Date:
Friday, March 07, 2008
Contact:
Patty Michaud, WSDOT Communications, (425) 405-1785 (Everett)
Lauren Penning, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4473 (Seattle)
EVERETT – Drivers on southbound Interstate 5 navigated around a split in traffic through downtown Everett for the first time this morning. Crews installed the split overnight to create a work zone to replace a damaged girder under the highway. To help drivers during this potentially disruptive construction, WSDOT engineers installed a series of traffic speed sensors to allow drivers to see traffic back-ups approaching the work zone in time for this morning's critical commute.
"Traffic moved smoothly this morning but we have up to eight more weeks of this traffic split." said Mike Cotten, I-5 Everett HOV project director. We hope drivers use this new information to help them prepare for their trip through Everett so they won't feel rushed as they drive through the construction zone."
Drivers are now able to view traffic speeds in ten new locations between 116th Street NE in Marysville and SR 526 in Everett thanks to the new speed sensors. The sensors capture the current speed of cars passing by using radar. The information is sent back to the WSDOT traffic management center and then color-coded on WSDOT's traffic map: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/seattle/
“This is a new innovative way for us to post speed information on our Web site, said Michael Forbis, Intelligent Transportation Systems Engineer. “We worked diligently to get this information up and running in time to help drivers navigate the big traffic split through Everett.”
When the I-5 Everett Freeway Expansion project is completed this summer more traveler information will be available on I-5 between SR 526 and US 2 including new traffic cameras and traffic sensors embedded in the roadway that will provide traffic speeds and travel time data.
You can get more information at the about the I-5 Everett Freeway Expansion project by visiting: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/HOVSR526toUS2/ or about the Pacific Avenue Girder Replacement project by visiting: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/PacAveBridgeGirder/
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