Showing posts with label traffic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traffic. Show all posts

A weekend full of events - if you can get to them

Saturday, July 22, 2023

WSDOT "paint map"

Just in case you haven't heard (and where have you been if you haven't?) Taylor Swift is coming to Seattle this weekend for a pair of concerts Saturday and Sunday night at Lumen Field.

But she's far from the only show (or game) in town. We've got the Bite of Seattle, NHRA Northwest Nationals, Capitol Hill Block Party, Seattle Chinatown Seafair Parade and Dude Perfect Pandamonium Tour all going on this weekend, and that's not to mention home games for the Seattle Mariners and Storm.

And don't forget about the Darrington Bluegrass Festival and a host of other events around the state.

WSDOT traffic map

If that weren't enough, we have some construction and maintenance projects that you should know about before heading out the door no matter where your travels take you.

Check out these Paint Maps for a rundown of all this weekend's big goings on, and make sure you know before you go by following our Travel Center Map and WSDOT Traffic Twitter account.

--WSDOT


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WSDOT to close major routes for maintenance this weekend

Saturday, July 15, 2023

The upcoming "monster" closures on SR 520 and Montlake Boulevard will lead to significant progress in the project, which is on track to finish early next year. Graphic courtesy WSDOT

SEATTLE: Closures on SR 520, Montlake Boulevard started Friday July 14

People will encounter what we’re calling “monster” roadway closures on and around State Route 520 in Seattle starting Friday night, July 14, 2023.

Early warning: It’s not going to be pretty. In a nutshell, we’re closing parts of the SR 520 bridge across Lake Washington for two weekends in a row (July 14-17 and 21-24). Moreover, we’re closing Montlake Boulevard, one of Seattle’s busiest streets, during that entire 10-day stretch.

Why is this happening?

We’re aiming to complete the SR 520 Montlake Project early next year. This is a major phase of SR 520’s ongoing reconstruction between Interstate 5 in Seattle and I-405 on the east side of Lake Washington. The Montlake Project’s final stages, unavoidably, require several significant closures.

We know these closures are tough. The good news is drivers will see significant progress at the end of this “monster closure.” We’ll straighten Montlake Boulevard into its final north-south alignment. We’ll also open two new SR 520 on-ramps from Montlake: one westbound and one eastbound. The eastbound on-ramp will link to a new, three-lane eastbound bridge between Montlake and the SR 520 floating bridge. (We like to call the new eastbound span the world’s longest on-ramp to the world’s longest floating bridge.)

Even more exciting is that drivers will see a new, landscaped lid over SR 520 by early 2024. More details on the closures can be found in our blog.

Second weekend SR 520 closure, July 21-24

It’s a busy summer construction season and it means there will be times where work has to stack and its unavoidable.

Both directions of SR 520 will close again from 11pm Friday, July 21, through 5am Monday, July 24. The SR 520 Trail across the lake will remain open for both weekend closures.

Southbound travelers on Interstate 5 will need to plan for potential delays on their trips during an around-the-clock closure of the far-left lane of southbound I-5 near State Route 520 which began at 9pm Friday, July 14. The lane closure will last until 5am Monday, July 17

Limited access to eastbound SR 520

From 9pm on July 14 to 9am on July 15, southbound I-5 drivers will be able to access eastbound SR 520 using the normal exit. One lane of eastbound SR 520 will be open and all eastbound drivers will need to pay the SR 520 Bridge Toll due to the Montlake Boulevard exit being closed.

Drivers will not be able to take eastbound I-90 between 11:59pm on July 14 and 7am on July 15 due to scheduled maintenance in the tunnel.

At 9am on July 15, eastbound SR 520 will fully close but eastbound I-90 will be back open.


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MLB All-Star Week ready to hit a home run in Seattle, but plan ahead for increased traffic on the roads

Monday, July 10, 2023

Lots of fun inside the ballpark - lots of traffic outside
Photo courtesy WSP

Major League Baseball’s highly anticipated All-Star Week will bring excitement – and increased traffic – to the Puget Sound area with several planned activities in and around Seattle Friday, July 7, through Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

Several of the All-Star Week events occur during the evening commute. Whether attending All-Star Week events, taking regular trips or traveling through Seattle for other destinations, everyone is urged to plan ahead for increased traffic across the region and allow extra travel time to safely arrive at destinations. 

