By Thomas Charlson
There are a number of ways you can express your inner artist. For me, I enjoy painting happy little orange cones (and trees) on our busy traffic weekend paint maps. Taking a can of spray paint and tagging walls or signs along a highway just isn’t the way to do it. Graffiti on our roads can prevent drivers from reading signs, creates a lot of unnecessary work for our maintenance crews and takes money from our maintenance budget that could go to filling potholes, fixing guardrails and other needed tasks.
Last month, I joined our maintenance crews as they covered and cleaned graffiti along I-5 from the King-Pierce County line to Everett.
Over the course of five weeks, we managed to cover more than 208,800 square feet of graffiti using 749 gallons of paint. That’s the equivalent of nearly four football fields!
We also cleaned graffiti on signs using lacquer thinners and painted the backs of signs to cover graffiti. We installed graffiti guards – 4-by-8-foot pieces of sheet metal – used to sandwich the support structures on the overhead signs and prevent people from climbing onto the structure and tagging it.
In the city of Seattle alone, we spent $150,000 in the past month to clean graffiti. Again, this comes from the same funds that we use to repair potholes, clean rest areas, pick up roadside litter, repair guardrails and other maintenance work. It also often means we have to close a lane or two to provide safe working environments for our crews.
Similar to roadside litter, we need everyone’s help to cut down on the cost and time spent cleaning graffiti. Please keep artwork off the highway.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
WSDOT searching in Colville area for missing plane
UPDATES
Thursday, Nov. 14, 8 a.m.
Colville area search resumes for missing pilot and plane
Searchers have resumed efforts to locate Colville pilot Terry Coleman and his plane in the Colville/Ione/Sullivan Lake area and are hoping to use both ground and air crews in today's (Thursday, Nov. 14) search.
The search area was determined based on several factors, including that Mr. Coleman was making a local-area flight Monday afternoon and was expected to return to the Colville airport in about an hour. In addition, officials recorded one ping of his cell phone in the general area of Metaline Falls in Pend Oreille County – meaning the phone's system connected to a tower, not that he was placing a call. Radar in the area also recorded a plane in the Sullivan Lake area at around the time he would have been flying, but it does not indicate if it was his plane. Mr. Coleman's plane had an emergency locator beacon but no signals have been detected.
Civil Air Patrol may fly in the area as part of the search today, but it is dependent on weather and visibility, which has been a challenge during the search. All decisions on flying are based on conditions and crew safety.
WSDOT is coordinating the search. Ground crews from Pend Oreille County Sherriff's Office, the Border Patrol, US Forest Service and DOT personnel also are searching the area, though it has some very steep terrain with snow in the higher elevations. More perception, including snow, is predicted in the coming days.
Barring new developments, we hope to have another update on the search around lunchtime.
We have released a photo of the missing plane that Terry Coleman was flying and ask anyone in the area, including hunters, to keep an eye out. Anyone who sees the plane should call 911 immediately. Non-urgent tips can be sent to missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or the search tip line: 360-410-0461.
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6 p.m.
Colville missing plane search suspended for the evening; search begins again Thursday morning
Crews have suspended the search for the Colville missing pilot and plane for the evening due to safety concerns for crews in the dark. Crews will resume searching Thursday morning and no further updates are planned for this evening.
Clearing weather allowed a plane to fly overhead as part of the search Wednesday afternoon and we hope to use more on Thursday if conditions allow. All decisions on flying are based on weather, visibility and crew safety. Ground crews will also continue to search in the area between Colville and the town of Ione and the Sullivan Lake area. WSDOT is coordinating the search and is thankful for the all of the partner agencies working on the effort, as well as the support from the tight-knit community of Colville and the surrounding area.
We have released a photo of the missing plane that Terry Coleman was flying and ask anyone in the area, including hunters, to keep an eye out. Anyone who sees the plane should call 911 immediately. Non-urgent tips can be sent to missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or the search tip line: 360-410-0461. We do not have a photo of Mr. Coleman to release.
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 4:30 p.m.
Search for missing plane in Colville continues; aircraft able to join efforts
Crews continue to search Wednesday for a missing pilot and plane out of Colville this afternoon.
A single aircraft from the Washington Air Search and Rescue, a volunteer pilot search group, were able to fly over areas west of Colville. Visibility was clear at 5,000 feet, though still low visibility closer to the ground.
Due to poor visibility closer to the ground, other search aircraft are being staged at the Deer Park Airport, 50 miles south of Colville. All decisions about flying will be made based on conditions and crew safety.
Ground crews continued to focus their search efforts between Colville and the Ione/Sullivan Lake area. We are receiving aid from several agencies including Border Patrol, the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane County Sherriff’s Office, Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office and the Forest Service, in the search for Terry Coleman, 67, of Colville and his Cessna 182 Skylane Plane. WSDOT is coordinating the search.
Mr. Coleman did not file a formal flight plan, nor was he required to for his flight. Based on where he was believed to be flying, however, crews have narrowed the search to the northeast near the town of Ione and nearby Sullivan Lake. Coleman took off around noon on Monday, Nov. 11, and planned to return to Colville in about an hour. His plane had an emergency locator beacon onboard, but no signal has been detected.
We have released a photo of the missing plane and ask anyone in the area, including hunters, to keep an eye out. Anyone who sees the plane should call 911 immediately. Non-urgent tips can be sent to missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or a newly established tip line: 360-410-0461. We do not have a photo of Mr. Coleman to release.
