4 new signs to help drivers change course

WSDOT recently delivered four new popular travel times signs from Federal Way to Bellevue along Interstate 5 and State Route 167 at Auburn.

WSDOT recently delivered four new popular travel times signs from Federal Way to Bellevue along Interstate 5 and State Route 167 at Auburn.

“Drivers have told us they want to see more travel time signs in both directions from Federal Way to Southcenter,” said Martin Dedinsky, traffic engineer for the Washington State Department of Transportation. “Now we are turning their requests into reality.”

New locations on I-5:

• I-5 southbound just south of Southcenter: Travel times from Southcenter to Federal Way on mainline I-5 and via HOV lane.

• I-5 northbound just south of SR 516: Travel times from Kent Tukwila, Bellevue and Seattle.

• I-5 northbound at the Pierce County line: Travel times from Federal Way to Tukwila, Bellevue and Seattle.

New spot on SR 167

• SR 167 northbound just south of 15th Street Southwest: Travel times from Auburn to Renton, Bellevue and Seattle.

The electronic message boards are used to inform drivers of changing traffic and road conditions along their route.

The WSDOT chose to add travel times to three existing overhead electronic message signs on I-5 and one new sign on SR 167 because they are located near major interchanges and offer drivers the option of taking alternate routes to avoid traffic slowdowns ahead.

Drivers can continue to receive real-time Seattle area traffic information and travel time information at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/traveltimes/ or by calling 511.

The WSDOT has more than 50 electronic message boards on highways throughout the Puget Sound area including, I-5, I-405, I-90, SR 167, and SR 520.