http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthWest/news/ Copyright WSDOT 2008. All rights reserved. Traveler information and News for Southwest Region of Washington State. bertraj@wsdot.wa.gov (Jeremy Bertrand) Washington State Department of Transportation Tue, 21 May 2013 12:25:37 GMT 15 http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Public/images/nav/wsdot2g4.gif http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthWest/news/ Sat, 18 May 2013 06:20:41 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/17_DBEStudyOnline.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/17_DBEStudyOnline.htm OLYMPIA – A study to determine whether the Washington State Department of Transportation’s contracting activities are fair and equitable for all is now available for review. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program disparity study analyzed information about local marketplace conditions for minority-owned and women-owned businesses and the degree to which WSDOT utilizes these businesses. Sat, 18 May 2013 05:09:32 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/14_Chinook_pass_open_2013.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/14_Chinook_pass_open_2013.htm CHINOOK PASS – Crews opened Chinook Pass at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 17. It’s safe to say drivers can make travel plans over State Route 410 this weekend. Fri, 17 May 2013 21:36:55 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/17_Memorial_Day_Travel_2013.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/17_Memorial_Day_Travel_2013.htm OLYMPIA – If you’re taking to the road for Memorial Day weekend, don’t forget to plan ahead with travel tools from the Washington State Department of Transportation. Fri, 10 May 2013 01:12:02 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/09_SR504_Reopens.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/09_SR504_Reopens.htm More than 15 feet of snow kept State Route 504 in Cowlitz County closed for the winter season this year. On Saturday, May 11, nature enthusiasts can make the trek back up the mountain as the Washington State Department of Transportation reopens Spirit Lake Memorial Highway. Thu, 09 May 2013 23:42:28 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/09_SCIP_I5Closed.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/09_SCIP_I5Closed.htm VANCOUVER – In early June, 1,050 tons of airborne concrete and steel will halt traffic for 88,000 daily drivers on Interstate 5 in Salmon Creek. Fri, 03 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/BiketoSchool_0503.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/BiketoSchool_0503.htm Students celebrate national Bike to School Day May 8 Wed, 01 May 2013 23:25:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/2013WAnamedBikeFriendlyState_0501.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/05/2013WAnamedBikeFriendlyState_0501.htm 6-time champ Washington leads pack again as ‘Bicycle-Friendly State’ Sat, 04 May 2013 05:45:36 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/03_SR14_Flagging_Paving.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/03_SR14_Flagging_Paving.htm WASHOUGAL – Travelers on State Route 14 should work a little extra time into their routine next week when construction crews take the highway down to a single lane in western Skamania County. Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:06:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/22_earthday.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/22_earthday.htm Earth Day 2013 marks an opportunity for Washingtonians to learn how they can reduce their own carbon emissions and how programs at the Washington State Department of Transportation can help. Sat, 20 Apr 2013 03:32:40 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/19_LED_phase_two.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/19_LED_phase_two.htm OLYMPIA – Drivers on US 101 west of Olympia will notice changes to roadway lighting as a pilot project to test the first light-emitting-diode (LED) lighting system on a state highway moves into its second phase. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 03:20:11 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/16SR20NCHReopens.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/16SR20NCHReopens.htm The North Cascades Highway reopened at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 16. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:54:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/11_workzonesafety2013_goorange.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/11_workzonesafety2013_goorange.htm OLYMPIA – Transportation workers, along with all roadway and utility workers, ask drivers to remember one rule when they see those bright orange signs and cones: just slow down. Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:45:47 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/05_13_constructionresumesi90.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/05_13_constructionresumesi90.htm Start planning your trip over Interstate 90 east of Snoqualmie Pass now! Several major road improvement projects will delay drivers this year as the Washington State Department of Transportation improves sections of roadway across a 50-mile stretch of I-90. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 03:08:14 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/03_US101_FlashingYellowArrow.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/03_US101_FlashingYellowArrow.htm State highway crews aim to improve the busiest US 101 intersections in Raymond this week. They’re on target to install new flashing yellow arrow signals at two intersections. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:20:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/01_TunnelMachineArrives.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/04/01_TunnelMachineArrives.htm Bertha sighting: SR 99 tunneling machine draws near World’s largest tunneling machine to arrive by ship in Seattle tomorrow The ship carrying the $80 million machine that will dig the SR 99 tunnel beneath downtown Seattle entered Washington waters today. Its two-week journey from the manufacturing plant in Osaka, Japan will end tomorrow in Elliott Bay. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:49:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/I5_040113.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/I5_040113.htm All lanes on northbound Interstate 5 in South Seattle reopened on schedule Monday, April 1 2013 following a weekend of closures to replace four aging highway expansion joints. But the work isn’t over yet. Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:57:22 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/workzone_speed_enforcement_centralia.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/workzone_speed_enforcement_centralia.htm CENTRALIA – An automated speed-enforcement camera will be placed in a construction zone on Interstate 5 in Lewis County beginning Monday, April 8, in an attempt to slow drivers and improve safety. Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:36:28 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/29_SR14GrindingWork.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/29_SR14GrindingWork.htm CAMAS – Thanks to ongoing construction work, State Route 14 in Camas and Washougal wasn’t the smoothest this past winter. And starting Monday, April 1, things will get rougher before they get better. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 23:53:24 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/27_US97ConstructionRestart.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/27_US97ConstructionRestart.htm GOLDENDALE – After a three-month break for weather, crews will resume work on a US 97 wildlife connectivity project on Monday, April 1. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 06:23:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/26SR20SpringReopeningBegins.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/26SR20SpringReopeningBegins.htm Work to reopen the 37 miles of the North Cascades Highway closed last Nov. 20, got underway Monday, Mar. 25. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 02:38:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/25_stud_tire_off_2013.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/25_stud_tire_off_2013.htm OLYMPIA – Spring has arrived. As temperatures rise across the region, the Washington State Department of Transportation reminds drivers to remove their studded tires by midnight, March 31. Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:20:47 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/22_ConstructionBloomsSR14.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/22_ConstructionBloomsSR14.htm CAMAS – Spring has sprung in the Pacific Northwest once again, waking up birds, flowers, and…paving machines? Tue, 19 Mar 2013 01:13:35 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/18_LewisClarkBridgeRestart.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/18_LewisClarkBridgeRestart.htm LONGVIEW – The finish line is in sight for drivers and construction workers on State Route 433. Sat, 16 Mar 2013 03:21:09 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/15_BlakesleeJctBridgeDeckPour.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/15_BlakesleeJctBridgeDeckPour.htm CENTRALIA – Construction crews widening Interstate 5 will pour the concrete deck for the last of three new bridges Monday, March 18. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:19:11 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/SecPetersonProjectReview.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/SecPetersonProjectReview.htm Transportation Secretary Peterson calls for mega project review Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:35:46 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/13_I90buildavalanchebridges.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/13_I90buildavalanchebridges.htm Big changes are coming to Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie Pass. The snowshed is coming down and bridges are going up as part of a 15 mile corridor improvement project. Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:25:13 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/11_SCIPGirderSetting.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/11_SCIPGirderSetting.htm VANCOUVER – Two cranes, 34 concrete girders and two weeks of heavy lifting will add up to one major milestone as the Washington State Department of Transportation moves closer to a new interchange at Northeast 139th Street. Thu, 07 Mar 2013 06:14:26 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/06_US101BoneRiver_Girders.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/06_US101BoneRiver_Girders.htm BAY CENTER – Crews building a wider, safer crossing on US 101 at Bone River will reach a major milestone this week when they set eight girders on the new bridge. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:10:06 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/04_point_defiance_bypass_FONSI_issued.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/04_point_defiance_bypass_FONSI_issued.htm Amtrak Cascades riders can now look forward to shorter trip times and more reliable schedules between Seattle and Portland following federal approval of WSDOT’s proposal to reroute the passenger train service to a less congested route. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:18:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/04_SixWeeksLaneClosuresSCIP.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/04_SixWeeksLaneClosuresSCIP.htm VANCOUVER – Spring may be a few weeks away, but a new season of interchange construction is right around the corner for Salmon Creek drivers. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 04:18:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/0313_CayuseClearing2013.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/0313_CayuseClearing2013.htm Early last week, Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews revved up more than 26 tons of heavy duty machinery and began their annual quest to open Cayuse Pass by Memorial Day weekend. Sat, 23 Feb 2013 02:19:47 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/22_LED_lights_US101_olympia.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/22_LED_lights_US101_olympia.htm OLYMPIA – Within a week, US 101 west of Olympia drivers on will see the Black Lake Boulevard interchange in a whole new light. Fri, 15 Feb 2013 03:20:05 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/14_SR501LandslideComplete.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/14_SR501LandslideComplete.htm Relief is in store for Ridgefield drivers who have seen a month of dump trucks, delays and single-lane traffic on State Route 501. Crews will wrap up emergency landslide repairs and restore the highway to two lanes of free-flowing traffic on Friday, Feb. 15. Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:09:10 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/13_ConcreteHitsDeckI-5MTB.