Search efforts will be suspended for the day when it becomes dark. We expect to post the next update about the search later this evening.
Wednesday, Nov. 13, noon
Search for missing plane in Colville continues; new tip line number established
Crews continue to search Wednesday for a missing pilot and plane out of Colville, focusing their search between Colville and the Ione/Sullivan Lake area.
Ground search crews, including the Spokane County Search and Rescue, have been out all of this morning searching for Terry Coleman, 67, of Colville and his Cessna 182 Skylane plane. WSDOT is coordinating the search.
While aircraft were unable to fly Wednesday morning as part of the search – due to weather and poor visibility – we do hope to have some aircraft in air later this afternoon. All decisions about flying will be made based on conditions and crew safety.
Mr. Coleman did not file a formal flight plan, nor was he required to for his flight. Based on where he was believed to be flying, however, crews have narrowed the search to the northeast near the town of Ione and nearby Sullivan Lake. Coleman took off around noon on Monday, Nov. 11, and planned to return to Colville in about an hour. His plane had an emergency locator beacon onboard but no signal has been detected and search flights on Monday failed to locate the plane.
We have released a photo of the missing plane and ask anyone in the area, including hunters, to keep an eye out. Anyone who sees the plane should call 911 immediately. Non-urgent tips can be sent to missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or a newly established tip line: 360-410-0461. We do not have a photo of Mr. Coleman to release.
Barring any new developments, we expect to post the next update about the search in late afternoon.
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 8:30 a.m.
Crews continue searching for missing Colville pilot and plane – photo of plane released; tip line and email established
Rescue crews are continuing their search for a missing Colville pilot and his plane and are releasing details about both.
The missing pilot is Terry Coleman, 67, of Colville. He left the Colville airport around noon on Monday, Nov. 11, for what was expected to be a one-hour flight before returning to Colville. His family contacted authorities when he didn't return Monday afternoon. While his plane, a Cessna 182 Skylane, did have an emergency beacon, no beacon signals have been received. Two flights overnight Monday did not locate any sign of the plane.
We are releasing a photo of Coleman's plane in case anyone has seen it in the area. It is also available for download on the WSDOT Flickr site: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmJmiTMu . The photo was provided by the family. We do not have an ID for the man shown in the background.
Searchers worked on the ground Tuesday due to poor weather and visibility concerns. A decision about flying search planes or helicopters today, Wednesday, is still being made and will depend on conditions and safety of crews.
WSDOT is coordinating the search and working with area law enforcement and search and rescue groups. Searchers are focusing on an area between Colville and the town of Ione and nearby Sullivan Lake, based on where they expected Coleman to fly. The town of Ione is about 40 miles northeast of Colville in neighboring Pend Oreille County. Colville is the county seat of Stevens County.
Anyone in the area, including hunters, is asked to keep an eye out for the plane or any evidence of a crash. However, we do not want residents to form their own search crews at this time as it may interfere with tracking of the official search and rescue crews in the area. We'll let the public know when and if we need more search crews and thank them for the offers and support they've already provided.
If anyone in the area does see a plane or evidence of a crash, please call 911 immediately. Anyone who has non-urgent tips can email them to: missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or call the Stevens County Sheriff's Office at 509 684-2555.
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m. - final update of the evening
Colville missing plane search suspended for the night
The search for a missing pilot and plane near Colville has been suspended for the night of Tuesday, Nov. 12, due to darkness and concern for searchers’ safety. It will resume in the morning and we will not be issuing updates overnight.
Tuesday’s search was conducted on the ground due to weather and low visibility. A decision on flying search planes and helicopters Wednesday will be made in the morning based on conditions, forecast the safety of search crews.
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 4:30 p.m.
Missing plane search continues in Colville
The search for a missing plane and pilot continues in the Colville area with search crews working on the ground due to low visibility that is keeping planes and helicopters from flying.
Wednesday’s forecast also calls for fog and low clouds and the decision about flying search planes will be made in the morning based on the safety of crews and conditions. We are working closely with law enforcement in the area to coordinate the search and ensure everyone’s safety.
We will update the blog again this evening if the plane and pilot are located or when searchers stop for the night.
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 12:30 p.m.
Search continues for missing plane in Colville
Search efforts continue for the missing plane and pilot in the Colville area.
Due to weather and visibility concerns, this is will be a ground mission and we are coordinating with Search and Rescue teams out of Stevens and Spokane counties in those efforts.
Anyone who with information about the plane can call in tips to the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office at: 509 684-2555.
Updates to the search will be shared here as well as an opt-in/opt-out Air Search and Rescue email alerts listserve.
Sign up for email alerts
By Barbara LaBoe
The Washington State Department of Transportation is searching for a missing plane in the Colville/Stevens County area in Eastern Washington.
The pilot and sole occupant of the small, private plane left the Colville Municipal Airport around noon Monday, Nov. 11, planning to fly in the area for one hour before returning to Colville. The pilot’s family reached out to authorities when the pilot did not return as scheduled.
No emergency beacon signals or other distress signals have been recorded in the area. Two search flights, including the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, searched the area overnight and were unable to locate any sign of the plane.
WSDOT Aviation Search and Rescue is leading the search effort and coordinating with area law enforcement. Colville is approximately 70 miles north of Spokane in the northeast corner of the state and is the county seat of Stevens County.
