Washington

[jakeroot]

Some protestors wandered onto the 705 in Tacoma about a week ago. I happened to be a few cars back, on my way to Arby's

State Patrol went down and blocked the freeway, before the protestors wandered down the off-ramp. They were down there for about 10 minutes, before wandering back up and then down the 509 into the Port.

[Bruce]

More street signs at CHOP (soon to be defunct):

[Bruce]

WSDOT is now allowing cities and counties to designate "safe, healthy, and active streets" on state highways that meet certain criteria. This means temporary closures or partial closures so that people have more room to spread out.

https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/2020/07/07/new-initiative-opens-some-low-speed-state-roadways-healthy-uses

Seattle's program has been successful over the past two months and other suburbs have followed suit. Glad to see it finally move statewide.

[Bruce]

A bit of history:

in December 1963, there was a small push to name I-5 from Dearborn to the Ship Canal Bridge after John F. Kennedy.

[Bruce]

I'm almost finished writing a history of I-5 for Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_5_in_Washington#History

It was pretty hard to keep this contained, and even then it's much too long. Someday I'd love to write a book about the whole thing.

[jakeroot]

I'm almost finished writing a history of I-5 for Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_5_in_Washington#History

It was pretty hard to keep this contained, and even then it's much too long. Someday I'd love to write a book about the whole thing.

HOLY SHIT

That's an incredible write-up man. Still reading it but I am completely in awe of your researching abilities.

Favorite part so far has been reading the original news stories through Access World News. The one about drivers using the Midway-Tacoma section of 5 before it opened was pretty funny. Especially since the reporter went and drove it themselves

If you do write a book, you may end up getting a bridge named after you.

[ErmineNotyours]

Washington State Department of Highways Opening Day Celebration Materials.  Though not a complete record of every section of highway opening, it does offer fascinating background.  I found this when I was looking for the toll schedule for the 1940 Mercer Island Floating Bridge.

[Bruce]

If you do write a book, you may end up getting a bridge named after you.

Thanks for the compliments.

I call dibs on the Snohomish River bridges on I-5 or SR 529.

[Bruce]

Preliminary plans to build a transit center at the northwest corner of the shrunken I-405 / SR 522 interchange in Bothell.

[Bruce]

The first DDI in Washington (at I-5 / SR 510 in Lacey) will open after this weekend's closure.

https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/2020/07/21/washingtons-first-diverging-diamond-interchange-open-marvin-road-and-i-5-lacey

[stevashe]

The first DDI in Washington (at I-5 / SR 510 in Lacey) will open after this weekend's closure.

https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/2020/07/21/washingtons-first-diverging-diamond-interchange-open-marvin-road-and-i-5-lacey

Nice! I might have to stop by and check it out since I'll be going down to Olympia on Monday.

Edit: Reading the article, looks like the closure is actually NEXT weekend, darn it! I still think  it would be worth stopping by though since it's almost finished.

[jakeroot]

They definitely have a lot of work to do. I went through there on Sunday, and they didn't even have more than a couple new traffic signals up. I'm guessing they will be using wire-strung temp signals. And that actual, final work will only be completed much later in the year.

[jakeroot]

Separate reply to not mix unrelated topics...

Preliminary plans to build a transit center at the northwest corner of the shrunken I-405 / SR 522 interchange in Bothell.

Damn, I really like transit. But is there really enough transit need along this corridor to demand this massive of a rebuild? They are spending loads of money for, at the very least, a massive drop in GP capacity, and at most, some increase in transit capacity. I'm assuming that, by installing all these new signals and signalized turns, that GP capacity is dropping off. I think more free-flow maneuvers could have remained.

My only hope here is that the urban design aspect is as good as it looks, and some grade separation of the pathways is considered.

[sparker]

Separate reply to not mix unrelated topics...

Preliminary plans to build a transit center at the northwest corner of the shrunken I-405 / SR 522 interchange in Bothell.

Damn, I really like transit. But is there really enough transit need along this corridor to demand this massive of a rebuild? They are spending loads of money for, at the very least, a massive drop in GP capacity, and at most, some increase in transit capacity. I'm assuming that, by installing all these new signals and signalized turns, that GP capacity is dropping off. I think more free-flow maneuvers could have remained.

My only hope here is that the urban design aspect is as good as it looks, and some grade separation of the pathways is considered.

