A Weekly Summary of WSDOT News and Activities
Washington Jobs Now - Federal Way drivers have a lot to look forward to: safer and less congested state highways
Photo: Local, state and national leaders celebrate at the groundbreaking of the I-5/SR 161/SR18 Triangle Improvements project.
WSDOT, along with local, state and national leaders, broke ground Aug. 18 on an interchange project in Federal Way – the
Triangle Project. This project will revamp the interchange of I-5, SR 18 and SR 161 to smooth traffic flow and ease congestion. Work now begins on phase one of the multi-phase project.
The current I-5/SR 18 interchange in Federal Way was built more than 45 years ago. In the 1960’s, its cloverleaf design was state of the art freeway design. But now, with traffic volume four times greater, the existing loop ramps are not meeting drivers' needs. The weaving that occurs because of these ramps not only slows traffic but increases collision potential.
Phase one of this project will create two, new flyover ramps connecting I-5 to SR 18 and new ramps to and from 348th Street. Also included is a new weigh-in-motion station on southbound I-5.
The project hotline is 206-440-4900.
Local leaders Sen. Tracey Eide and Rep. Judy Clibborn, who chair the Senate and House Transportation committees, supported the 2003 Nickel and 2005 Transportation Partnership Act funding packages. They provided $103 million to begin construction on the project's first phase.
This $112.5 million project garnered national as well as local support. “I recognized this as a need more than a decade ago,” said U.S. Rep. Adam Smith. “I have put in requests for money every year and was able to get the seed money of $6.5 million by 2005.”
“This is the first phase of a multi-phase project to change the way traffic moves through this area,” said Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. This phase is expected to be completed in 2½ years.
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Maintenance & Operations Feature - Be in the know before you go this Labor Day
Photo: Labor Day congestion creates long delays on I-90 westbound through Snoqualmie Pass.
WSDOT is ready to help. Don’t leave home this Labor Day weekend without the tools to avoid backups on one of the busiest summer weekends.
AAA estimates close to 10 percent more Labor Day holiday travelers this year, so WSDOT encourages drivers to prepare and “know before you go.”
WSDOT lists on its website the
times and places drivers will likely see Labor Day weekend delays, including US 2, I-90, I-5 at the Canadian Border and I-5 south of Olympia through Lewis County.
WSDOT predicts significantly better travel times in most areas on Wednesday or Thursday morning and on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Work at most construction sites around the state will move off the highways for Labor Day weekend. Even so, drivers should watch for shifted lanes, detours and reduced-speed zones.
WSDOT offers many ways to
know before you go. On the road, WSDOT provides real-time traffic updates on overhead and roadside electronic signs and on Highway Advisory Radio on AM channels 530 and 1610.
Travelers should also be aware:
- Washington State Ferries expects heavy holiday weekend. Ferry riders should consider traveling during off-peak times or prepare to wait, and they should check the Washington State Ferries website or by calling toll-free at 888-808-7977.
- Amtrak Cascades is very popular on holidays. Travelers are advised to purchase tickets in advance and arrive at the station early. Visit the Amtrak Cascades website or call 800-USA-RAIL.
- Most public transit systems will follow a holiday schedule. Check with your local transit agency for more information.
- Washington’s 16 state-operated airports are open for the season. To check the status of state-operated airports, visit our State Airport website or call 800-552-0666. WSDOT Aviation encourages pilots to check with their local Flight Service Station for current Notices to Airmen and temporary flight restriction status before each flight. To contact the Flight Service Station, please call 800-WX-BRIEF. Temporary flight restriction information is available online.
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Update of projects under way
SR 525 Lynnwood – WSDOT crews reduced the on-ramp from southbound SR 525 to southbound I-5 in Lynnwood to one lane of general purpose traffic on Aug. 20. This change will be in place for at least one year as crews build new on- and off-ramps near the I-5/I-405/SR 525 interchange near Alderwood Mall. This work is part of the I-5/196th St. Braided Ramp project that will help reduce congestion by eliminating lane-weaving and reduce the risk of rear-end and sideswipe collisions.
SR 410 Bonney Lake - Since March, WSDOT along with contractor, J.R. Hayes and Sons, Inc. have made progress on a widening project that brings congestion relief to SR 410 in Bonney Lake. Crews will shift traffic from the south side onto the north side of the highway to begin widening from 214th to 234th avenues. This project adds one lane in each direction of SR 410, and a raised median separating the eastbound and westbound traffic. A new traffic signal and revised traffic movements at the split intersection of 233rd Avenue East and 234th Avenue East improves mobility and reduces the potential for collisions.