The pilot is a 67-year-old Colville man flying in his Cessna 182 Skylane. At this time no other details about the plane and pilot are being released. Updates on the search will be posted on this blog as they become available.
WSDOT, by statute (RCW 47.68.380), is charged with the coordination and management of all aerial search and rescue within the state. The agency works in conjunction with volunteer search and rescue groups, law enforcement and other agencies in carrying out such searches.
Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, noon
Search for missing pilot and plane continues, including
air crews
The search for missing pilot and plane out of Colville
continues Thursday, including from the air as clouds have begun to break up in
the area.
We plan to have two Civil Air Patrol planes flying over the
area searching for pilot Terry Coleman and his plane, as well as a U.S. Customs
and Border Protection search helicopter. Weather and safety concerns had
limited the search to ground crews for a few days as part of this effort.
Ground search and rescue crews also continue their efforts,
working in steep terrain in the greater Sullivan Lake area of Pend Oreille
County. The search area includes the Colville National Forest and some steep
and heavily forested terrain, including elevations above 6,000 feet with snow
present and more snow predicted in the coming days. Temperatures have ranged in
the 30s and 20s. Search and Rescue crews are used to working in rugged terrain,
but it does add challenges to the ground search efforts.
Barring new developments, we expect to send our next search
update in late afternoon.
Thursday, Nov. 14, 8 a.m.
Colville area search resumes for missing pilot and plane
Searchers have resumed efforts to locate Colville pilot Terry Coleman and his plane in the Colville/Ione/Sullivan Lake area and are hoping to use both ground and air crews in today's (Thursday, Nov. 14) search.
The search area was determined based on several factors, including that Mr. Coleman was making a local-area flight Monday afternoon and was expected to return to the Colville airport in about an hour. In addition, officials recorded one ping of his cell phone in the general area of Metaline Falls in Pend Oreille County – meaning the phone's system connected to a tower, not that he was placing a call. Radar in the area also recorded a plane in the Sullivan Lake area at around the time he would have been flying, but it does not indicate if it was his plane. Mr. Coleman's plane had an emergency locator beacon but no signals have been detected.
Civil Air Patrol may fly in the area as part of the search today, but it is dependent on weather and visibility, which has been a challenge during the search. All decisions on flying are based on conditions and crew safety.
WSDOT is coordinating the search. Ground crews from Pend Oreille County Sherriff's Office, the Border Patrol, US Forest Service and DOT personnel also are searching the area, though it has some very steep terrain with snow in the higher elevations. More perception, including snow, is predicted in the coming days.
Barring new developments, we hope to have another update on the search around lunchtime.
We have released a photo of the missing plane that Terry Coleman was flying and ask anyone in the area, including hunters, to keep an eye out. Anyone who sees the plane should call 911 immediately. Non-urgent tips can be sent to missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or the search tip line: 360-410-0461.
 |
| This is a photo of the missing Cessna 182 Skylane plane near Colville provided by the family. (We do not have an ID for the man in back of the photo). Anyone who sees it or evidence of a crash should call 911. Non-urgent tips can be emailed to missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or the search tip line: 360-410-0461. |
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6 p.m.
Colville missing plane search suspended for the evening; search begins again Thursday morning
Crews have suspended the search for the Colville missing pilot and plane for the evening due to safety concerns for crews in the dark. Crews will resume searching Thursday morning and no further updates are planned for this evening.
Clearing weather allowed a plane to fly overhead as part of the search Wednesday afternoon and we hope to use more on Thursday if conditions allow. All decisions on flying are based on weather, visibility and crew safety. Ground crews will also continue to search in the area between Colville and the town of Ione and the Sullivan Lake area. WSDOT is coordinating the search and is thankful for the all of the partner agencies working on the effort, as well as the support from the tight-knit community of Colville and the surrounding area.
We have released a photo of the missing plane that Terry Coleman was flying and ask anyone in the area, including hunters, to keep an eye out. Anyone who sees the plane should call 911 immediately. Non-urgent tips can be sent to missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or the search tip line: 360-410-0461. We do not have a photo of Mr. Coleman to release.
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 4:30 p.m.
Search for missing plane in Colville continues; aircraft able to join efforts
Crews continue to search Wednesday for a missing pilot and plane out of Colville this afternoon.
A single aircraft from the Washington Air Search and Rescue, a volunteer pilot search group, were able to fly over areas west of Colville. Visibility was clear at 5,000 feet, though still low visibility closer to the ground.
Due to poor visibility closer to the ground, other search aircraft are being staged at the Deer Park Airport, 50 miles south of Colville. All decisions about flying will be made based on conditions and crew safety.
Ground crews continued to focus their search efforts between Colville and the Ione/Sullivan Lake area. We are receiving aid from several agencies including Border Patrol, the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane County Sherriff’s Office, Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office and the Forest Service, in the search for Terry Coleman, 67, of Colville and his Cessna 182 Skylane Plane. WSDOT is coordinating the search.
Mr. Coleman did not file a formal flight plan, nor was he required to for his flight. Based on where he was believed to be flying, however, crews have narrowed the search to the northeast near the town of Ione and nearby Sullivan Lake. Coleman took off around noon on Monday, Nov. 11, and planned to return to Colville in about an hour. His plane had an emergency locator beacon onboard, but no signal has been detected.
