.

Skagit County

  • SR 11 - Chuckanut Drive closed between Cook and Field roads, north of Burlington (mileposts 2.16 and 4.05) due to water over the roadway. Detours are posted.
  • SR 20 - Closed just east of Concrete city limit (milepost 90) to Jackman Creek Road (milepost 91) due to four mud slides. Road will be closed for approximately two weeks at this location.
  • SR 530 - Blocked in the Hatchery Creek area (milepost 55.3) due to large mudslide. Road will be closed indefinitely. Road will be closed for approximately one week at this location.
  • SR 530 - Blocked near White Creek Bridge (milepost 60.4) due to large mudslide.
  • SR 530 - (Snohomish) One lane open at Lincoln Bridge in Arlington because of water over the roadway. Traffic is alternating through the one open lane.
  • SR 530 - (Snohomish) Crews have also closed the off-ramps from northbound and southbound I-5 at exit 208 to prevent access to SR 530, which is closed from the freeway, milepost 17 to 211 Place NE (milepost 19.21) I-5 is not closed at the Island Crossing.

Whatcom County

  • Border - Sumas Port of Entry is closed to commercial traffic due to flooding.
  • I-5 - Southbound left lane closed south of Bellingham at milepost 248 for mudslide. Crews expect 30-minute closure of left lane to remove.
  • I-5 - The northbound I-5 off-ramp to Iowa Street in Bellingham (milepost 254) is closed due to water on the roadway.
  • SR 9 - Closed at Wickersham Road (milepost 68) and SR 542 (milepost 79) due to water over the roadway in six different locations.
  • SR 20 - Closed at Newhalem (milepost 121) due to avalanches over roadway.
  • SR 539 - One lane closed at Kelly Road (milepost 2.5) due to water over roadway.
  • SR 542 - All lanes of SR 542 blocked near Marshall Hill Road (milepost 16) due to large mudslide.
  • SR 542 - Closed at Coal Creek Bridge (milepost 35.5 to 53.3) due to avalanches. We've had two avalanches at Excelsior and Galena slide zones. The Excelsior slide zone has come down twice.
  • SR 546 - Closed from SR 539 (Guide Meridian Ave) to Benson Road due to water over the roadway.

Yakima County

  • US 12 White Pass – Use information from SW
  • SR 410 – Remains closed at milepost 88.5, Bumping River Road, due to falling and hazardous trees.

WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.


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