View entire map A little more than two miles of fiber optic cable was installed along the south shoulder of the highway and two new overhead electronic sign structures were built between milepost 61.9 and milepost 64.32 just west of the Stevens Pass summit in King County.
View entire photo Two electronic variable speed limit signs were added on the west side of the summit.
View entire photo (and more construction photos from the first week of September)
More than two miles of fiber optic cable will be extended from the summit down the west side of US 2 to connect the new signs and a new traffic camera, with our Traffic Management Centers.
Complete - July 2009
Construction began August 25th, 2008. Winter weather halted final installation work. Work resumed on July 7 and was complete July 14, 2009.
This Highway Safety Capital Improvement Collision Reduction Project (I-2) is located on US 2, west of the Stevens Pass summit in King County.
Why is WSDOT
Installing variable speed limit signs and fiber optic cable?
Adding two variable speed limit signs on the west side of Stevens Pass improves safety by changing the speed limit in response to road and weather conditions.
WSDOT's Traffic Management Center (TMC) in Wenatchee is in direct radio contact with our staff on Stevens Pass and they're also connected electronically to real time weather and other 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 existing signs on the pass. This project added two more signs on the west side of the pass and connected them to the communications center by fiber optic cable.
The End Result
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.
Project Benefits
- Expands the Traffic Management Center (TMC) capability to operate US 2 on the west side of the summit more safely.
- Connects two new electronic variable speed limit signs to the TMC's with fiber optic cable instead of expensive and less reliable cell phone connections.
- Allows for future extension of fiber, west to Scenic.
What is the project timeline?
Construction began August 25th and was scheduled to be completed in 30 working days (about 6 weeks), however, winter weather caused work to be suspended.
Work resumed July 7, 2009 and was complete July 14.
Financial Information
The project was advertised for private contractor bids on June 2nd, 2008. Three qualified bids were opened on June 26th. Contract #7578 was awarded to North Sky Communications, Inc. for $779,268.00 on July 1st, 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
.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
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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