Overview
This Highway Safety Capital Improvement - Collision Reduction Project is on US 2, west of the Stevens Pass summit in King County. It added two variable speed limit signs there, improving safety by allowing the speed limit to be changed quickly in response to rapidly changing traffic, road and weather conditions.
WSDOT's Traffic Management Center (TMC) in Wenatchee is in direct radio contact with our staff on Stevens Pass and it’s also connected electronically to real time weather, road sensors and video cameras at the summit. This allows us to closely monitor conditions and change the electronic messages and speed limits on the signs at the summit and on the east side of the pass. This project added two more signs on the west side of the pass and connected them to the communications center with fiber optic cable, significantly improving the effectiveness and value of the entire system.
Construction began August 25th, 2008. Winter weather halted final installation work. Work resumed on July 7 and was complete July 14, 2009.
 | Improves Safety
The expansion of WSDOT's electronic transportation management system on the west side of Stevens Pass will better control vehicle speed and traffic flow in inclement weather and provide safer operation of the highway.
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 | Economic Incentive
This project connected two new electronic variable speed limit signs to the TMC's with fiber optic cable instead of expensive-to-operate and less-reliable cellular telephone connections and also allows for future extension of fiber, west to Scenic.
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Partnerships & Cooperation
This project allows rapid electronic adjustment of the speed limit on Stevens Pass in response to changing road and weather conditions. This provides legal authority for troopers and deputies to enforce the electronically posted speed limit.
Funding
The project was advertised for private contractor bids on June 2, 2008. Three qualified bids were opened on June 26. Contract #7578 was awarded to North Sky Communications, Inc. for $779,268.00 on July 1, 2008 (12% over the engineering estimate).
This project is funded through the following sources:
· Pre-Existing Gas Tax - $862,059.
· Total funding from all sources - $862,059
Contact Us
Kevin Waligorski, Project Engineer
WSDOT North Central Region
P.O. Box 98
Wenatchee, WA 98807
Phone: (509) 667-2860 or toll free (888) 461-8816
Email: waligok@wsdot.wa.gov
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