expresslanes.jpg
Automating the daily direction change on I-5 is expected to reduce backups and speed drive times between Northgate and Swift/Albro exit. (MyNorthwest.com/file)

WSDOT goes high tech to speed I-5 express lanes switch, save drive time

BY Josh Kerns  on July 23, 2012 @ 5:04 am (Updated: 9:33 am - 7/23/12 )

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Drivers on I-5 are getting a little extra help starting Monday as the Washington Department of Transportation debuts new automated express lanes to speed the daily changeover from South to North.

It used to take crews up to an hour to manually switch all of the gates and signs along the 9-mile stretch. But it will now take no more than 15 minutes thanks to the $6.6 million project that employs new Ethernet connections and fiber optic cable.

"The way its going to work now is that we push a button and all of the signs light up, we can visually make sure there's no traffic and then the gates come down," says Jamie Holter, with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The change will allow nearly 1,000 more cars to use the lanes and reduce traffic congestion that builds up on the mainline when the lanes are closed for the switchover.

"When you have all this extra space in the express lanes, it frees up space for other people," says Holter. "You're going to have more people using the express lanes which means they won't be using the mainline, which means people on city streets will be able to get to the freeways faster."

WSDOT estimates the smoother commute with save drivers about six minutes between Northgate and the Swift/Albro exit.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (8)


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  • Ted Bundi wrote...
    Wow, over 30 years later
    July 23, 2012 6:00 am
    they just get this system into place.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rotary Engine 101 wrote...
    Hey
    July 23, 2012 7:20 am
    who said that our all mighty Government was fast.. for our military yes. everywhere else don't hold your breath .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    "save time"?? Really?
    July 23, 2012 7:30 am
    Doubt it. Ethernet huh? Wow. Well say hello to the 21st century WSDOT!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Alex Mason wrote...
    Let's move on to the HOV lanes.
    July 23, 2012 7:57 am
    ...and get rid of them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    2 simple things need to be done
    July 23, 2012 11:56 am
    1) fix I-5 South so it doesn't reduce down to one lane through downtown. 2) build a ramp over I-5 from 520 west to mercer street. When you have cars trying to cut over 7 lanes in a quarter mile it creates the inevitable back up that it does every day.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    Straight from WSDOT mouth.
    July 23, 2012 3:40 pm
    I will beleive them, like they can hit their budget numbers. That is why the word MAY is in the headline. Like tossing the dart at the dart board, a wish and a hope.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    The WSDOT will now use an automated system - we never have problems with our computers . . . .
    July 24, 2012 4:20 am
    three hours later to send a crew out to manually switch the gate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }