by Jeff Adamson
With the fronts coming through now and tonight (more snow has already started falling) and a forecast calling for 4 to 6 more inches, it's not safe for even our avalanche crew to go in today. (Of course with more snow falling, the avalanche threat will likely be different by tomorrow morning in any case).
Continue reading "North Cascades Highway update" »
More snow on the way for North Cascades passes
The Twisp snow crew has been on their winter schedule since Sunday, Nov. 1, so there's round-the-clock coverage in the Cascades on SR 20. They have been plowing as needed and we expect it's going to be a busy weekend.
Continue reading "WSDOT Skagit, Island county updates" »
Lane closure at the bridge Monday night to move crane
Crews will move a large crane across the Mark Clark Bridge Monday night. The crane is so large, it must be taken apart and moved in pieces. Crews will also do some paving work Monday night to flatten out the ends of the bridge to give you a smoother ride. You may have noticed the bumps while crossing the bridge recently.
To complete this work, crews will close one lane of the bridge on:
- Monday, Nov. 9, from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
During the week, crews will continue building columns for the new Mark Clark Bridge. This involves setting large forms in the ground and filling them with reinforced concrete. We just completed the four columns on the east side of the bridge, and once we move the crane, crews will turn their attention to building the four columns on the west side of the bridge. This work has been going on for several weeks, and we’ve taken lots of great pictures of the process. Visit the Flickr page to see photos of our progress on the new Mark Clark Bridge.
Continue reading "WSDOT SR532 Update" »
Delays east of Stanwood Saturday as crews stripe the road
Crews will stripe the westbound truck-climbing lane and move temporary barriers on SR 532 east of Stanwood at night tonight and next week. Please watch for crews working near the road and expect delays. This work is weather dependent. To complete this work, crews will alternate traffic on SR 532 during the following days and times:
- 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, to 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, between 19th Ave NW and 28th Ave NW for striping.
- 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 2, through Friday morning, Nov. 6, between 19th Ave NW and 28th Ave NW for striping.
- 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, to 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, between Pioneer Highway and 72nd Ave NW to set temporary barrier.
- 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, to 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 between 54th Ave NW and 36th Ave NW to remove temporary barrier.
Continue reading "WSDOT SR532 Update" »
Watch for striping crews east of Stanwood Saturday night
We didn’t need to close a lane last Sunday afternoon to complete paving. However, we expect to close a lane for striping this Saturday evening into Sunday morning. We are working as fast as we can to finish weather-sensitive tasks, and Saturday looks like our best chance of getting this done without rain.
Crews will stripe the westbound truck-climbing lane on SR 532 east of Stanwood. Please watch for crews working near the road and expect delays. This work is weather dependent and will have to be rescheduled if it rains. Crews will close a lane and use flaggers to direct you through the work zone.
Continue reading "WSDOT SR532 Update" »
by Noel Brady
New technology to put the brakes on collisions
In a few months you might notice some new traffic gadgets on your way to work – WSDOT is installing new electronic signs over each lane on some of the Seattle area’s busiest freeways, starting with I-5 and SR 520.
Continue reading "I-5 Seattle Connections Transportation News" »
Lane closure scheduled for Sunday afternoon east of Stanwood
Crews will close a lane of SR 532 east of Stanwood at 3 p.m. on Sunday. We are very close to completing paving on the eastbound truck climbing lane, but rain and cold weather have the potential to stop us in our tracks. That’s why we are working earlier than usual Sunday to try and finish the last of the paving. If it rains Sunday, expect to see this work rescheduled for next week, and possibly scheduled to begin as early as 7 p.m.
· Sunday, Oct. 18 – Crews will close a lane and use a pilot car to direct you through the construction zone between 12th Ave NW and 52nd Ave NW from 3 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday morning. Expect minor delays.
Continue reading "WSDOT SR532 Update" »
SR 20 Quiet Cove barking requires nighttime lane closures
Crews continue to finish minor details between Sharpes Corner and south Lake Campbell Road along SR 20. Next week they will close a lane at night while they work along the shoulders of the highway spreading bark.
