Date:
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Contact:
Dustin Terpening, Communications, 360-757-5997 (Burlington)
BELLINGHAM – The Washington State Department of Transportation has been planning and preparing for the Winter Olympics ever since they first learned the games were coming to Vancouver, British Columbia. The goals have been to increase traveler information and finish major construction projects near the border.
WSDOT has added new cameras and border wait times to its traveler information, to help drivers make informed decisions about traffic and border conditions and know when and where to cross the border.
Travel essentials for crossing the border:
“February is typically when we see the lowest traffic volumes near the border, but during the Olympics we’re expecting it to be more like a busy summer weekend,” assistant regional administrator Dave McCormick said.
All construction work will be suspended during the games on major border crossing routes to help make the drive to the games a little easier.
Extra incident response trucks will be on the road to help respond and clear collisions and incidents quickly and safely. Additional equipment and personnel will also be on call should it snow, freeze or flood.
WSDOT advanced and completed construction projects on routes leading to and from the U.S./Canada border in an effort to be out of the way of drivers during the games. WSDOT invested nearly $500 million (existing funds, and 2003 and 2005 gas tax funds) on four major safety and congestion relief projects:
Additionally, from WSDOT’s Web site - www.wsdot.wa.gov/congestion/border/ - drivers will find links for more information about entering Canada, travel at the games, southbound border crossings, and entering the United States.
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