Date:  Friday, June 25, 2010

Contact: Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7080 (Olympia)

OLYMPIA – WSDOT encourages drivers to use travel planning tools and declare independence from roadway delays this Fourth of July weekend.

WSDOT offers many ways to know before you go, including our website, www.wsdot.wa.gov, and the 24-hour traveler information line, 5-1-1.

Using those tools, travelers can avoid the 27-mile backups that formed as Memorial Day weekend came to a close. Many chose to travel on I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass on Monday afternoon during peak hours, leading to almost three-hour delays.

WSDOT has listed on its website the times and places drivers may likely see weekend delays: US 2, I-90, I-5 at the Canadian Border and I-5 south of Olympia through Lewis County. Drivers on I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass can expect higher-than-normal traffic volumes Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Monday afternoon. Drivers should also expect additional traffic on US 2 Stevens Pass, primarily on Friday and Monday.

Travel on Puget Sound highways will increase Thursday, with peak travel times from noon to 9 p.m. Friday and early Saturday. Monday afternoon travel back into the Puget Sound area will peak just before noon and continue into late evening hours.

Work at most construction projects around the state will move off the highway from noon Friday until Tuesday morning. Although there may not be any active construction over the holiday weekend, drivers should prepare for shifted lanes, roadway detours and reduced speed zones in places.

On I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass crews will temporarily close I-90 in both directions from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday between Hyak (milepost 54) and the Price Creek Sno Park (milepost 61) for rock-blasting activities. See more about what's happening on I-90 East of Snoqualmie Pass.

Crews will also perform a scheduled controlled rock blast on Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m.

Drivers should expect longer-than typical wait times at ferry docks and Canadian border crossings most of the holiday weekend. Travel times are significantly lighter Wednesday and Thursday morning and on Tuesday. Amtrak Cascades is very popular on holiday weekends. Travelers are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance and arrive early at the station for departure. Visit www.amtrakcascades.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL for more information.

Know Before you go:

• 511 - This driver information phone line provides current traffic, incident and closure information. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388. Out-of-state callers can access the information at call 1-800-695-ROAD (7623).
• On WSDOT’s travel website, www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic, drivers can see information such as camera images from across the state, the Washington State Ferry schedule and a map shows highway incidents and closures.
• Go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/inform to see how WSDOT is using new tools to provide traveler information on social media (Twitter, Facebook) and for mobile devices. You can also sign up for specialized e-mail alerts.

On the Road:

• Overhead and roadside electronic signs
• Highway advisory radio - WSDOT advises drivers to program 530AM and 1610AM on your radio.

The following are additional areas where motorists may encounter delays over the holiday weekend:

Washington State Ferries

• The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division (WSF) is planning in advance for heavy traffic this Fourth of July holiday weekend as many locals and tourists attend the various fireworks displays in the Puget Sound Region, from Lopez Island to Point Defiance. The heaviest traffic is expected westbound Thursday, July 1 and Friday, July 2, and eastbound Monday, July 5. Sailing schedules will vary by route. For more summer schedule details and other ferry system information, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries. To sign up for free e-mail alerts about service disruptions and other route information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/email_alerts.

Puget Sound Roadways:

• SR 16/Tacoma Narrows Bridge: Traffic through the manual toll lanes is expected to be heavy Sunday night from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Traffic through the manual toll lanes is also expected to increase on Monday afternoon and evening. However, backups from the manual toll lanes are not expected to affect traffic in the mainline lanes. All six manual toll booths will be open during peak travel times. WSDOT will be monitoring traffic to minimize backups and take action if necessary. Those with Good To Go! accounts are asked to move to the left when nearing the toll plaza and watch for merging and exiting traffic as drivers unfamiliar with the toll plaza navigate to the toll booths.
• In Seattle, the lane on the east side of the Ship Canal Bridge express lanes remains closed until further notice between the south end of the bridge and just south of the 42nd Street ramp. When the lanes are southbound in the morning, it is the left lane that is closed. When the lanes are northbound in the afternoon, it is the right lane that is closed.
• The I-90 express lanes on Mercer Island are reduced to one lane between 80th Avenue SE and Shorewood Drive around-the-clock. When the lanes are westbound, it’s the left lane that’s closed. When the lanes are eastbound, it’s the right lane that is closed.

Drivers headed into downtown Seattle on Sunday, July 4 should be prepared for heavy congestion along with I-5 lane and ramp closures. Closures begin up to one hour prior to the fireworks show on Lake Union. At approximately 9:00 p.m., WSDOT crews will begin closing

• The southbound I-5 off-ramp to Roanoke Street
• The southbound I-5 on ramp from Boylston Street
• The southbound I-5 exit-only lane and off-ramp to Mercer Street.

The ramps and lane will reopen after the fireworks show has concluded. WSDOT, the Washington State Patrol and Seattle Police Department work together each year closing these ramps to help prevent congestion and keep drivers from stopping on I-5 to watch the fireworks. The closures also provide troopers with a safe zone to monitor traffic, keep it flowing smoothly and drivers safe during the display.

Southwest Washington:

WSDOT and the Washington State Patrol will close the highway ramps listed below from 6 p.m. to midnight for the fireworks show at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Reserve.

• I 5 NB Mill Plain Blvd.
• SR 14 EB and WB at Columbia House Blvd.
• SR 14 EB Evergreen Blvd.

Aviation

• The 16 state-operated airports are open for the season. To check the status of state-operated airports, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/airports/Amenities.htm or call 1-800-552-0666. 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 1-800-WX-BRIEF. Temporary flight restriction information is available at: airspace.nifc.gov/mapping/nifc/index.cfm.

Buses

• Most public transit systems will follow a holiday schedule and some transit systems will not operate fixed route or Dial-A-Ride service on. Check with your local transit agency for more information.

Local Parades/Festivals:

• SR 12 will be closed through Oakville on July 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Independence Day Parade. A detour will be in place.
• US 101 through Forks will be closed July 2 from 6:45 – 11 p.m. and July 4 from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. A detour will be in place.
• US 101 will be closed through Port Angeles 5:30-7:30 p.m. July 4 for the 4th of July Parade. A detour will be in place.
• Drivers can expect stop and go traffic on US 101 near the junction of SR 119/Hoodsport from July 2-5. Traffic control will be in place.
• SR 6 through Pe Ell will be close July 4 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. for the Fourth of July parade. A detour will be in place.
• SR 501 near Ridgefield will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon July 4 for a Fourth of July parade. A detour will be in place.
• SR 103 near Ocean Park will be closed July 4 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. for the Old Fashioned Fourth of July parade. A detour will be in place.
• SR 903 in Cle Elum will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon July 4 for the Fourth of July Parade.

###

WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

< Go Back