Ways to help keep everyone moving include traveling during non-peak times if possible, delaying non-essential trips and using transit and other alternative modes of transportation.



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Not that far from home: DUI collision on Hwy 99 and 220th

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Photo courtesy Edmonds police

Just after 2:45am on Sunday, June 18, 2023, Edmonds police officers responded to a DUI Collision investigation at 220th and Hwy 99. 

Two vehicles were involved. Initial investigation showed the suspect vehicle was northbound on Hwy 99, traveling at a high speed when it struck the rear of the stopped victim vehicle. 

Both occupants of the second vehicle were transported to Harborview. One is currently stable and the other is in critical condition.
 
The driver of the suspect vehicle, a 24-year old male from Lynnwood, was placed under arrest for DUI, processed and booked into jail. The Traffic Unit responded to the scene and the road was closed for several hours. No further updates are available at this time.


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LFP City council moves forward with plan to reduce speed limits on Bothell and Ballinger Way

Friday, June 9, 2023

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash
Since last spring, the LFP City Council has been considering reductions to speed limits on our local roads and state highways which will prioritize pedestrian and multi-modal safety.

The Council discussed a multi-phased approach to setting lower speed limits which began with the adoption of a speed limit setting methodology as required by state statute.

As part of this ongoing safety effort, they are also continuing to move forward with the process to reduce the speed limits on SR 522 (Bothell Way NE) and SR 104 (Ballinger Way NE) to ensure the safety of all pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

On October 13, 2022, the City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 1252 adopting the National Association of City Transportation Officials’ (“NACTO) 2020 City Limits, Setting Safe Speed Limits on Urban Streets (“City Limits”), a document intended to provide cities with guidance on how to strategically set speed limits on urban streets, using a Safe Systems approach, to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries.

As recommended in the City Limits document, the City will consider three or more phases to increasing safety on our roads. 
  1. Setting default speed limits on many streets at once (such as 25 mph on major streets and 20 mph on all minor neighborhood streets),
  2. Designating slow zones in sensitive areas, and
  3. Setting corridor speed limits on high priority major streets, using a safe speed study, which uses conflict density and activity level to set context-appropriate speed limits.

Ordinance 1252 will move forward with a Safe Speed Study in accordance with methodology in City Limits to determine the speed limits that will best minimize the risk of persons being killed or seriously injured in Lake Forest Park.

This work that the Council is conducting is very timely and necessary. The reduced traffic during the pandemic emboldened some drivers to ignore basic courtesy and safety and this has led to a significant increase in unlawful behavior on our roads and state highways. Traffic volume is down, yet infractions are up, as are crashes on a per-trip basis.

It is the Council’s intent to create a speed-setting program that slows drivers down and one that reflects the character of our community.

Be safe out there whether walking, riding and especially when driving!

--Deputy Mayor Tom French


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State increases patrols and outreach in an effort to reduce litter and traffic fatalities

Tuesday, June 6, 2023


OLYMPIA – Every year in Washington, debris from unsecured loads causes more than 300 traffic crashes and 30 injuries. In 2022, that toll included five deaths attributed to debris in the roadway. 

Not only is litter unsightly and diminishes the beauty of our state, it’s dangerous to travelers, roadside workers and people who walk, bike and roll. 

Additionally, 40% of roadside litter comes from unsecured items falling or blowing from trucks and cars, according to the 2022 statewide litter study.

So how can we prevent this? It all starts with simply strapping down and securing all items in your car, truck or trailer on every trip – even if it’s just across town.

“We are calling on everyone in Washington to help save lives by securing their cargo every time they drive,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. 
“Two out of three Washingtonians do the right thing and properly secure their loads, but the truth is that five of our fellow residents lost their lives last year due to unsecured cargo, and that is unacceptable. We all need to do our part to protect each other, and to protect our state’s environment.”