We have released a photo of the missing plane and ask anyone in the area, including hunters, to keep an eye out. Anyone who sees the plane should call 911 immediately. Non-urgent tips can be sent to missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or a newly established tip line: 360-410-0461. We do not have a photo of Mr. Coleman to release.
Search efforts will be suspended for the day when it becomes dark. We expect to post the next update about the search later this evening.
Wednesday, Nov. 13, noon
Search for missing plane in Colville continues; new tip line number established
Crews continue to search Wednesday for a missing pilot and plane out of Colville, focusing their search between Colville and the Ione/Sullivan Lake area.
Ground search crews, including the Spokane County Search and Rescue, have been out all of this morning searching for Terry Coleman, 67, of Colville and his Cessna 182 Skylane plane. WSDOT is coordinating the search.
While aircraft were unable to fly Wednesday morning as part of the search – due to weather and poor visibility – we do hope to have some aircraft in air later this afternoon. All decisions about flying will be made based on conditions and crew safety.
Mr. Coleman did not file a formal flight plan, nor was he required to for his flight. Based on where he was believed to be flying, however, crews have narrowed the search to the northeast near the town of Ione and nearby Sullivan Lake. Coleman took off around noon on Monday, Nov. 11, and planned to return to Colville in about an hour. His plane had an emergency locator beacon onboard but no signal has been detected and search flights on Monday failed to locate the plane.
We have released a photo of the missing plane and ask anyone in the area, including hunters, to keep an eye out. Anyone who sees the plane should call 911 immediately. Non-urgent tips can be sent to missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or a newly established tip line: 360-410-0461. We do not have a photo of Mr. Coleman to release.
Barring any new developments, we expect to post the next update about the search in late afternoon.
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 8:30 a.m.
Crews continue searching for missing Colville pilot and plane – photo of plane released; tip line and email established
Rescue crews are continuing their search for a missing Colville pilot and his plane and are releasing details about both.
The missing pilot is Terry Coleman, 67, of Colville. He left the Colville airport around noon on Monday, Nov. 11, for what was expected to be a one-hour flight before returning to Colville. His family contacted authorities when he didn't return Monday afternoon. While his plane, a Cessna 182 Skylane, did have an emergency beacon, no beacon signals have been received. Two flights overnight Monday did not locate any sign of the plane.
We are releasing a photo of Coleman's plane in case anyone has seen it in the area. It is also available for download on the WSDOT Flickr site: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmJmiTMu . The photo was provided by the family. We do not have an ID for the man shown in the background.
Searchers worked on the ground Tuesday due to poor weather and visibility concerns. A decision about flying search planes or helicopters today, Wednesday, is still being made and will depend on conditions and safety of crews.
WSDOT is coordinating the search and working with area law enforcement and search and rescue groups. Searchers are focusing on an area between Colville and the town of Ione and nearby Sullivan Lake, based on where they expected Coleman to fly. The town of Ione is about 40 miles northeast of Colville in neighboring Pend Oreille County. Colville is the county seat of Stevens County.
Anyone in the area, including hunters, is asked to keep an eye out for the plane or any evidence of a crash. However, we do not want residents to form their own search crews at this time as it may interfere with tracking of the official search and rescue crews in the area. We'll let the public know when and if we need more search crews and thank them for the offers and support they've already provided.
If anyone in the area does see a plane or evidence of a crash, please call 911 immediately. Anyone who has non-urgent tips can email them to: missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or call the Stevens County Sheriff's Office at 509 684-2555.
|
| This is a photo of the missing Cessna 182 Skylane plane near Colville provided by the family. (We do not have an ID for the man in back of the photo). Anyone who sees it or evidence of a crash should call 911. Non-urgent tips can be emailed to missingaircraft@wsdot.wa.gov or the search tip line: 360-410-0461. |
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m. - final update of the evening
Colville missing plane search suspended for the night
The search for a missing pilot and plane near Colville has been suspended for the night of Tuesday, Nov. 12, due to darkness and concern for searchers’ safety. It will resume in the morning and we will not be issuing updates overnight.
Tuesday’s search was conducted on the ground due to weather and low visibility. A decision on flying search planes and helicopters Wednesday will be made in the morning based on conditions, forecast the safety of search crews.
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 4:30 p.m.
Missing plane search continues in Colville
The search for a missing plane and pilot continues in the Colville area with search crews working on the ground due to low visibility that is keeping planes and helicopters from flying.
Wednesday’s forecast also calls for fog and low clouds and the decision about flying search planes will be made in the morning based on the safety of crews and conditions. We are working closely with law enforcement in the area to coordinate the search and ensure everyone’s safety.
We will update the blog again this evening if the plane and pilot are located or when searchers stop for the night.
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 12:30 p.m.
Search continues for missing plane in Colville
Search efforts continue for the missing plane and pilot in the Colville area.
Due to weather and visibility concerns, this is will be a ground mission and we are coordinating with Search and Rescue teams out of Stevens and Spokane counties in those efforts.
Anyone who with information about the plane can call in tips to the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office at: 509 684-2555.
Updates to the search will be shared here as well as an opt-in/opt-out Air Search and Rescue email alerts listserve.
Sign up for email alerts
By Barbara LaBoe
The Washington State Department of Transportation is searching for a missing plane in the Colville/Stevens County area in Eastern Washington.
