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viaduct speed limit

Started 11 months ago by redblack
Latest reply from redblack

redblack
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this came up in the 6/11 front-page story about the jeanette williams memorial bridge bus-lane violators and the recent SPD aggressive driving response team's crackdown thereon.

commenter rachael asserted that the speed limit through the reduced-capacity viaduct construction zone is 35 mph. this is false.

the speed limit is still 50 mph for cars, 40 mph for trucks over 10,000 lbs GVW. WSDOT advises 35 mph through the curves due to decreased lane widths at those points.

trucks over 10,000 lbs GVW are still prohibited from the left lane(s). they are also prohibited from using the columbia street on-ramp or the southbound 1st ave off-ramp. (not sure about seneca.)

and here's where the topic changes - slightly. but it's still about traffic laws on SR 99 through downtown.

i occasionally have to drive heavy trucks through downtown as part of my job, and 99 is a good thru-route in the middle of the day. i always obey the weight restrictions and the lower speed limit, and i get aggravated when i see other truckers violating same.

thursday, 6/9, the commute on the southbound viaduct was severely fubared by a semi tractor/trailer that - from all appearances - lost its trailer between the columbia on-ramp and the 1st ave off-ramp.

why was this a-hole in the left lane in the first place?

SPD was at the scene, and i hope that driver got a big, fat ticket for violating the weight restrictions. 'cause gods know that WSP is never on the viaduct, despite the fact that it's a state highway.

what does it take to get some traffic law enforcement on the viaduct? there are plenty of wide places and turn-outs where cops - and tow trucks! - can hang out during heavy commutes.

and if WSDOT's incident response team can hang out on 520 at rush hour, why not SR 99?

Posted 11 months ago #
S5
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So why are there 35mph signs posted before the curves? Those are just "advisory"??? Really?

Posted 11 months ago #
metrognome
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redblack -- wrong about the 'advisory' speed limit and about the lack of a response team:

'We've reduced the speed limit to 35 mph on the southern mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct corridor.'

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/HolgateToKing/99LaneReduction.htm

'WSDOT South End Projects Director Matt Preedy said drivers should also be prepared for narrower lanes shifted to the east, a 35 mph speed limit and no shoulder through the work zone.

...

WSDOT’s investment of $125 million provided for:
... WSDOT Incident Response Team patrols on SR 99 during the morning and evening commutes to clear stalls and collisions faster.'

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/05/_15_viaductreopens.htm

as for why the semi driver was in the left lane -- who knows. If s/he was from out to town, may not have known about lane restriction, altho their dispatcher should have laid out a route. Maybe a car cut in front and the semi had to take evasive action. However, I could find nothing on the WSDOT website about those ramps being restricted. The only weight restriction mentioned was:

'Vehicles with a gross weight of more than 105,500 lbs. are prohibited. Each single axle is not to exceed 20,000 lbs., and tandem axles are not to exceed 34,000 lbs. Trucks and buses must travel in the right-hand lane only. Further restrictions could be imposed in the future.'

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/Questions.htm

Posted 11 months ago #
redblack
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WSDOT has either posted false information on their web site, or they have failed to take down the 50/40 mph signs. the signs on the viaduct are like, for example, the signs at the fauntleroy end of the west seattle bridge. when there is a speed posted below a "curve ahead" sign, it's supposed to be an advisory to slow down to a suggested speed without creating a reduced speed zone. i.e. the speed limit is the same, but maybe you should take your foot off the accelerator through this curve. there are no "reduced speed ahead" or any other such indications of a reduced speed limit on AWV.

until WSDOT covers the 50/40 mph signs - and there are some right in the middle of the construction zone - i will continue to defer to those. if ticketed, i will have charts and graphs and signs and 8 x 10 glossy color photos with the writin' on the back.

and if i pass you and you're doing 35 and shaking your fist at me in impotent rage, write WSDOT a letter asking them to make it clear to drivers - not just internet surfers - that the speed limit on the viaduct has been reduced.

regarding the weight restriction(s), there are signs on the viaduct, and at the 1st ave and columbia ramps. obviously, metro buses are the exception.

and regarding WSDOT's incident response team, have you ever seen them hanging out on the viaduct?

sorry metrognome, but your internet information is in direct contradiction with my reality. :)

Posted 11 months ago #
miws
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Well, I think that the speed limit on the viaduct should be 85 m.p.h. because that's what it was designed for! There are limited on/off ramps, and no pedestrians!

Furthermore, I think those extra wide, triple trailer, Boeing trucks that haul airplane parts should be allowed on there too, any time of day, traveling in any lane, and at 85 m.p.h. as well, along side gasoline tankers, with the same privileges, because that's what it was designed for!

Mike

Posted 11 months ago #
redblack
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here.

hie yourselves on over the the washington state department of licensing driver's guide, where on page 2 of this .pdf document, at the bottom, it shows a curve left sign with 35 mph below it. the caption reads curve left, 35 mph or less recommended.

http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/driverguide.pdf

Posted 11 months ago #
mpento
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I agree with redblack sentiment unfortunately I think the fact that that stretch is now designated a work zone trumps the posted speed limit? Fortunately 99.99% of drivers are ignoring both the 35 and the 50 mph sign and doing the usual 60mph minimum (unless of course on the rare occasion when the traffic is too heavy). So I guess the better defense would be trying not to cause unsafe conditions by keeping with the flow. The defense of "everyone else is doing it" might work in court however it does not work with your Momma and does not protect you from the destain of the righteous!

Posted 11 months ago #
flowerpetal
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Destain? What's that?

Posted 11 months ago #
flowerpetal
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I had to roll this over in my brain for four hours and then the light bulb finally came on. Disdain... it was so obvious, I overlooked what was being conveyed. I am not the spelling polease. ;)

Posted 11 months ago #
redblack
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mpento: no. WSDOT has to post reduced speed limit signs in order for the speed limit to be, you know, officially reduced - even through a construction zone.

a web page statement declaring that the speed limit through the construction zone is 35 mph is not good enough and is unenforceable.

the speed limit is still 50 mph.

Posted 11 months ago #
DP
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Posted 11 months ago #
redblack
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DP: yeah, well, i'd post an equally snarky picture in response if i didn't have to work so hard at it.

Posted 11 months ago #
redblack
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i should clarify something. trucks over 10,000 GVW are restricted from the 1st ave off-ramp, but not the northbound on-ramp.

Posted 11 months ago #