On June 6, the Washington State Patrol, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Washington Department of Ecology are banding together to mark National Secure Your Load Day

Along with raising public awareness about the importance of properly securing cargo, the event commemorates people whose lives were taken or impacted by unsecured loads. 

“Our troopers and commercial enforcement officers contact more than 1,000 motorists each year for failing to properly secure their vehicle’s loads,” said Washington State Patrol (WSP) Chief John Batiste. 
“Collisions caused by unsecured loads are entirely preventable. Ensuring all items are properly secured enables us all to have safe roadways.”

As a part of the annual campaign, state troopers are conducting emphasis patrols across Washington for three consecutive weekends between June 9 and June 25. Emphasis patrols during that time will have Troopers looking for unsecured loads, stopping drivers and handing out tickets to those whose loads are not properly secured in accordance with state law

Fines for littering and unsecured loads range from $50 to $5,000. If an item falls out and causes bodily harm or property damage, the driver could also face jail time. The largest fines are for “lit debris” — primarily cigarettes — and items that can cause vehicle crashes.


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Shoreline Police warn of dangers of being a Bus Lane Bandit

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Photos courtesy Shoreline Police
The week’s three-vehicle collision serves as a reminder to all that Shoreline BAT (Bus and Transit) lanes are, well, for buses. 

Not a bus? Turn right at the next light (or intersection) or risk a ticket.
Photo courtesy Shoreline Police
The driver of a 4Runner (not a bus) was driving southbound approaching the 16300 block of Aurora Ave. They continued straight in the BAT lane colliding with two cars. Injuries were minor but not the crash.

For safety’s sake … stay in your lane!



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WSDOT to perform pavement repairs on Ballinger Way in LFP starting Monday

Friday, June 2, 2023

View the map in a larger image
On Monday June 5, 2023, WSDOT will begin pavement repairs on Ballinger Way NE which will include crack sealing and pothole repairs:

The first phase of work will be crack sealing beginning on Ballinger Way at 40th Place progressing east to Bothell Way (SR 522).

The second phase will begin on Ballinger Way at 40th Place progressing west. Once completed with this section, they will complete the lanes from 40th Ave NE in the westbound direction.

Upon completion of the corridor’s crack sealing activities, WSDOT crews will repair potholes.

WSDOT will provide updated project information on message boards along Ballinger Way for the duration of the project.

For questions, please contact WSDOT at: 425-739-3730



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Ending: WA Notify app for COVID-19 and 511 for traffic alerts

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Going away May 11, 2023
On May 11, 2023 the state will end the WA Notify program which allowed subscribers to both enter information about their own positive COVID cases and be notified if they had potentially been exposed.

Since its launch in Nov. 2020, approximately 235,000 participants confirmed a positive test result in WA Notify, generating more than 2.5 million anonymous exposure notifications, preventing tens of thousands of COVID-19 cases, and saving lives. 

Washington was one of the first states to implement exposure notification technology and consistently had one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates in the country, despite also being host to the earliest known domestic case of the virus.
The State Dept of Health (DOH) says that "As the Public Health Emergency ends, high levels of vaccination, combined with widespread population immunity and available treatments, have significantly reduced the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, or death from COVID-19. These factors have also contributed to the reduced need for the WA Notify application."

Going away on May 19, 2023
Another notification program ending soon is 511
 

Starting Friday, May 19, Washington state travelers will no longer be able to access automated statewide travel information by calling 511.

For the past 20 years, the 511 phone number has provided a way to receive traffic impacts, crash alerts, current and future weather forecasts, mountain pass conditions and ferry information (schedules, fares and wait times) as well as reversible-express lane status.

So, why is 511 going away? Simply put, new technology has led to a dramatic decrease in the number of people using the service.

The 511 phone system is also expensive to operate, costing more than $150,000 a year in hard costs and requiring many staff hours to continually update travel information in the increasingly antiquated technology and to maintain signs about the program.

