Date:  Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Contact: Dustin Terpening , WSDOT communications, 360-757-5997 (Burlington)
Chris Damitio, WSDOT project engineer, 360-788-7403 (Bellingham)

Half-hour delays expected on weekdays for travelers

GLACIER – Crews will repave three miles of Mount Baker Highway (State Route 542) east of Glacier this summer between Fossil Creek and Wells Creek Road (mileposts 38-41). The work will begin Tuesday, Aug. 7, and continue through mid-September.

Travelers can expect up to 30-minute delays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday while crews are patching and paving the highway. A pilot car will lead traffic through the narrow work zone.

“It’s going to take a decent amount of time to pilot traffic back and forth,” said Chris Damitio, Washington State Department of Transportation project engineer. “We’re hoping the delays will be less than a half-hour. I’d recommend going before 8:30 a.m. and coming back after 6 p.m. if you want to avoid the delays.”

Crews will also upgrade a number of safety features, such as striping, reflectors, markers, signs and guardrail. Severe winter weather in the area, combined with plowing and sanding, takes a toll on the highway. The paving and safety improvements will help rejuvenate the roadway.

WSDOT awarded the project to Granite Construction of Everett for its $1 million bid.

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