Continue reading "WSDOT Skagit and island County Update" »
Crews moving huge crane over the Mark Clark Bridge
Crews began removing some of the large equipment this week that is currently on the west bank of the river and was used to drill the shafts for the new bridge.
The crane is so big they have to disassemble it and take it across the bridge in pieces. Expect intermittent nighttime single-lane closures as they transport equipment. Starting next week, you will see crews completing shoring work and beginning soil improvements.
Continue reading "SR532 Update" »
SR 20 guardrail work requires lane closures near Quiet Cove
Watch for crews during the day working throughout the project zone along the shoulders and side streets. At night, crews will continue installing guardrail.
Continue reading "WSDOT Skagit, Island county updates" »
Nighttime lane closure tonight on Camano Island
Crews will pave the eastbound lane of SR 532 on Camano Island and install street lights tonight. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone. Please watch for crews working near the road and expect minor delays.
· 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, to 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 - Crews will close one lane of SR 532 between Smith Road and Foxtrot Road to pave the eastbound lane. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone. Please watch for crews working near the road and expect minor delays. This work is weather dependent.
Continue reading "WSDOT SR532 update" »
Work continues on southbound I-5 south of Mount Vernon
Crews completed the concrete panel work on northbound I-5. But there’s a lot of work left to do on southbound I-5. Crews are replacing concrete panels from milepost 217 to 218. Please watch your speed and watch for slowing traffic through this construction zone.
Crews have the right lane of southbound I-5 between mileposts 217 and 218 closed around-the-clock until Sept. 28.
Continue reading "WSDOT Island and Skagit County updates" »
Nighttime lane closures across the Mark Clark Bridge
Crews will move large cranes and construction equipment across the Mark Clark Bridge, resulting in intermittent lane closures on Friday and Monday night. Due to the weight and size of the equipment, it’s going to take several trips across the bridge to move it all.
After the equipment is moved, crews will begin constructing the four shafts on the west side of the bridge. We have already completed the four shafts on the east side of the bridge and will begin building the columns.
Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone. Please watch for crews working near the road and expect intermittent 10- to 15-minute delays.
Continue reading "WSDOT SR532 Update" »
Plan ahead for weeklong closure of SR 531 near Smokey Point
If you’re a regular driver on SR 531 west of I-5, plan to add some time to your trips next week. We’ve wrapped up one SR 531 closure and are getting ready to start another. Crews reopened the southbound I-5 on-ramp from eastbound SR 531 early this morning, but starting Monday, we’ll fully close a portion of SR 531 farther west so crews can replace a culvert.
Continue reading "WSDOT Snohomish County Update" »
From WSDOT:
Traffic cameras offline this weekend for system upgrades
If you rely on our traffic cameras to plan your commute, here’s a heads-up for this weekend. Traffic crews will cut communication to dozens of cameras and traffic sensors between Seattle and Tacoma to prepare for upgrades that will enable “smarter highways” on I-5. The work also will cause HOV and right-lane closures on northbound I-5 between Boeing Access Road and I-90 when crews disable and reconnect fiber optic lines.
Continue reading "I-5 Seattle Connections Transportation News" »
Work at Mark Clark Bridge causes big backups Friday morning
If your morning commute takes you over the Mark Clark Bridge, chances are you were stuck in traffic early Friday morning. We apologize for the delay. So what were we doing that caused the backup?
Crews were installing temporary shoring near the highway at the Mark Clark Bridge. The work requires crews to pound large sections of steel into the ground. The steel, also known as shoring, creates a temporary wall to protect the highway, which allows crews to excavate near the bridge.
During the installation of the shoring, vibrations from the pounding caused an unexpected soft spot or void near the highway. For the safety of drivers and our work crews, we needed to keep the highway closed beyond our normal work hours so we could fill the void and reopen the road.
Continue reading "WSDOT SR532 update" »