There are other ways to get travel information

If you don’t have internet or smart phone access

Contact WSDOT at the numbers below (you may also want to program some of these numbers into your phone or otherwise save them for easy reference):

  • Washington State Ferries’ information phone number 888-808-7977
  • Tolling information (Good To Go!) 866-936-8246
  • Amtrak Cascades 800-872-7245
  • Neighboring states 511 information
  • Oregon 503-588-2941
  • Idaho 888-432-7623
  • Local weather
  • Seattle 206-526-6087
  • Spokane 509-244-5992
  • Our Offices


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Collisions due to rain and ice on I-5 at NE 205th block all lanes of freeway

Tuesday, April 4, 2023


At 1am on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 rain and ice on I-5 at SR 104 (NE 205th) caused so many collisions that all lanes, northbound and southbound were blocked.

Emergency crews were on scene and travelers were advised to seek alternate routes or except delays.

45 minutes later, the southbound lanes were opened but northbound were still blocked.

All lanes were open by 2am.


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Wildfire aftermath: WSDOT crews replace 2500 feet of guardrail on Hwy 2 after Bolt Creek Fire

Monday, March 13, 2023

WSDOT crews replacing guard rails on Hwy 2 in the aftermath of the Bolt Creek fire
Photo courtesy WSDOT

Last year, the Bolt Creek fire burned along US 2 between Index and Skykomish spanning across the Snohomish-King county line. 

In addition to the trees that burned during the fire, fire mitigation strategies included the removal of several hundred hazardous trees. As trees fell, unfortunately some of the guardrail along the highway was damaged.

Over the past several weeks, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation have replaced approximately 2,500 feet of guardrail along US 2 near the Money Creek Tunnel. 

The project has required traffic to alternate through a single-lane work zone, and it is expected to conclude next week once inspection is complete.

As debris flow remains a concern along the Bolt Creek Fire Burn Scar and will for several years, WSDOT maintenance crews will continue regular monitoring and are scheduled to proceed with the construction of debris flow fence later this fall.


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Night work with intermittent lane closures on I-5 at NE 130th over two weeks

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Starting as early as Monday, February 6, 2023 Sound Transit will be performing night utility work along I-5 near NE 130th St overpass. This is in support of the Lynnwood Link line.

The work will happen at night, due to I-5 lane restrictions. This work will be performed for seven nights over two weeks at this location.

When:
  • Week 1 - Monday, Feb. 6, through Thursday, Feb. 10, from 9pm to 5am the following mornings. Right lane closure on southbound I-5 at NE 130th St.
  • Week 2 - Tuesday, Feb. 14, through Thursday, Feb. 16, from 9pm to 5am the following mornings.
    • Right lane closure on southbound I-5 at NE 130th St.
    • Left lane closure on northbound I-5 at NE 130th St.


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SEATTLE: Expect significant overnight closures on I-5 through downtown and Northgate

Saturday, February 4, 2023

SEATTLE: Expect significant overnight closures on I-5 through downtown

We roll into February with a series of significant closures on the construction calendar for our I-5 Seneca project as we improve mobility through downtown Seattle. 

The closures mean the northbound mainline lanes and the collector/distributor lanes of Interstate 5 will close. Northbound drivers can proceed into the Express Lanes keeping in mind they will not be able to exit until NE 42nd St near the University of Washington. 

Drivers who want to access downtown Seattle can exit at Edgar Martinez Drive or Rainier Avenue. This closure is planned nightly from 11:59pm Wednesday, February 15 to 4am Friday, February 17, and again nightly from 11:59pm Wednesday, February 22, to 4am Friday, February 24, 2023.

Next week drivers can plan for a typical construction pattern for this project as traffic shifts over to the collector/distributor lanes nightly from 9pm Monday, February 6, to 5am Friday, February 10.

Work this week includes:
  • Drivers should plan for nightly southbound lane reductions near I-90 from as early as 10pm Monday, February 6, through 5am Friday, February 10.
Various ramp closures will occur during late-night work including Olive Way, Madison, Union, Spring, James, Yale, Cherry and University streets.

SEATTLE: Northbound I-5 ramp and lane closures overnight this week near Northgate

Sound Transit has several ramp closures planned to facilitate the ongoing Lynnwood Link extension work:
  • The right lane of southbound I-5 between NE 136th St and NE 130th St will close nightly from 9pm to 5am beginning Monday, February 6 through the morning of Friday, February 10.
  • The northbound I-5 on-ramp from Northgate Way will close at 11pm on Thursday, February 9 and reopen at 5am Friday, February 10.

