Date:  Thursday, May 07, 2009

Contact: Contact: Patrick Conrad, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4473 (Seattle)
Quick info link: www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today

Eastside drivers continue to leave early or leave late to save time

SEATTLE – Seattle-bound drivers made a big difference in the Thursday morning commute through Issaquah and across the I-90 floating bridge. Traffic data shows drivers are flexing their schedule and commuting outside the peak 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. time period. Travel times from Issaquah to Seattle via I-90 and Bellevue to Seattle via SR 520 never exceeded 24 minutes.

“We checked the traffic volumes and the same number of people are using I-90 and SR 520. They’re just traveling at different times of the day and that’s making all the difference,” said Russ East, WSDOT Assistant Regional Administrator.

Monday’s peak commute time was 57 minutes. Wednesday’s peak commute time was 37 minutes. Eastside commuters know what works.

This was the fourth morning commute of the 19-day I-90 express lane closures between Mercer Island and Seattle. WSDOT contractor crews have closed the express lanes to replace cracking expansion joints that pose a safety risk. The $8.3 million project supports an estimated 80 jobs.

Thursday traffic
The westbound morning traffic volumes peaked at 7:15 a.m. and again at 8:15 a.m. An Issaquah to Seattle driver spent about 24 minutes in the car. Typical travel times range from 23 to 30 minutes during the 7 and 8 o’clock hours. Interested drivers can see the commute patterns change in a series of graphics we’ve been posting daily since Monday. www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today

Pending any unexpected collisions or stalled vehicles, we expect a typical commute on I-90 this evening.

Progress on the job
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i90/homerhadleybridgerepair/
Contractor crews chiseled away nearly two feet of concrete on either side of the two, 40-ton expansion joints that span the entire width of the express lanes. They are cutting out the steel joints piece by piece. Crews are on track to install the new expansion joints late this weekend.

I-5 Seattle work this weekend
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/SeattlePavementRepair/
WSDOT contractor crews continue to smooth and repair broken and cracked concrete panels on I-5 this weekend. Friday, May 8 through Monday, May 11, crews will replace 46 concrete panels in the I-5 express lanes. The express lanes will be closed to all drivers all weekend.

Hood Canal Bridge
Remember the Hood Canal Bridge is closed until mid-June. The Olympic Peninsula is open for business. Check the Hood Canal Bridge site for water shuttle information. www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr104hoodcanalbridgeeast/

What should drivers do?
• Interstate 90 drivers should continue to avoid the 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. commute period.
• Check the Web for the latest information at www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today.
• Check the Seattle traffic map to pinpoint and avoid congestion www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle
• Use the overhead freeway signs and the 511 driver information line to get up-to-the minute information on the road.
• Call our I-90 information hotline at 206.440.4444. The hotline is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Leave a message and your call will be returned.

For more detailed closure information on these projects and other work this weekend, drivers should bookmark www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009.

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