WSDOT’s collection of travel-information tools in Thurston and Pierce counties expands this spring and summer with new traffic cameras, new overhead electronic signs, and about 30 additional miles of flow-map coverage.
In the Olympia area, crews are setting up six new traffic cameras and installing two overhead electronic signs for Amber Alerts and traffic management. The cameras and signs installed as part of this $2 million project should be in operation by September. Work activities require periodic lane shifts and overnight lane closures throughout the project limits, starting Monday.
Three of the new cameras are on I-5 at Eastside Street, Sleater-Kinney Road and Martin Way. The other three cameras are located on surface streets at the intersections of Union Avenue and Plum Street, Martin Way and Sleater-Kinney, and Martin Way and College Street.
A southbound I-5 overhead sign will be located in DuPont, and a northbound I-5 overhead sign will be located at Tumwater Boulevard.
These electronic signs provide an important communication link with drivers during Amber Alerts and highway incidents.
In Pierce County, the added flow-map coverage stretches from Lakewood to the King/Pierce county line and onto State Route 512 between I-5 and Pacific Avenue.
This $1.2 million project expands the flow-map incrementally over the next several months. Filling the Pierce County gaps in the WSDOT flow map is an important step toward providing drivers with estimated point-to-point travel times on overhead signs.
Both projects are paid for by federal grants and matching state funds.
Drivers can access the traffic flow maps and cameras at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/ .