US 101 Hoquiam - The US 101 Simpson Avenue Bridge has been rescheduled to reopen in November after permanent repairs are made to the foundation of the 83-year-old structure. Crews originally closed the bridge to motorists Aug. 5 after noticing unusual movement on the bridge and then discovering severe erosion and degradation of the timber piles that support the bridge’s concrete piers. WSDOT initially hoped temporary repairs would allow the bridge to reopen in September. However, after analyzing soil data from a recent test, engineers concluded the bridge would remain too unstable to reopen it to vehicles. Engineers have already started designing more permanent repairs for the bridge, which will allow it to reopen to vehicles. The design effort is expected to take at least three weeks before construction can get under way. The best estimate now is that the permanent repairs will be completed by sometime in November.
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Announcements
Report shows SR 167 HOT lanes benefit commuters
According to an annual report released Aug. 19 by WSDOT, the SR 167 HOT Lanes Pilot project makes more efficient use of the former carpools-only HOV lane. More people are paying a toll to use the HOT lanes and HOT lane customers and general purpose lane commuters are spending less time in traffic.
WSDOT started this four-year pilot project to learn how HOT lanes and other forms of variable tolling could be used in Washington to make our highways more efficient at moving people and commerce, and curbing congestion. WSDOT continues to learn from the project and make adjustments to improve HOT lane signage and operations. The department will extend HOT lanes south to Eighth Street East if the legislature authorizes tolling to continue on SR 167 past the four-year pilot period.
Transportation experts to review I-405 express toll lane study
A panel of five transportation experts from across the country will meet with WSDOT officials to provide insight on the department’s study of a possible 50-mile express toll lane system on I-405. The system would offer drivers a reliable express trip through traffic by paying an electronic toll that varies with congestion levels.
Panel participants represent five different areas of transportation expertise: academics, policy, planning, operations and financing. The panel will meet three times beginning in September, and at the end of the year will issue a findings report addressing four areas of interest, including policy, methodology, phasing and finances.
Vibrations eliminated on Chetzemoka ferry
Changes to propulsion-control software have eliminated unwanted vibrations on the new, 64-vehicle Chetzemoka ferry. A new date for the Chetzemoka’s inaugural sailing between Port Townsend and Keystone has not yet been set. It may occur in October after crews complete a minimum of six weeks training. The training will allow captains, engineers and crews to become familiar with this new class of ferries, continue testing its operating capabilities and practice a variety of emergency and security drills.
Amtrak Cascades train to Vancouver, B.C. reaching one-year mark with soaring ridership and high demand
After one year in operation, the second Amtrak Cascades train to Vancouver, B.C., has exceeded its ridership expectations and recorded its best month in July, with nearly 25,000 passengers. From the day service began Aug. 19, 2009, through July 31, ridership for the second Amtrak Cascades train totaled more than 221,000. Ridership on the original train to Vancouver, B.C. also increased dramatically, more than 21 percent compared to 2009. To encourage even greater ridership between the state of Washington and British Columbia, travelers will be offered a 25 percent ticket discount on Amtrak Cascades travel to Vancouver, B.C. during September.
The second daily Amtrak Cascades train is currently being operated as a pilot program through September 2010, with proposed plans for the service to continue if the Canada Border Services Agency decides to allow the train to pass without additional security fees.
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September meetings and events
2 – 6, Thursday – Monday, 12 – 11 p.m., Information booth, WSDOT I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East project - Ellensburg: WSDOT staff will have information on the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East project and information about projects in Ellensburg and Yakima. Location: Kittitas County Fairgrounds, 512 North Poplar Street, Ellensburg.
9, Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Public meeting, Washington State Transportation Commission – Vancouver: The Washington State Transportation Commission will hold a series of listening sessions across the state to gather comments from the public on the draft 20-year Washington Transportation Plan - WTP 2030. Location: WSDOT Southwest Region Office, 11018 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver.
14, Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Public meeting, Washington State Transportation Commission – Yakima: The Washington State Transportation Commission will hold a series of listening sessions across the state to gather comments from the public on the draft 20-year Washington Transportation Plan - WTP 2030. Location: Harman Center, 101 North 65th Avenue, Yakima.
15, Wednesday, 6:30 - 9 p.m., Public meeting, US 2/Rice Road Roundabout project - Sultan: WSDOT staff will give a presentation about the single-lane roundabout design for the US 2/Rice Road improvement project. Location: Sultan Middle School Commons, 301 High Avenue, Sultan.
16, Thursday, 4 – 6:30 p.m., Open house, SR 500 – St. Johns Blvd. Interchange project – Vancouver: WSDOT staff will present project information and be available to answer questions at an open house for the SR 500, St. Johns Blvd. Interchange project. Location: Minnehaha Elementary School, 2800 Northeast 54th Street, Vancouver.
18, Saturday, 3 – 4 p.m., Ribbon-cutting, Travel Washington Gold Line bus route – Kettle Falls: WSDOT will host a ribbon-cutting event to launch Travel Washington's new Gold Line bus service with stops between Spokane and Kettle Falls. Location: Kettle Falls Information Center, 425 W. Third Avenue W., Kettle Falls.
Express Lane Archive
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