Date:  Friday, April 16, 2010

Contact: Denys Tak, WSDOT Kelso Area Engineer, (800) 545-1393 (Kelso) toll free
Annie Linstrom, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2079 (Vancouver)

WSDOT helps drivers plan ahead and know before they go with scheduled closures

KELSO – The rock slope above SR 4 near the Germany Creek Bridge (milepost 50.2) needs stabilization, and WSDOT’s contractor, Granite Construction Company of Bellingham, will begin work on May 10. WSDOT will help drivers stay informed and know before they go with pre-scheduled closures of the highway and up-to-date traffic information.

SR 4 near Germany Creek will close for 45-minute durations between 8:15 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays for three weeks, starting May 12. Crews will open the highway for 15 minutes at the top of every hour to allow drivers safe passage through the work zone.

SR 4 will be open to two-lane traffic between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8:15 a.m., Monday through Thursday. There are no scheduled traffic impacts Fridays through Sundays. 

Pre-scheduled closures will allow drivers to plan ahead and avoid long delays:

• Before 8:15 a.m. - OPEN
• 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. - CLOSED
• 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. - OPEN
• 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. - CLOSED
• 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. - OPEN
• 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. - CLOSED
• 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. - OPEN
• 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. - CLOSED
• 12 p.m. to 12:15 p.m. - OPEN
• 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. - CLOSED
• 1 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. - OPEN
• 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. - CLOSED
• 2 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. - OPEN
• 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. - CLOSED
• 3 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. - OPEN
• 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. - CLOSED
• 4 p.m. to 8:15 a.m. – OPEN

Closing SR 4 allows contractor crews to remove loose rock, unstable soil, trees and other debris from the rock slope without the risk of rocks falling onto the highway and endangering drivers.

The closures also help provide a safer work area for crews and their scaling equipment, which takes up most of the roadway when work is in progress.

After scaling work is complete, SR 4 will be open to single-lane traffic alternating directions while crews install rock anchors to hold large rocks in place and further stabilize the slope. Drivers should expect up to 20-minute delays during daylight hours, Monday through Thursday.

For more information on this project and WSDOT’s commitment to rockfall prevention, please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR4/GermanyCreekRockfall/ 

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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 http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/trafficor by dialing 5-1-1.

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