It appears that of all the priorities underlying projects of this sort, maintenance of general "free-flow" is either (a) way down the priority list or (b) contradictory to planners' aims to discourage automotive traffic.   But regardless of motive, instituting maximally feasible separation of non-motorized from motorized modes at transit hubs is a worthy goal. 

[stevashe]

Separate reply to not mix unrelated topics...

Preliminary plans to build a transit center at the northwest corner of the shrunken I-405 / SR 522 interchange in Bothell.

Damn, I really like transit. But is there really enough transit need along this corridor to demand this massive of a rebuild? They are spending loads of money for, at the very least, a massive drop in GP capacity, and at most, some increase in transit capacity. I'm assuming that, by installing all these new signals and signalized turns, that GP capacity is dropping off. I think more free-flow maneuvers could have remained.

My only hope here is that the urban design aspect is as good as it looks, and some grade separation of the pathways is considered.

That was my knee-jerk reaction when I saw they were taking out some of the free-flow movements at the 522/405 interchange as well, but thinking about it, there should still be plenty of capacity, since 522 mainline traffic is already handled nicely with lights just to the west, so adding lights here really just moves the start of the freeway a bit to the east. The majority of traffic related to 522 through the interchange is going from 405 NB to 522 EB and vice versa, not the mainline, especially during peak commuting times. Plus, they aren't just removing ramps for the transit improvements, it's also for the planned expansion of the express toll lanes on 405 as well, which definitely is needed, and unfortunately the design of the interchange doesn't allow for that without removing ramps, but I don't think traffic counts justify the cost of complete reconstruction. That project also ties in with the transit upgrade since it includes direct ramps to the express lanes which, the graphic shows have stops for Sound Transit's upcoming 405 BRT line among other routes.

It appears that of all the priorities underlying projects of this sort, maintenance of general "free-flow" is either (a) way down the priority list or (b) contradictory to planners' aims to discourage automotive traffic.   But regardless of motive, instituting maximally feasible separation of non-motorized from motorized modes at transit hubs is a worthy goal. 

As I alluded to above, the removal of free-flow from 522, isn't just driven by the transit improvements, but rather mainly by the express lane upgrade, which is definitely higher on the priority list due to the much higher traffic volume on 405. In fact, rereading Bruce's post, it sounds like the transit center is merely taking advantage of the extra space freed up, as opposed to being a reason for the reconfiguration at all.

[stevashe]

We do need more meaningful and well-used names in Washington. Valley Freeway (SR 167) is pretty much the only freeway in the Seattle area with a current and popular name.

So this post from Bruce in the Oregon thread gave me some inspiration to think of potential freeway names for the Seattle area, my suggestions below...

I-5: Puget Sound Freeway (Maybe a part of it that is on an old US 99 alignment could be Evergreen State Freeway if we want to copy California )
I-90: Cascade Freeway
I-405: Eastside Freeway

US 2: Snohomish Freeway (More relevant if it ever gets expanded, "The Trestle" describes the majority of the true freeway portion as it is currently.)
SR 526: Boeing Freeway
SR 525: Mukilteo Speedway
SR 522: Monroe Freeway
SR 520: Evergreen Point Freeway
SR 99/599: West Marginal Freeway* or South Park Freeway*
SR 509: Burien Freeway*
SR 518: Airport Freeway
SR 167: Valley Freeway
SR 410: Sumner Freeway
SR 512: Puyallup Freeway
SR 7/I-705: Tacoma Dome Freeway*
SR 16: Tacoma Narrows Freeway
SR 3: Kitsap Freeway
US 101/SR 8/US 12: Grays Harbor Freeway/Expressway

Italics indicating names already in at least semi-regular use

If anyone else has their own ideas, feel free to share! I'm not particularly attached to these, and I'm especially not sold on those marked with a *. The ones just named after cities could probably get more creative names as well.

The 99 Tunnel could also use a proper name, as was noted in the Oregon thread as well, and I supposed there is a small section of freeway south of it as well that could use a name. (maybe SODO Freeway?)

[kkt]

I-5 through Seattle is known as the Seattle Freeway.  kinda boring, but descriptive.

[Bruce]

"Skykomish Freeway" would fit US 2 better than Snohomish, which can also be used to describe the entire county.

I think "Overlake Freeway" also works better for SR 520, especially since it literally goes over the lake.