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/13_ConcreteHitsDeckI-5MTB.htm CENTRALIA – The effort to widen Interstate 5 in Centralia reaches a major milestone on Thursday, Feb. 14, as crews pour the concrete deck for a new bridge over the Skookumchuck River. Fri, 08 Feb 2013 07:05:17 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/07_SR14FourLanesOpen.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/07_SR14FourLanesOpen.htm CAMAS – Travelers on State Route 14 will have more space to stretch out when the Washington State Department of Transportation opens two more lanes in Camas and Washougal Friday, Feb. 8. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:40:52 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/BridgingFutures2013.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/BridgingFutures2013.htm A new scholarship offers high school students interested in engineering, the environment or art the chance to earn money for college. Sat, 02 Feb 2013 05:32:04 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/01_SCIPRampClosures.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/02/01_SCIPRampClosures.htm VANCOUVER – Bridge construction takes center stage for 88,000 drivers traveling through Salmon Creek via interstates 5 and 205 next week. On Monday, Feb. 4, crews building a new bridge at Northeast 139th Street will move drilling equipment from a slope below I-5 to the grassy median at the I-5/I-205 junction. Sat, 26 Jan 2013 00:33:56 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/25_I90EACommentPeriodStarts.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/25_I90EACommentPeriodStarts.htm People who might be affected by a proposal to toll Interstate 90 between Seattle and Bellevue can give input to a state study that will assess the potential environmental and social effects of tolling. Fri, 25 Jan 2013 05:44:51 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/24_rail_mudslide_solutions.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/24_rail_mudslide_solutions.htm OLYMPIA – Four rail partners involved in service and safety in the corridor between Seattle and Everett are putting a new focus on understanding the root causes and potential solutions to mudslides that resulted in a record number of Amtrak Cascades and Sounder passenger-service disruptions this winter. Thu, 24 Jan 2013 04:32:51 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/405Meeting1.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/405Meeting1.htm How to fund and operate express toll lanes on Interstate 405 and State Route 167 will be the focus of 30 local elected officials and transportation agency representatives as they convene Thursday, Jan. 24. Sat, 19 Jan 2013 01:53:01 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/18_SR503_FYASignals.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/18_SR503_FYASignals.htm News flash: Flashing yellow arrow signals coming to Woodland and Castle Rock Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:42:06 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/17_SR501LandslideRepairs.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/17_SR501LandslideRepairs.htm RIDGEFIELD – For the next month, drivers on State Route 501 will see a parade of excavators, construction equipment and more than 300 dump trucks rolling toward Ridgefield. Sat, 05 Jan 2013 05:05:45 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/04_I-5MTBGirderSetting.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/04_I-5MTBGirderSetting.htm CENTRALIA – Crews widening Interstate 5 in Centralia have spent the last seven months building support structures for a new Interstate 5 bridge over West Reynolds Avenue. Fri, 04 Jan 2013 03:18:31 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/3_I-5ClosureChamberWay.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/01/3_I-5ClosureChamberWay.htm Early morning drivers traveling northbound Interstate 5 through Chehalis should plan for delays this Sunday, as crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation close a small section of highway to survey the damaged Chamber Way bridge. Fri, 28 Dec 2012 03:04:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/27_oneyearof520tolling.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/27_oneyearof520tolling.htm As tolling reaches its first anniversary, SR 520 traffic and revenue continue to meet projections and are on the way to providing more than $1 billion in funding to help pay for the construction of a new bridge. Traffic is adjusting to variable tolls and settling into a new normal. Wed, 26 Dec 2012 12:08:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/25US2ReopenedStevensLeavenworth.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/25US2ReopenedStevensLeavenworth.htm US 2 reopened from Stevens Pass east to Leavenworth Christmas afternoon as bending trees threatening to fall onto the highway shed their excess snow naturally due to a change in weather. Sat, 22 Dec 2012 00:44:20 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/SR99BoringMachine_1221.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/SR99BoringMachine_1221.htm Last week, the world’s largest-diameter tunneling machine received a name. This week, it received U.S. visitors, as State Route 99 Tunnel Project leaders traveled to Japan to witness testing of the five-story-tall behemoth that will begin tunneling beneath downtown Seattle next summer. Fri, 21 Dec 2012 05:55:07 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/20_travelers_rest_open.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/20_travelers_rest_open.htm Holiday travelers and skiers enjoying new snow at Snoqualmie Pass this weekend won’t see the finished product but will have indoor facilities available starting Friday, Dec. 21, one month ahead of schedule. Mon, 17 Dec 2012 08:07:00 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/windstormSR520_1216.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/windstormSR520_1216.htm With gusty winds forecast for Puget Sound and heavy snow forecast for the passes, Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance and bridge crews spent Sunday fighting snow in the passes and tracking the next storm system as it moves into the state. Sat, 08 Dec 2012 08:35:57 GMT http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/07US2WSPnoparkingSki.htm http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/12/07US2WSPnoparkingSki.htm The State Patrol is actively assisting the effort to solve congestion at the summit of Stevens Pass due to illegal parking