http://wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/News/ Copyright WSDOT 2008. All rights reserved. bertraj@wsdot.wa.gov (Jeremy Bertrand) Washington State Department of Transportation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:41:24 GMT 15 http://wsdot.wa.gov/Public/images/nav/wsdot2g4.gif http://wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/News/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:58:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/02/08_I5NewCamerasOnline.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/02/08_I5NewCamerasOnline.htm New cameras on I-5 show 16 miles of traffic and road condition information to drivers. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:03:31 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/EqualOpportunityDisparityStudy.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/EqualOpportunityDisparityStudy.htm Statewide meetings kick off disparity study Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:43:05 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/27_520billing.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/27_520billing.htm The Washington State Department of Transportation is investigating State Route 520 pass reader errors that may have caused incorrect charges on Good To Go! customer accounts. Toll system engineers installed a fix and the issue does not affect drivers who are billed through Pay By Mail. The toll equipment is still processing transactions and collecting tolls while engineers continue to investigate. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:09:44 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/2012SafeRoutesToSchool.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/2012SafeRoutesToSchool.htm WSDOT seeking projects for the Safe Routes to School Program Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:03:10 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/24_sr99-tolling-committee.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/24_sr99-tolling-committee.htm The SR 99 Tunnel Project’s Advisory Committee on Tolling and Traffic Management meets Wednesday to continue exploring ways to reduce traffic diversion due to tunnel tolls and meet the project’s funding goals. Committee members will review guiding principles for evaluating and prioritizing future recommendations and discuss the basics of finance and traffic modeling. Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:20:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/21_PugetSoundHighwaysOpening.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/21_PugetSoundHighwaysOpening.htm Washington State highway crews continue to get roads back in good shape after seven straight days of snow, ice, sleet, wind and rain. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:05:11 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/19_SnowResponse9pm.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/19_SnowResponse9pm.htm The snow and ice are moving out of the Puget Sound and the debris left behind is the story now. Maintenance crews for the Washington State Department of Transportation are busy clearing roads of slush and snow tonight. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:19:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/19_WSDOTWorkerInjuries.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/19_WSDOTWorkerInjuries.htm Two Washington State Department of Transportation workers injured today while helping keep state roadways open during the winter storm are expected to make full recoveries, WSDOT said today. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:13:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/19_icestorm_update2.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/19_icestorm_update2.htm OLYMPIA – Commutes will remain difficult through the night and into Friday as this winter storm continues to pack a punch. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:35:39 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/19_icestorm_update.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/19_icestorm_update.htm OLYMPIA - Collisions and tree limbs are piling up on state highways, the Washington State Department of Transportation said today. Drivers may face long delays from icy conditions and road and lane closures throughout the state. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:24:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/19_commute_icestorm.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/19_commute_icestorm.htm OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Transportation today urged drivers to use extreme caution because of ice on roadways from freezing rain. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:25:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/18_IceWarning.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/18_IceWarning.htm Today’s western Washington snowfall, as much as 14 inches in some spots in Pierce and Thurston counties, now gives way to a bigger concern on the roads: ice you can’t see.Forecasts call for dropping temperatures overnight and wet roadways turning to ice. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:58:59 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/18_80thRampClosure.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/18_80thRampClosure.htm The Interstate 90 Express Lanes access ramp at 80th Avenue Southeast will close for up to four weeks beginning Monday, Jan. 23, before reopening to the outer roadway of eastbound I-90. Closing the ramp on Mercer Island will affect bus riders, carpoolers and vanpoolers. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:37:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/17_winter_storm_pm_report.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/17_winter_storm_pm_report.htm Weather conditions tonight, tomorrow and into Thursday are shaping up to make roadway conditions potentially treacherous, the Washington State Department of Transportation said today. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:17:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/01_17520Electricfix.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/01_17520Electricfix.htm The State Route 520 toll-collection system is operating again and collecting tolls just after 11 a.m. The system was off-line for about four-and-a-half hours Tuesday morning after crews had to shut it down for unplanned electrical system repairs. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:46:04 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/01_17SR520electricshutdown.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/01_17SR520electricshutdown.htm After a night working to address power issues, crews shut down the toll-collection system on the SR 520 Bridge about 6:30 a.m. today, Jan. 17. Repair crews hope to get the system operating within a couple of hours. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:01:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/16_SR520WorkCompleteSnowRemovalContinues.