The pilot and sole occupant of the small, private plane left the Colville Municipal Airport around noon Monday, Nov. 11, planning to fly in the area for one hour before returning to Colville. The pilot’s family reached out to authorities when the pilot did not return as scheduled.
No emergency beacon signals or other distress signals have been recorded in the area. Two search flights, including the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, searched the area overnight and were unable to locate any sign of the plane.
WSDOT Aviation Search and Rescue is leading the search effort and coordinating with area law enforcement. Colville is approximately 70 miles north of Spokane in the northeast corner of the state and is the county seat of Stevens County.
The pilot is a 67-year-old Colville man flying in his Cessna 182 Skylane. At this time no other details about the plane and pilot are being released. Updates on the search will be posted on this blog as they become available.
WSDOT, by statute (RCW 47.68.380), is charged with the coordination and management of all aerial search and rescue within the state. The agency works in conjunction with volunteer search and rescue groups, law enforcement and other agencies in carrying out such searches.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Why we need to reduce lanes on SR 520 for a few years
By Steve Peer
With population and job growth booming across the Seattle metropolitan area, drivers want to know why we're reducing the number of lanes on State Route 520 between Seattle and the Eastside. Some folks say the state should add lanes on SR 520, not take them away!
The fact is...we're doing both.
Keeping traffic moving during construction
We've long planned SR 520's six-lanes-to-four constriction between Seattle and the new floating bridge. It's part of the highway's ongoing reconstruction from I-405 to I-5. A key element of this megaproject is the replacement of the highway's aging, structurally vulnerable bridges.
To keep traffic moving along this critical urban freeway, we're doing the work in stages. First, we replaced the old four-lane floating bridge with a six-lane bridge across most of Lake Washington. A year later, in 2017, we finished a three-lane bridge that connects the westbound lanes from the floating bridge across Union Bay to Montlake.
And now, changing directions, we're preparing to remove and replace the original, 1960s-era SR 520 bridge over Union Bay. (We restriped this older bridge two years ago to temporarily carry three lanes of eastbound-only traffic).
Why the lane reduction?
That old bridge between Montlake and the new floating bridge was built as a single structure, with two lanes in each direction. Supported by hollow, concrete columns, it could fail in a severe earthquake. The replacement for this 1.2-mile-long span will be two side-by-side, three-lane bridges on stronger columns.
We're removing and replacing the old bridge with a newer, eastbound span within the same general footprint. But to do that, we have to shift all eastbound SR 520 traffic during the interim onto the existing westbound bridge, which we're restriping to carry two lanes in each direction. Weather permitting, we'll do that work during this weekend's eastbound closure of the highway, and complete the lane shift by Monday morning, Nov. 11.
Afterward, there will be two-way, two-lane traffic over Union Bay for the next three to four years as we build a seismically stronger, three-lane bridge for eastbound-only traffic. This graphic shows how the lane shift and interim highway realignment will work.
View larger image (pdf 552 kb)
Come Monday morning, Nov. 11, drivers crossing Lake Washington on SR 520 basically will encounter the same highway configuration they saw three years ago: three lanes in both directions from I-405 to the west end of the floating bridge, and then two lanes in each direction from the floating bridge to I-5.
Expect longer commutes during construction
Understand that this traffic shift will cause some travel delays. With the HOV lanes temporarily gone between Montlake and the floating bridge, peak-period commutes will be a bit longer. And because the reduced lanes move through a construction zone, we've lowered the speed limit to 40 mph. We encourage people to follow the new limit – for their own safety and that of our construction crews.
One way to avoid the heaviest congestion is to alter your schedule, if possible. Leave home a bit earlier or a bit later than normal, and do the same for the return home. Try to miss the traditional peak commuting times – roughly 7:30 to 9 a.m., and 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Another option is to ride the bus or a three-person-plus carpool. The HOV lanes remain open on the floating bridge, and they'll save a little time if westbound traffic is backed up coming into Seattle.
And don't forget. There's a 14-foot-wide bike and pedestrian path that crosses the lake. It's virtually congestion-free – and there's no toll.
With population and job growth booming across the Seattle metropolitan area, drivers want to know why we're reducing the number of lanes on State Route 520 between Seattle and the Eastside. Some folks say the state should add lanes on SR 520, not take them away!
The fact is...we're doing both.
Keeping traffic moving during construction
We've long planned SR 520's six-lanes-to-four constriction between Seattle and the new floating bridge. It's part of the highway's ongoing reconstruction from I-405 to I-5. A key element of this megaproject is the replacement of the highway's aging, structurally vulnerable bridges.
To keep traffic moving along this critical urban freeway, we're doing the work in stages. First, we replaced the old four-lane floating bridge with a six-lane bridge across most of Lake Washington. A year later, in 2017, we finished a three-lane bridge that connects the westbound lanes from the floating bridge across Union Bay to Montlake.
And now, changing directions, we're preparing to remove and replace the original, 1960s-era SR 520 bridge over Union Bay. (We restriped this older bridge two years ago to temporarily carry three lanes of eastbound-only traffic).
 |
| Looking west across Union Bay toward Seattle in this August 2019 photo, SR 520 traffic moves westbound on the newer, taller bridge, while eastbound traffic travels on the existing, 1960s-era eastbound bridge. |
Why the lane reduction?
