Date:  Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Contact: Tom Stacey, WSDOT Project Manager, 360-757-5982
Dustin Terpening, WSDOT Communications, 360-757-5997

BURLINGTON – WSDOT recently finished researching and analyzing I-5 through Skagit County and found problems that need funding and improvements. The community is invited to learn more about the problems and discuss improvements at an open house next week.

The open house will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, at the Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave.

WSDOT found that more than half of the ramps between Conway and Cook Road are too short or sharp; congestion on local streets clogs interchanges and causes dangerous backups on the interstate; too many drivers use the interstate for short trips through town; the “rush hour” periods are expected to only get worse; and there were 463 crashes on I-5 from 2003 to 2005.

Possible improvement options include rebuilding interchanges; lengthening ramps; adding merge lanes between interchanges; reserving space in the median for transit, carpool, freight or toll lanes; and improving the local street network.

WSDOT is seeking funding to make improvements. The long-term goal of the I-5 master plan is to improve safety and relieve congestion along a 10-mile stretch of I-5 from Conway (exit 221) to Cook Road (exit 232) in Skagit County.

WSDOT would also like to hear from people who can’t attend the open house. People who can’t attend are encouraged to contact Tom Stacey by phone at 360-757-5982 or by e-mail at StaceyT@wsdot.wa.gov. Detailed project information and a comment form can be found on the Web at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/SR534CookRoadStudy.  

The meeting site is accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals requiring reasonable accommodation may request written materials in alternate formats, sign language interpreters, physical accessibility accommodations or other reasonable accommodations.

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