2007 Statewide Storm - Timeline

Monday, Dec. 31

• Less than one month after historic rains destroyed a section of State Route 96 (Seattle Hill Road) near Snohomish, crews reopen the road to traffic.

Saturday, Dec. 29

• State Route 6 reopens on a limited basis during daylight hours.
• All 72 sections of roads which were closed or restricted as a result of mudslides, wind damage or flooding are now open.

Thursday, Dec. 27

• Bridge and maintenance crews complete installation of a 180-foot Bailey Bridge in six days over the Chehalis River in the Meskill-Dryad area, connecting Leudinghaus Road and River Road to SR 6, where a county bridge previously washed out during the December floods.

Monday, Dec. 24

• WSDOT and its contractor work non-stop to complete three runs of pipe in the new emergency pumping system to protect I-405 from a heavy rainstorm. All lanes of I-405 are now open.

Wednesday, Dec. 12

• Two roadway sections are still closed, and seven have significant damage.
• WSDOT crews are working around the clock to make the roads safe for drivers.

Saturday, Dec. 8

• Crews reopened the southbound SR 3 off ramp to Silverdale that closed as a result of last week's storm.
• Governor Chris Gregoire announced $300,000 in emergency assistance from the Governor’s emergency fund to assist people affected by the recent storm
• President declared Washington flooding a major disaster, making federal disaster aid available to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides beginning on December 1, 2007, and continuing.

Friday, Dec. 7

• Friday morning WSDOT crews moved hundreds of Jersey barriers that were shifted by swift flood waters back into the I-5 median in Chehalis. At 11:45 a.m. crews reopened I-5 to all traffic.

Thursday, Dec. 6

• After 8 p.m., an 11-mile portion of southbound I-5 was reopened to all traffic. All vehicle types may now enter the southbound lanes of I-5 at SR 6 in Chehalis (milepost 77) and continue south with no further closures. North of the highway closure, southbound traffic continues to be diverted from I-5 at Grand Mound (milepost 88). All northbound traffic except heavy trucks is being diverted from I-5 at the US 12 interchange (milepost 68).
• Shortly after 6 p.m. WSDOT crews opened one lane in each direction on I-5 in Chehalis to commercial vehicles over 10,000 gross vehicle weight. No oversize loads or passenger vehicles allowed. Crews are working to move median barrier back into place and get the freeway open to all traffic sometime tomorrow (Friday).
• State Route 7, an alternate route to I-5 in Chehalis, is open to all traffic.
• WSDOT brought in an excavator Wednesday evening to breach the Airport Way Levy and help drain floodwater. WSDOT steadily increased the size of the breach overnight to 35-40 feet wide. As of this morning, the water level was four feet above I-5 at the lowest point and about three quarters of a mile of I-5 is still underwater in and around the airport.
• State-sponsored Amtrak Cascades resumed limited operations between Eugene, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Trains will be delayed due to freight traffic and track work. Travelers are encouraged to contact Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL or at http://www.amtrak.com/.

Wednesday, Dec. 5

• Weather conditions improve and flood waters recede in some parts of Western Washington, while other parts of the state experience flood surges and new damage. Trees continue to fall due to water soaked roots.
• Widespread clean-up continues. As flood waters recede, WSDOT bridge inspectors evaluate bridge foundations and crews race to repair road damage.
• WSDOT engineers work quickly to begin designing repairs for SR 96 near Snohomish where flooding washed out a section of road the size of two semi-trucks.

Tuesday, Dec. 4

• WSDOT crews get 41 of 61 closed highways reopened to traffic within 36 hours of the storm, including routes to most isolated communities.
• WSDOT's Aviation Division helps coordinate rescue planes.
• Flood waters crest on Chehalis River. Five miles of I-5 are beneath up to 10 feet of water. Twenty miles of I-5 is closed to traffic. Alternate routes are overwhelmed with traffic.
• WSDOT crews race to repair a section of SR 522 near Woodinville after nearby streams flow over the roadway and wash away part of the roadway.

Monday, Dec. 3

• Governor declares statewide emergency as WSDOT crews respond to flooding on state highways and interstates throughout Western Washington.
• WSDOT closes highways on the Olympic Peninsula, Pacific Coast counties and throughout Western Washington, including I-5 in Lewis County near Chehalis, due to flooding, land slides and downed trees and power lines. Crews fight to keep drivers safe and highways open while the storm rages.
• Commute traffic in urban areas is gridlocked as water overwhelms drainage systems and pools on roadways and trees, land slides and downed power lines block roads.
• Aberdeen and other Coastal and Olympic Peninsula communities are isolated due to highway closures.