That old bridge between Montlake and the new floating bridge was built as a single structure, with two lanes in each direction. Supported by hollow, concrete columns, it could fail in a severe earthquake. The replacement for this 1.2-mile-long span will be two side-by-side, three-lane bridges on stronger columns.
 |
| Conceptual illustration of a new, eastbound SR 520 bridge across Lake Washington's Union Bay |
We're removing and replacing the old bridge with a newer, eastbound span within the same general footprint. But to do that, we have to shift all eastbound SR 520 traffic during the interim onto the existing westbound bridge, which we're restriping to carry two lanes in each direction. Weather permitting, we'll do that work during this weekend's eastbound closure of the highway, and complete the lane shift by Monday morning, Nov. 11.
Afterward, there will be two-way, two-lane traffic over Union Bay for the next three to four years as we build a seismically stronger, three-lane bridge for eastbound-only traffic. This graphic shows how the lane shift and interim highway realignment will work.
View larger image (pdf 552 kb)
Come Monday morning, Nov. 11, drivers crossing Lake Washington on SR 520 basically will encounter the same highway configuration they saw three years ago: three lanes in both directions from I-405 to the west end of the floating bridge, and then two lanes in each direction from the floating bridge to I-5.
Expect longer commutes during construction
Understand that this traffic shift will cause some travel delays. With the HOV lanes temporarily gone between Montlake and the floating bridge, peak-period commutes will be a bit longer. And because the reduced lanes move through a construction zone, we've lowered the speed limit to 40 mph. We encourage people to follow the new limit – for their own safety and that of our construction crews.
One way to avoid the heaviest congestion is to alter your schedule, if possible. Leave home a bit earlier or a bit later than normal, and do the same for the return home. Try to miss the traditional peak commuting times – roughly 7:30 to 9 a.m., and 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Another option is to ride the bus or a three-person-plus carpool. The HOV lanes remain open on the floating bridge, and they'll save a little time if westbound traffic is backed up coming into Seattle.
And don't forget. There's a 14-foot-wide bike and pedestrian path that crosses the lake. It's virtually congestion-free – and there's no toll.
Start your game plan early for getting to Sunday’s MLS Cup - With 70K fans expected, know your options for traveling to the stadium
By Mike Allende
It’s not every day that a major sports championship is played in Seattle. But that’s what’s happening this Sunday, Nov. 10, when our Seattle Sounders will play host to Toronto FC at noon at CenturyLink Field. And while these two teams meeting for the title is nothing new – this is the third time they’ve played for the trophy in the past four years – this is the first time it will be in Seattle.
With 70,000 fans expected to fill the stadium – many from out of town – traffic will be a big story. We’ve partnered with our friends from the local transit agencies and law enforcement to provide a one-stop shop for tips and tools to help everyone get to the stadium safely and in time for kickoff.
Transit. Did we mention transit? Transit.
The streets around CenturyLink Field are going to be packed. Parking is going to be TOUGH. Anything you can do to avoid adding to that congestion is going to be a plus. And that means transit. In addition to regular Link light rail service that runs from the University of Washington to Angle Lake, Sound Transit is running special Sounder commuter rail service to the game serving several stations between Everett to the north and Lakewood to the south that drop riders within walking distance of the stadium – this is how I’m getting down there Sunday. King County Metro and Community Transit also all run routes that drop you close to the field, and Pierce Transit is an option from the south. You could even try the Monorail from the Seattle Center to Westlake Center and take Link light rail or walk 1.2 miles to the stadium.
Sounder isn’t the only train that can get you to the stadium, though. Amtrak Cascades serves 18 cities between Vancouver, British Columbia and Eugene, Oregon, dropping fans at King Street Station in Seattle at 11:30 a.m. from the north and 11:50 a.m. from the south. There are group rates and this is a popular service, so be sure to make reservations for trains to and from the match.
Be aware, transit is going to be busy, busy, busy. Trains and buses will be crowded, so get to park and ride lots early and be prepared to get cozy with your fellow fans. Have your ORCA card ready before match day, or download the Transit Go Ticket app to pay for fare on Metro Bus, Sound Transit Link Light Rail, Sounder Train and Express bus service, Monorail, and Seattle Streetcar, which will have extra cars running this weekend.
What are my other options?
Again, driving – especially by yourself – is the last thing you want to do. If you have to drive, try to carpool. With 70,000 fans coming to the game, it shouldn’t be too hard to find someone you know – or don’t mind getting to know – to share a ride with. Car services are also an option, but consider getting dropped off away from the stadium and walk several blocks, if you can.
Riding your bike is also a great option. There is plenty of bike parking at the stadium. Maybe combine it with a transit trip. Don’t have a bike available? No problem, you have several options to take advantage of a bike share.
If you absolutely must drive, here’s a list of parking lots in Seattle.
With all of these options please remember that scores of your fellow fans likely will be doing the same thing, so plan ahead to arrive early and enjoy some of the pre-match celebration, grab a meal or just take in the waterfront views. You don’t want to wait until the last minute only to discover everything is taken or already booked.
Taking the ferry
Riding a ferry is a quintessential part of living or visiting the Puget Sound area, and there’s never a shortage of Sounders fans who ride our boats. In particular, walking onto the ferry from Bremerton or Bainbridge can be a great option, as it’s only about a half-mile walk from Colman Dock to the stadium. We encourage walk-on passengers to purchase their tickets ahead of time to make boarding after the match easier. Also, construction at Colman Dock means that space is a little tight for those walking on, so please be prepared for that.
