Returning ta the "Emerald City" yesterday, blew right through this choke point. Sure is a fucked up spot! Traffic generally chokes down ta three lanes heading south, from six, with exits and entry ramps before ya hit the sweet/sour spot!
Local
The intersection of Interstate 5 and US 101 in Olympia is the site of an expansion bridge joint repair that takes place over two weekends in September 2014. Drivers will see reduced lanes of traffic on I-5 over both weekends. (WSDOT Photo)
Major I-5 closure to hit drivers with weekend plans; 14-mile backups expected
BY Chris Sullivan on September 10, 2014 @ 6:39 am (Updated: 10:35 am - 9/10/14 )
In KIRO Radio's Chokepoints series, we take a closer look at the traffic issues plaguing commuters in the Puget Sound region.
One of the south Sound's biggest chokepoints is going to be even worse over the next two weekends as the state performs major surgery on I-5 near the Capitol campus in Olympia.
If you drive between Seattle and Portland, or just like to head over to the coast, you know what a nightmare it can be hooking into Highway 101 just past Capitol Lake. It routinely backs up, especially on Friday nights and over weekends.
It's going to get worse starting Thursday night. The state is about to replace a 171-foot long expansion joint on the I-5 bridge just before the 101 interchange.
"We're talking about the possibility of miles and miles and miles of stop-and-go traffic through the Olympia-area," said Washington State Department of Transportation spokesman Doug Adamson said.
To get ready for the two weekend closures, the state will need to restrict lanes Thursday night and close several on and off ramps to I-5 in the area. Then over both weekends, I-5 will be reduced to two lanes during the day and only one lane at night in both directions.
"The worst case (scenario) is ugly," Adamson said. "We could even see a southbound backup of up to 14 miles."
It's also going to spill over onto Highway 101 approaching I-5. Approximately 276,000 cars use that stretch of I-5 every weekend. Another 190,000 cars use 101 heading to I-5 on a typical weekend.
Drivers will have to be a part of the congestion solution. Adamson's best advice is to travel before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m.
Unlike the recent I-90 closures, there is no real alternate to getting around this construction. I-5 is it for drivers heading south, unless they want to try some two-lane roads and smaller highways.
The state is even suggesting travelers consider taking the train.
Road work starts Thursday night with some preparation closures, but officially kicks off at 10 p.m. Friday night, when I-5 will be down to just one lane in both directions.
Snippy said
8:12 AM, 09/11/14
batts 4 remote
cloths etc
Uke said
8:49 AM, 09/11/14
Indeed. Yes. Certainly. Et cetra. Etc.
Uke said
8:32 PM, 09/11/14
More shocking news from the Emerald City; People actually relocate FROM here... OMFG!
September 10, 2014 at 11:05 AM
Yes, people do leave Seattle and heres where they go
You may be surprised to learn theres been ebb along with that flow.
Data released Tuesday by the moving company United Van Lines indicate that, in a reversal from last year, more people are leaving Seattle on its trucks than are moving in.
According to the companys Summer Long-Distance Moving Trends Study, the Seattle area saw 57 percent more outbound moves than inbound moves in 2014.
And that made us wonder: Where do people go when they say goodbye to King County?
Once again, recent census data held the answer.
According to the data, about 54,000 people on average relocate from King County to another state each year.
While its practically become a local tradition to complain about the flood of Southern Californians who move to Seattle, we send plenty of folks their way, too, as it turns out. Six of the 10 biggest takers of King County expats are located in the Golden State.
Los Angeles County is our top landing place. Each year, around 2,900 people from King County relocate there.
That said, about 3,400 Angelenos move up here every year, so we still wind up with a surplus.
But that is not the case with the second- and third-most-popular destinations for King County émigrés. We run a people deficit with both Multnomah (Portland) and San Diego counties: Each takes in more people from King County than it sends back our way.
Counties rounding out the top five destinations are Maricopa (Phoenix) in Arizona and Santa Clara (San Jose) in California.
The census data reveal that King County movers tend to stick to the western side of the country. But can you guess our top East Coast destination?
Thinking New York, Boston or Washington, D.C.? Think less Sex and the City and more Golden Girls.
Each year, Floridas Broward County home to Fort Lauderdale takes in more than 500 drizzle-averse folks from King County.
Explore the data for yourself using our interactive map. Zoom in and scroll over or click on any county to see the average number of people who move there from King County each year.
Uke said
8:40 PM, 09/11/14
The weather sure has been fine lately! In fact this has been one of the best summers in one hell of a long while! Days have been warm, and nights have been cool. Blankets have been necessary for the past couple weeks as the sun sets earlier every evening!
Last night it was about 48! Brrr...
The Krink said
1:56 AM, 09/12/14
The weather has been more than fine Uke as the GPNW is going
to set a record for 80 degree days in one year since record
keeping began. This was the Summer that many dreamed about
but how to enjoy every day took even more dreaming. Summer
can wear you out with the heat every day and you end up not
on a beach but inside your house "out of the Sun" for the most
part...preserving your strength and sweat for the next call to
physical activity. Yes the cool nights are here as it seems I
enter "Artic Air" going out for a smoke but the thermometer
says its only 49 degrees. Daylight is much less now as its pitch
black at 2000hrs. 80's the next 5-days so the "endless summer"
continues on.
Uke said
2:52 AM, 09/13/14
Gonna try escaping before next weekend's I-5 "Olympia Slog" through that area...
...have a bag packed, Escape fueled up, route planned, 1430 hit it! Maybe five hour drive, depending on traffic heading south. Tacoma's always a slog due ta construction, which seems never ending. Then Olympia. Not tu bad from there till Vancouver, but there is an option ta I-5. Veer off ta I-205, around Vanc. and Portland. Maybe adds fifteen to the drive.