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/16_SR520WorkCompleteSnowRemovalContinues.htm SEATTLE – Construction is complete for the weekend on State Route 520, however the highway and floating bridge remain closed from Montlake Boulevard in Seattle to I-405 in Bellevue while maintenance crews continue snow and ice removal. Mainline lanes and ramps on SR 520 are estimated to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16, once snow and ice removal is complete. Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:15:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/13_mlkjrweekendsnow.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/13_mlkjrweekendsnow.htm Road crews statewide are gearing up for what could be the biggest snowstorm of winter 2011-2012, with snow expected from the Hood Canal north to Bellingham, south to Vancouver and east to Spokane. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:50:32 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/12_First520TollBills.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/12_First520TollBills.htm Within the next week, 19,000 State Route 520 toll bills will arrive in mailboxes across the Puget Sound region. That might seem like a lot, but it’s far fewer bills than the Washington State Department of Transportation expected to send. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:09:05 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/10_SR520WeekendClosureJan13_16.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/10_SR520WeekendClosureJan13_16.htm SEATTLE – Major construction will kick into high gear this weekend (Jan. 13-16, 2012) on State Route 520 east of Lake Washington, and all lanes of the highway will close so crews can move in more than two million pounds of massive concrete girders for new lidded overpasses above the highway. Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:35:16 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/06_520TollingWeekLater.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/06_520TollingWeekLater.htm More drivers are returning to the State Route 520 floating bridge, a week after tolls began. Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:49:08 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/405bellvuetolynnwood.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/405bellvuetolynnwood.htm WSDOT selects Flatiron Constructors Inc. for $155.5 million I-405 Bellevue to Lynnwood improvement project Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:04:12 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/05_SR520_Driverstweakcommute.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/05_SR520_Driverstweakcommute.htm Drivers are navigating toward a new normal as they tweak their commute times and routes and get used to tolling on State Route 520. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:00:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/01_05_TNB+Rates.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/01_05_TNB+Rates.htm The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Citizen Advisory Committee will meet next week to begin discussing new toll rates for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:01:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/04_TollingCommutePressRelease.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/04_TollingCommutePressRelease.htm SEATTLE – Traffic patterns are shifting as drivers continue to adjust to tolls on the State Route 520 bridge, which consistently has faster speeds. Meanwhile, the morning commute on Interstate 90 started sooner, nearly 30 minutes earlier. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:24:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/04_AlaskanWaySouthDetour.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/04_AlaskanWaySouthDetour.htm Drivers who use Alaskan Way South along Seattle’s waterfront can expect major changes beginning this week as crews make way for the SR 99 tunnel construction zone. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:34:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/03_SR520FasterCommute.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/03_SR520FasterCommute.htm Drivers found a faster evening commute across the newly-tolled State Route 520 bridge on Tuesday, Jan. 3. While more drivers chose alternate routes like Interstate 90 and SR 522, congestion was still fairly typical. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:28:08 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/03_sr520newyearnewcommute.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/03_sr520newyearnewcommute.htm The holidays are over and the commuters are back. Many returned to work or school in the Central Puget Sound region to find their primary route across Lake Washington, the State Route 520 floating bridge, now requires an electronic toll. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:27:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/02_Day5tolling.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/02_Day5tolling.htm As the holiday season closes, people head back to work and school tomorrow in full force. Commuters in Central Puget Sound can expect changes to their drive, as they continue to make adjustments triggered by the start of tolling on State Route 520 last Thursday. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 11:23:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/30_520tollingday2.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/30_520tollingday2.htm Evening rush hour was predictably light for the second day of tolling on the SR 520 floating bridge. As 2011 comes to a close, drivers prepare for changes to their commute on Tuesday. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:13:04 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/30_Day2tolling_am.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/30_Day2tolling_am.htm The second morning of tolling on the State Route 520 bridge Friday went much like the first – smooth sailing. Traffic was even lighter this morning than the first day of tolling and alternate routes Interstate-90 and SR 522 experienced no travel delays. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:24:59 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/30_2RiceRoadRoundabout.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/30_2RiceRoadRoundabout.htm Work begins Jan. 3 on a roundabout at the US 2/Rice Road intersection in Sultan. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:12:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/29_SR520TOLLINGFIRSTDAY.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/29_SR520TOLLINGFIRSTDAY.htm Tolling on the State Route 520 bridge began as planned at 5 a.m. today, when the first tolled car since June 1979 crossed the bridge. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:47:07 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/29_Day1520Toll.