Tolls
If you’re visiting from out of town or don’t travel through this part of the state often, be aware that the SR 520 bridge across Lake Washington (for those of you coming from the east side) and the new SR 99 tunnel (starting Nov. 9) are both toll roads. There are several ways for people to pay the toll. If you are from out of town, or are not a frequent user of either of those roads, here’s a guide about tolling and your options.
Construction
There is one major piece of construction that those headed to – or more accurately, from – the match should know. The eastbound SR 520 floating bridge will be closed all weekend. If you’re coming from the east side, you can take westbound SR 520 – remember, there is a toll for the bridge – but to return, you’ll need to use I-90 or head south on I-5 to I-405. Also be aware that there is ongoing construction on Seattle’s waterfront so be prepared for some possible disruption in that area.
Safety
It’s going to be a party around the stadium starting early on Sunday. There are going to be tons of pedestrians walking around Pioneer Square and SoDo and plenty of Seattle Police Department officers directing traffic. Please be alert for everyone, especially if you’re driving. Keep your eyes on the road, slow down, follow the directions of those directing traffic and be patient. If you do end up running late, please remain calm as you finish traveling. No match – not even this one – is worth risking injury or death. And, as always, if you will be drinking at the game, please don’t drive.
Stay engaged
These days there are tools galore to help you plan your trip and stay in the loop. We’ve linked to several of them in this blog already but there are other ways to stay updated.
On Twitter, follow:
Apps
It’s not every day that a major sports championship is played in Seattle. But that’s what’s happening this Sunday, Nov. 10, when our Seattle Sounders will play host to Toronto FC at noon at CenturyLink Field. And while these two teams meeting for the title is nothing new – this is the third time they’ve played for the trophy in the past four years – this is the first time it will be in Seattle.
 |
| Our partners Sound Transit has plenty of Link Light Rail connections that will drop Sounders fans off near CenturyLink Field. |
With 70,000 fans expected to fill the stadium – many from out of town – traffic will be a big story. We’ve partnered with our friends from the local transit agencies and law enforcement to provide a one-stop shop for tips and tools to help everyone get to the stadium safely and in time for kickoff.
Transit. Did we mention transit? Transit.
The streets around CenturyLink Field are going to be packed. Parking is going to be TOUGH. Anything you can do to avoid adding to that congestion is going to be a plus. And that means transit. In addition to regular Link light rail service that runs from the University of Washington to Angle Lake, Sound Transit is running special Sounder commuter rail service to the game serving several stations between Everett to the north and Lakewood to the south that drop riders within walking distance of the stadium – this is how I’m getting down there Sunday. King County Metro and Community Transit also all run routes that drop you close to the field, and Pierce Transit is an option from the south. You could even try the Monorail from the Seattle Center to Westlake Center and take Link light rail or walk 1.2 miles to the stadium.
 |
| Sound Transit will be running special Sounder train service to this Sunday’s MLS Cup at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. |
Sounder isn’t the only train that can get you to the stadium, though. Amtrak Cascades serves 18 cities between Vancouver, British Columbia and Eugene, Oregon, dropping fans at King Street Station in Seattle at 11:30 a.m. from the north and 11:50 a.m. from the south. There are group rates and this is a popular service, so be sure to make reservations for trains to and from the match.
Be aware, transit is going to be busy, busy, busy. Trains and buses will be crowded, so get to park and ride lots early and be prepared to get cozy with your fellow fans. Have your ORCA card ready before match day, or download the Transit Go Ticket app to pay for fare on Metro Bus, Sound Transit Link Light Rail, Sounder Train and Express bus service, Monorail, and Seattle Streetcar, which will have extra cars running this weekend.
 |
| King County Metro will be on regular Sunday service with routes ready to take fans to watch the Seattle Sounders win MLS Cup. |
What are my other options?
Again, driving – especially by yourself – is the last thing you want to do. If you have to drive, try to carpool. With 70,000 fans coming to the game, it shouldn’t be too hard to find someone you know – or don’t mind getting to know – to share a ride with. Car services are also an option, but consider getting dropped off away from the stadium and walk several blocks, if you can.
Riding your bike is also a great option. There is plenty of bike parking at the stadium. Maybe combine it with a transit trip. Don’t have a bike available? No problem, you have several options to take advantage of a bike share.
If you absolutely must drive, here’s a list of parking lots in Seattle.
 |
| The MLS Cup arrived aboard one of our ferries earlier this week, and we expect plenty of fans to arrive to Sunday’s championship game aboard our boats as well. |
With all of these options please remember that scores of your fellow fans likely will be doing the same thing, so plan ahead to arrive early and enjoy some of the pre-match celebration, grab a meal or just take in the waterfront views. You don’t want to wait until the last minute only to discover everything is taken or already booked.
Taking the ferry
Riding a ferry is a quintessential part of living or visiting the Puget Sound area, and there’s never a shortage of Sounders fans who ride our boats. In particular, walking onto the ferry from Bremerton or Bainbridge can be a great option, as it’s only about a half-mile walk from Colman Dock to the stadium. We encourage walk-on passengers to purchase their tickets ahead of time to make boarding after the match easier. Also, construction at Colman Dock means that space is a little tight for those walking on, so please be prepared for that.