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Police standoff in Lake Forest Park nets robber wanted in Snohomish county

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Just after 3:20pm on Friday, January 20, 2023, a Lake Forest Park Police Department patrol sergeant identified a known subject he recognized to be a wanted person for robbery and multiple arrest warrants out of Snohomish County. 

The subject ran from the sergeant when contacted and a foot pursuit ensued. The subject fled on foot into an occupied residence in the 17500 block of Ballinger Way NE, just across from Town Center.

The resident was able to safely exit as the suspect hid in the home. Security camera footage from the victim's residence showed the subject entering the residence. 

A King County Superior Court judge approved a search warrant to enter the residence and arrest the subject. A SWAT team and negotiators took over tactical command of the incident in efforts to safely and peacefully resolve the situation.

Ballinger Way NE was closed in both directions between NE 175 and NE 178 St and traffic diverted through the mall.

At 9:10pm, the suspect was located hiding in the basement of the residence. He was arrested by the North Sound Metro SWAT Team without further incident.

Ballinger Way was opened soon after that. 

It was a successful outcome with the help of regional agency support. Thank you for your patience with our law enforcement officers and the delays this caused in your traffic commute.


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Night work on the NE 175th St to northbound I-5 on-ramp for pole installation

Saturday, January 14, 2023

Starting as early as Wednesday, January 18, 2023 Sound Transit will be installing poles at the NE 175th St northbound I-5 on-ramp, requiring it to close during the night (due to lane and ramp closure restrictions). 

The work is expected to take two nights.

This work is part of the Lynnwood Link Extension project.

Use the NE 145th ramp as a detour during work hours of 11pm to 5am



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Reader reports: icy roads

Friday, December 23, 2022

5:26am  The hills in the area of 24th NW and 201st NW are super slick. Studded tires didn’t help.
--Rebekah







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Shoreline road closure map and other winter storm resources

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Check the map for current conditions

Depending on conditions, the City of Shoreline may post road closure signs on some of our known danger spots. You can see where those are on the Snow Event Closure Map

Additional closures may be added as conditions are assessed.

Winter Storm Resources


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Slow down and make way for snow plows

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Photo courtesy WSDOT
By Diane Hettrick

Every municipality I follow is saying the same thing. Stay home. Stay out of the way while they take care of the roads.

People are going too fast and treating snow plows as an annoyance. Already someone managed to run into a state patrol vehicle that was blocking the road for the snow plow. No one hurt.

The photo looks west on SR 104 (aka Ballinger Way, NE 205th, 244th SW, Lake Ballinger Way, Edmonds Way). Right here it's Ballinger Way.

WSDOT didn't explain the photo but it looks like a couple of collisions.



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Northbound I-5 off ramp to NE 145th to close overnight Wednesday for Sound Transit work

Saturday, December 17, 2022

Sound Transit’s contractor will be conducting overhead work near the westbound sidewalk on NE 145th St, west of 5th Ave NE, causing nightly road closures of the NB I-5 off-ramp at NE 145th St and NE 145th St to NB I-5 HOV lane.

Wednesday, December 21 - Thursday, December 22, 2022 from 11pm - 5am. Work is always weather dependent.



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30 vehicle pile-up on I-90 closes eastbound lanes for 10 hours Wednesday

Thursday, December 8, 2022

A truckload of Honeycrisp apples covered the lanes
Highway crews closed I-90 eastbound and spent 10 hours investigating and cleaning up on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 after a driver reportedly went too fast for the road conditions and slid.

Freezing fog limited visibility
Freezing fog made it difficult for the following vehicles to see the crash scene ahead.

No serious injuries were reported
18 cars and 12 semis were involved in the pile-up. There were no reported serious injuries but vehicles were badly damaged and the roadway was a mess. 

Reportedly one driver, who had to be cut from his vehicle, went to the hospital for stitches and a broken rib.


The scene was in Kittitas county, about 115 miles east of Seattle.

Washington State Patrol, Department of Transportation, and tow trucks responded.

--All photos courtesy WSDOT


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