But traffic usually flows fairly well through the burbs around Portland. The next choker is Salem, the Oregon capital. If nothing big is going on in Salem, ya pass right through!
Oregon seems ta maintain all the roads very well! Washington, not so much!
Returning ta the "Emerald City" yesterday, blew right through this choke point. Sure is a fucked up spot! Traffic generally chokes down ta three lanes heading south, from six, with exits and entry ramps before ya hit the sweet/sour spot!
Major I-5 closure to hit drivers with weekend plans; 14-mile backups expected
BY Chris Sullivan on September 10, 2014 @ 6:39 am (Updated: 10:35 am - 9/10/14 )
Related
In KIRO Radio's Chokepoints series, we take a closer look at the traffic issues plaguing commuters in the Puget Sound region.
One of the south Sound's biggest chokepoints is going to be even worse over the next two weekends as the state performs major surgery on I-5 near the Capitol campus in Olympia.
If you drive between Seattle and Portland, or just like to head over to the coast, you know what a nightmare it can be hooking into Highway 101 just past Capitol Lake. It routinely backs up, especially on Friday nights and over weekends.
It's going to get worse starting Thursday night. The state is about to replace a 171-foot long expansion joint on the I-5 bridge just before the 101 interchange.
"We're talking about the possibility of miles and miles and miles of stop-and-go traffic through the Olympia-area," said Washington State Department of Transportation spokesman Doug Adamson said.
To get ready for the two weekend closures, the state will need to restrict lanes Thursday night and close several on and off ramps to I-5 in the area. Then over both weekends, I-5 will be reduced to two lanes during the day and only one lane at night in both directions.
"The worst case (scenario) is ugly," Adamson said. "We could even see a southbound backup of up to 14 miles."
It's also going to spill over onto Highway 101 approaching I-5. Approximately 276,000 cars use that stretch of I-5 every weekend. Another 190,000 cars use 101 heading to I-5 on a typical weekend.
Drivers will have to be a part of the congestion solution. Adamson's best advice is to travel before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m.
Unlike the recent I-90 closures, there is no real alternate to getting around this construction. I-5 is it for drivers heading south, unless they want to try some two-lane roads and smaller highways.
The state is even suggesting travelers consider taking the train.
Road work starts Thursday night with some preparation closures, but officially kicks off at 10 p.m. Friday night, when I-5 will be down to just one lane in both directions.
cloths etc
More shocking news from the Emerald City; People actually relocate FROM here... OMFG!
Yes, people do leave Seattle and heres where they go
Click to enlarge
We all know Seattle is a boom town.
As FYI Guy alerted you a few months back, Seattle has become the fastest-growing major U.S. city, based on our analysis of recent population data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
You may be surprised to learn theres been ebb along with that flow.
Data released Tuesday by the moving company United Van Lines indicate that, in a reversal from last year, more people are leaving Seattle on its trucks than are moving in.
According to the companys Summer Long-Distance Moving Trends Study, the Seattle area saw 57 percent more outbound moves than inbound moves in 2014.
And that made us wonder: Where do people go when they say goodbye to King County?
Once again, recent census data held the answer.
According to the data, about 54,000 people on average relocate from King County to another state each year.
While its practically become a local tradition to complain about the flood of Southern Californians who move to Seattle, we send plenty of folks their way, too, as it turns out. Six of the 10 biggest takers of King County expats are located in the Golden State.
Los Angeles County is our top landing place. Each year, around 2,900 people from King County relocate there.
That said, about 3,400 Angelenos move up here every year, so we still wind up with a surplus.
But that is not the case with the second- and third-most-popular destinations for King County émigrés. We run a people deficit with both Multnomah (Portland) and San Diego counties: Each takes in more people from King County than it sends back our way.
Counties rounding out the top five destinations are Maricopa (Phoenix) in Arizona and Santa Clara (San Jose) in California.
The census data reveal that King County movers tend to stick to the western side of the country. But can you guess our top East Coast destination?
Thinking New York, Boston or Washington, D.C.? Think less Sex and the City and more Golden Girls.
Each year, Floridas Broward County home to Fort Lauderdale takes in more than 500 drizzle-averse folks from King County.
Explore the data for yourself using our interactive map. Zoom in and scroll over or click on any county to see the average number of people who move there from King County each year.
Last night it was about 48! Brrr...
to set a record for 80 degree days in one year since record
keeping began. This was the Summer that many dreamed about
but how to enjoy every day took even more dreaming. Summer
can wear you out with the heat every day and you end up not
on a beach but inside your house "out of the Sun" for the most
part...preserving your strength and sweat for the next call to
physical activity. Yes the cool nights are here as it seems I
enter "Artic Air" going out for a smoke but the thermometer
says its only 49 degrees. Daylight is much less now as its pitch
black at 2000hrs. 80's the next 5-days so the "endless summer"
continues on.
Gonna try escaping before next weekend's I-5 "Olympia Slog" through that area...
Been looking forward ta this event since last spring:http://www.lebanon.oregonveteranshomes.com/blog/2014/08/28/join-us-for-the-lebanon-veterans-home-dedication/
...have a bag packed, Escape fueled up, route planned, 1430 hit it! Maybe five hour drive, depending on traffic heading south. Tacoma's always a slog due ta construction, which seems never ending. Then Olympia. Not tu bad from there till Vancouver, but there is an option ta I-5. Veer off ta I-205, around Vanc. and Portland. Maybe adds fifteen to the drive.
But traffic usually flows fairly well through the burbs around Portland. The next choker is Salem, the Oregon capital. If nothing big is going on in Salem, ya pass right through!
Oregon seems ta maintain all the roads very well! Washington, not so much!
Indeed. Yes. Certainly. Et cetra. Etc. Except...