Tolls
If you’re visiting from out of town or don’t travel through this part of the state often, be aware that the SR 520 bridge across Lake Washington (for those of you coming from the east side) and the new SR 99 tunnel (starting Nov. 9) are both toll roads. There are several ways for people to pay the toll. If you are from out of town, or are not a frequent user of either of those roads, here’s a guide about tolling and your options.
 |
| CenturyLink Field has plenty of bicycle parking so riding a bike – maybe even combined with a transit trip – would be a great way to avoid the MLS Cup traffic rush. |
Construction
There is one major piece of construction that those headed to – or more accurately, from – the match should know. The eastbound SR 520 floating bridge will be closed all weekend. If you’re coming from the east side, you can take westbound SR 520 – remember, there is a toll for the bridge – but to return, you’ll need to use I-90 or head south on I-5 to I-405. Also be aware that there is ongoing construction on Seattle’s waterfront so be prepared for some possible disruption in that area.
Safety
It’s going to be a party around the stadium starting early on Sunday. There are going to be tons of pedestrians walking around Pioneer Square and SoDo and plenty of Seattle Police Department officers directing traffic. Please be alert for everyone, especially if you’re driving. Keep your eyes on the road, slow down, follow the directions of those directing traffic and be patient. If you do end up running late, please remain calm as you finish traveling. No match – not even this one – is worth risking injury or death. And, as always, if you will be drinking at the game, please don’t drive.
Stay engaged
These days there are tools galore to help you plan your trip and stay in the loop. We’ve linked to several of them in this blog already but there are other ways to stay updated.
On Twitter, follow:
- WSDOT_Traffic for info on King/Snohomish county
- WSFerries for ferry info
- WSDOT_Tacoma if coming from Tacoma/Olympia
- WSDOT_North if coming from Skagit/Whatcom counties
- Snoqualmie Pass if coming from eastern Washington
- Good To Go! for tolling questions
- WSDOT for general state highway info
- Sound Transit
- King County Metro
- SDOT Traffic for Seattle-area traffic
- SDOT for general Seattle DOT info
Apps
- The WSDOT app for live traffic info, ferries, mountain pass and tolling info
- King County Metro
- Transit GO app
Monday, November 4, 2019
The gain was worth the pain on 35 miles of fresh highways
Four highways in three counties resurfaced safely before busy holiday travel season
By Frances FedoriskaFirst things first. Thank you. Thank you to drivers on SR 542/Mt Baker Highway, SR 547, 548 and US 2 who planned ahead, took alternate routes, slowed down or waited out lengthy delays as contractor crews resurfaced those highways on some of the hottest days of the year. It's never fun to reduce a highway to one lane, let alone in the summer heat. But we needed that heat to get this down. More on that later.
But, I'm here to tell you our Bituminous Surface Treatment (BST) – or resurfacing work – on those highways is done.
Join me on this trip in the way-back machine for a look at what was accomplished between June and October.
What got done
Spot repair, crack sealing and a new surface was put down on roughly 35 miles of the following portions of these highways:
Snohomish County
- US 2 between Mount Index Road near Index and Eagle Falls west of Halford
- US 2 between NE 182nd St/east of Baring and NE Old Cascade Highway/Money Creek campground
- SR 542/Mount Baker Highway between Britton Road in Bellingham and St. Peter's Catholic Church/Markel Road west of Kendall
- SR 547/Kendall Road between Peaceful Valley Drive and Saar Creek/Hillview Road
- SR 548/Grandview Road between North Starr Road and the Blaine Road roundabout
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| The crack sealing that happened in June is a quick and cost-effective way to keep fall and winter rain from seeping into the road, freezing, and damaging the surface. |
Contractor crews didn't just make repairs to the road surface. They also repaired old expansion joints and resurfaced a handful of bridges.
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| Bridge rehabilitation didn't just happen on Mount Baker Highway. This is the waterproofing material we put down on a smaller bridge on US 2 just east of Baring. The material protects the bridge structure from water damage. |
Why were some delays in August upward of 45 minutes?
As I explained in this blog post in July, the final stage of resurfacing required putting down the new surface that is a mix of oil, sand and gravel. The mix had to be put down during the hottest days of the year because the heat of the roadway helped the material bond and cure.
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| Crews were constantly moving down the highway during this stage, so a long stretch of road was blocked off in advance so they could quickly get the surface down without stopping. |
To keep the area safe while keeping traffic moving, a pilot car alternated traffic through the work zones. Speed limits were temporarily reduced to 35 miles per hour because loose gravel may have been present on the highway and higher speeds increase the risk of kicking up the loose gravel. A safe following distance was – and always is – recommended.
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| To help reduce the amount of loose gravel, the help of "Superior Broom" was enlisted to sweep the highway. |
Preserving our infrastructure
While we wish we could repave every stretch that starts to pothole or crack, we don't have the budget to do that. With 5,000 miles of highway from the King-Pierce county line to the Canadian border, there is a huge amount of pavement for us to manage. Projects like this one keep lower-use highways preserved until larger improvements are funded.
Thank you for staying engaged
At times, weather conditions postponed work on this project in one area but not another. So again, thank you for staying engaged. Even though this project is done, there is still a wealth of information about current and upcoming construction on our construction update page and the WSDOT North Twitter account.
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