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/29_Day1520Toll.htm The State Route 520 floating bridge became a tolled bridge at 5 a.m. today. After a record-breaking day of new Good To Go! accounts Wednesday, most drivers saved money with a pass. Tolls collected will help pay for a new floating bridge scheduled to open in late 2014. Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:19:54 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/28_BellinghamEVcharging.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/28_BellinghamEVcharging.htm The future of long-distance, zero-emissions travel begins right in Bellingham, where construction is starting on the state’s first public charging station that can recharge electric vehicles in 30 minutes. It’s the first sign of a border-to-border network of public electric-vehicle charging stations and the first stop on Washington’s segment of the West Coast Electric Highway along 276 miles of Interstate 5 between the state’s borders with Oregon and Canada. Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:47:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/28_1daytotolling.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/28_1daytotolling.htm All drivers in the Central Puget Sound Region should prepare for the start of tolling on the State Route 520 bridge at 5 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:01:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/27_520toll2days.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/27_520toll2days.htm With State Route 520 tolling less than 48 hours away, drivers are getting prepared. While Good To Go! customer service centers were closed Sunday for the holiday, drivers went online and activated more than 650 accounts. By Tuesday, the total number of accounts activated since February rose to more than 135,000. Despite the big numbers, the Washington State Department of Transportation would still like to see more accounts activated by Dec. 29, the day tolling begins on the SR 520 bridge, whic Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:20:35 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/22_AWV-erp-update.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/22_AWV-erp-update.htm An expert review panel assessing the Washington State Department of Transportation’s finance plan for replacing the State Route 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct will release its findings and recommendations to the state Legislature in February. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:46:59 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/22_TollingOneWeek.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/22_TollingOneWeek.htm Tolling on the State Route 520 floating bridge starts at 5 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29. That means drivers have T-minus seven days and counting to save $1.50 per toll by purchasing a Good To Go! pass, opening an account and activating the pass. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:56:40 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/21_chirstmastravel2011.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/21_chirstmastravel2011.htm A white Christmas? Could be – at least in the mountains. Travelers should plan to pack tire chains and a winter kit alongside presents before hitting the road. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:03:18 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/16_520Tollsigns.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/16_520Tollsigns.htm Monday morning, Dec. 19, drivers will have another indication that State Route 520 tolling is just around corner — signs that indicate the bridge is tolled. crews will start uncovering and installing more than 40 signs along SR 520, Interstate 5 and Interstate 405, as well as city streets leading to SR 520. Tolling starts at 5 a.m. on Dec. 29. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:36:56 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/17_US2Ramp.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/17_US2Ramp.htm New US 2 ramp to ease congestion in Monroe Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:02:26 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/08_i5hillsiderepairs.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/08_i5hillsiderepairs.htm Hillside work closes one lane of I-5 near Bellingham starting next week as crews remove loose rocks and trees from the slope above, and in particular one very large rock described as being the size of a motor home. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/7_sr520tollsstartdec29.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/7_sr520tollsstartdec29.htm Tolling on the State Route 520 bridge starts December 29, 2011 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:52:05 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/2011_12_06_ThirdHOTLanes.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/2011_12_06_ThirdHOTLanes.htm The HOT Lanes on State Route 167 have accelerated into the black, according to the SR 167 Third Annual HOT Lanes Performance Summary released today by the Washington State Department of Transportation. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:46:10 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/_05_SR520_DesignOpenHouse.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/_05_SR520_DesignOpenHouse.htm SEATTLE – A range of design refinements shaped by public input for the future State Route 520 in Seattle will be available at an open house this week, allowing commuters and residents to continue to weigh in on potential design elements. Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:20:15 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/Draft2012STIP.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/Draft2012STIP.htm Comments sought on four-year program of transportation projects Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:20:23 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/02_RuralandSpecialNeedsPrograms.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/02_RuralandSpecialNeedsPrograms.htm Public comments sought on rural and special needs mobility programs Fri, 02 Dec 2011 06:23:00 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/01_TNBPhotoTollingStarts.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/12/01_TNBPhotoTollingStarts.htm Drivers who cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge will have additional options starting this weekend. On Saturday, Dec. 3, the Washington State Department of Transportation will activate photo tolling and introduce more ways to pay for a toll. Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:51:15 GMT http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/11/30_Milepost31GrandOpening.htm http://wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/11/30_Milepost31GrandOpening.htm The world's largest-diameter tunnel boring machine won't start digging beneath Pioneer Square until 2013, but the public won’t have to wait until then to dig into the State Route 99 Tunnel Project or the historic neighborhood where the record-breaking machine will begin its journey.