Use travel tools to make holiday trips less laborious
August 30, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. Aug. 30, 2012
Labor Day means more traffic on state highways as motorists hit the road to celebrate the last holiday weekend of summer.
In order to ease congestion, the state Department of Transportation and contractors plan to suspend most construction work for the weekend. Crews move off most roads from noon Friday through Sept. 3.
“It’s a popular weekend to travel; traffic is pretty much going to be busy any time you head out the door, but I find knowing what to expect in advance and/or where to find the traffic info makes traveling much easier,” Mark Finch, Statewide Travel Data Analysis Office manager, said in a statement.
Department of Transportation adds Tiger Mountain traffic camera
February 21, 2012
Motorists can check road conditions on Tiger Mountain before hitting the road, due to a just-installed traffic camera along state Route 18.
The state Department of Transportation added a traffic camera at the busy state Route 18-Interstate 90 interchange in recent weeks. The interchange is in rural Preston just east of Issaquah.
Motorists can see images from the camera at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle.
Regional Traffic Buster project proceeds
September 6, 2011
In the latest phase of a regional Traffic Buster project, the state established a link between Issaquah and the state Department of Transportation’s regional office.
The project connects 22 agencies to share transportation data and video from the regional traffic camera network. In the long term, the project is meant to lay the foundation for regional traffic congestion solutions.
In Issaquah, city engineers can view — but not control — video from the Department of Transportation and other agencies’ cameras, as well as the operation of state traffic signals in real time.
Though not all state cameras in the Issaquah area operate on the system yet, officials said the network should expand soon.
In the future, officials said the system should allow city traffic engineers to view the state’s electronic message boards and repost messages about possible impacts, such as accidents or lane closures on Interstate 90, on similar boards installed throughout Issaquah.
The state is responsible for providing, installing, setting up and configuring all of the necessary equipment for the city’s connection.
State links Issaquah traffic cameras into regional network
June 14, 2011
The state Department of Transportation has established a fiber-optic communication link between Issaquah and the regional traffic camera network.
The physical link between Issaquah City Hall Northwest and the Department of Transportation communication system — a fiber-optic connection at the state Route 900 and Interstate 90 westbound on-ramp — is part of the Traffic Buster project.
The effort connects 22 agencies in the Puget Sound region to share transportation data and video from traffic cameras. Once completed, planners said the Traffic Buster network should provide a communication link between participating agencies on the Department of Transportation backbone. In the long term, the project is meant to lay the foundation for regional traffic congestion solutions.
The project is funded through grants and managed by the state transportation agency.
Transportation returns to normal amid bitter cold
February 25, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. Feb. 25, 2011
Temperatures dropped into the teens overnight Thursday, and the region is expected to remain in a deep freeze through Sunday morning.
Issaquah road crews worked throughout the night to combat ice on city streets.
King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit buses returned to regular routing. The agencies advised riders to prepare some minor or localized changes, but otherwise the transit system is back to normal.
Expect another bitterly cold night. National Weather Service meteorologists said the temperature in Issaquah should plummet into the teens again late Friday.
Crews shift focus to ice; snow re-enters forecast Saturday
February 24, 2011
NEW — 5 p.m. Feb. 24, 2011
Crews plan to tackle ice on Issaquah-area roads as forecasters predict the temperature to plunge to 15 degrees overnight Thursday.
National Weather Service meteorologists in Seattle said Friday should be clear and cold in Issaquah. Temperatures should dip into the teens again overnight Friday.
Snow re-enters the forecast Saturday. The chance of precipitation during the day is 60 percent, and up to a half-inch of accumulation is possible.
Rain and temperatures in the 40s should return Sunday.
In the meantime, Issaquah road crews plowed and sanded high-priority routes overnight Wednesday and continued to work throughout Thursday on lower-priority streets.
Crews focus on priority routes and then start to clear side streets as conditions allow.
Crews shift focus to freezing conditions on roads
February 24, 2011
A city snowplow clears a street in the Overdale Park neighborhood in North Issaquah on Thursday morning. By Bernadette Anne
NEW — 11:45 a.m. Feb. 24, 2011
Temperatures should plummet into the teens Thursday night, raising the threat of freezing conditions on roads in Issaquah and surrounding areas.
In Issaquah, all roads remain open. Municipal road crews plowed and sanded high-priority routes overnight and continue to work on lower-priority streets.
Motorists urged to use caution on morning commute
February 24, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. Feb. 24, 2011
Issaquah-area residents awoke to deep snow in some spots and icy roads Thursday, as transportation officials urged commuters to use caution on the morning trek — or to stay home altogether.
In Issaquah, all roads remain open. Municipal road crews plowed and sanded high-priority routes overnight and continue to work on lower-priority streets.
Crews focus on priority routes and then start to clear side streets as conditions allow.
Motorists can check up-to-the-minute road conditions on real-time traffic cameras installed throughout Issaquah.
King County Road Services Division crews also deployed for 24-hour operations to combat snow and ice.
Issaquah crews mobilize as snow accumulates on roads
February 23, 2011
NEW — 10 p.m. Feb. 23, 2011
Issaquah road crews deployed Wednesday night as a significant snowstorm started to blanket the region and temperatures plunged into the 20s.
City Public Works Operations crews plan to work around the clock through the night and Thursday morning to clear priority routes and, then, as conditions allow, side streets.
Motorists could face a problematic commute Thursday morning, as snow showers continue and the temperature hovers in the 30s.
Motorists can check up-to-the-minute road conditions on real-time traffic cameras installed throughout Issaquah.
Commuters urged to prepare for plan for hazardous conditions
February 23, 2011
NEW — 3 p.m. Feb. 23, 2011
Officials urged commuters to head home earlier than usual, and to check conditions for roads and mass transit before a significant snowstorm wallops the region Wednesday night.
National Weather Service meteorologists predicted bursts of snow showers to continue through Thursday morning. The snowfall is expected to more intense than the intermittent snow showers reported in Issaquah throughout Wednesday morning and afternoon.
Forecasters said the total daytime accumulation in Issaquah could range from 2 to 4 inches.
The mercury dips into 20s Wednesday night. Meteorologists predicted another 2 to 4 inches of snow could accumulate in Issaquah and the surrounding area. Snowfall is expected to continue into Thursday.
Issaquah road crews remain on standby to apply sand or de-icing fluid to Issaquah streets if needed throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