[jakeroot]

"Skykomish Freeway" would fit US 2 better than Snohomish, which can also be used to describe the entire county.

I think "Overlake Freeway" also works better for SR 520, especially since it literally goes over the lake.

I love both of these. Overlake especially. Has a nice sound to it.

I-5: [...] (Maybe a part of it that is on an old US 99 alignment could be Evergreen State Freeway if we want to copy California )

I think this would be a great name for the entire length of I-5. It's a great-sounding name. Even if it is a little derivative.

[Bickendan]

I thought US 2 was Steven's Pass Highway.

Also, with WA 14 being the Evergreen Highway already, calling I-5 the Evergreen State Freeway would be confusing.

[TEG24601]

I may be in the minority, but I highly dislike naming routes other than their functional names.


Yes, US 2 is already the Steven's Pass Highway.


SR 526 is also known as the "Casino Freeway"

[stevashe]

"Skykomish Freeway" would fit US 2 better than Snohomish, which can also be used to describe the entire county.

I think "Overlake Freeway" also works better for SR 520, especially since it literally goes over the lake.

I like Overlake Freeway, good idea!

Skykomish seems a bit too far off where the freeway ends to me, but I do like the name. I'd suggest "Skykomish Highway" but as others have pointed out, there is already "Stevens Pass Highway". I could see renaming the freeway portion though once it opens past Monroe.

I-5: [...] (Maybe a part of it that is on an old US 99 alignment could be Evergreen State Freeway if we want to copy California )

I think this would be a great name for the entire length of I-5. It's a great-sounding name. Even if it is a little derivative.

I do agree, I'm a bit torn between the two names. Maybe we could apply "Evergreen State Highway" to WA 99 and give "Puget Sound Freeway" to the length of I-5 in between its two ends. Sort of like how CA 99 takes over the "Golden State" name north of Wheeler Ridge. Heck, then we could call the 99 Tunnel "Evergreen State Tunnel", while we're at it!

[Bruce]

"Skykomish Freeway" would fit US 2 better than Snohomish, which can also be used to describe the entire county.

I think "Overlake Freeway" also works better for SR 520, especially since it literally goes over the lake.

I like Overlake Freeway, good idea!

Skykomish seems a bit too far off where the freeway ends to me, but I do like the name. I'd suggest "Skykomish Highway" but as others have pointed out, there is already "Stevens Pass Highway". I could see renaming the freeway portion though once it opens past Monroe.

Skykomish here not referring to the tiny town but the entire river valley from Monroe up to Skykomish (the town). The Sky Valley is a pretty well defined area.

[jakeroot]

I-5: [...] (Maybe a part of it that is on an old US 99 alignment could be Evergreen State Freeway if we want to copy California )

I think this would be a great name for the entire length of I-5. It's a great-sounding name. Even if it is a little derivative.

I do agree, I'm a bit torn between the two names. Maybe we could apply "Evergreen State Highway" to WA 99 and give "Puget Sound Freeway" to the length of I-5 in between its two ends. Sort of like how CA 99 takes over the "Golden State" name north of Wheeler Ridge. Heck, then we could call the 99 Tunnel "Evergreen State Tunnel", while we're at it!

I notice that you really want to apply "Evergreen State xxx" to the original route of US-99. Is there any particular reason for that? Seems like a great name for the current route of I-5, border to border. After all, it is the only border-to-border freeway in WA. If any freeway is deserving of that name, it would be I-5.

[nexus73]

I-5: [...] (Maybe a part of it that is on an old US 99 alignment could be Evergreen State Freeway if we want to copy California )

I think this would be a great name for the entire length of I-5. It's a great-sounding name. Even if it is a little derivative.

I do agree, I'm a bit torn between the two names. Maybe we could apply "Evergreen State Highway" to WA 99 and give "Puget Sound Freeway" to the length of I-5 in between its two ends. Sort of like how CA 99 takes over the "Golden State" name north of Wheeler Ridge. Heck, then we could call the 99 Tunnel "Evergreen State Tunnel", while we're at it!

I notice that you really want to apply "Evergreen State xxx" to the original route of US-99. Is there any particular reason for that? Seems like a great name for the current route of I-5, border to border. After all, it is the only border-to-border freeway in WA. If any freeway is deserving of that name, it would be I-5.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Rick