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SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

WSDOT caught off guard by rain after incredible summer

Sep 22, 2015, 1:20 PM | Updated: 3:55 pm

WSDOT will have to close portions of I-405 at night to finish painting, after wet weather delayed t...

WSDOT will have to close portions of I-405 at night to finish painting, after wet weather delayed the project. (WSDOT)

(WSDOT)

A project that the Washington State Department of Transportation knew was coming was delayed and is now going to force closures of I-405.

Crews began restriping 405 between Lynnwood and Bothell on Friday in preparation of the new express toll lanes. But the project seemed cursed from the beginning, after a mechanical problem with a truck delayed progress.

To make things worse, wet weather prevented further striping from being done Sunday and WSDOT had to cancel work.

“They’ve had months and months to get the stripes down. They couldn’t do it.”
-Dori Monson

Related: Why WSDOT crews failed to finish striping I-405’s new toll lanes

The two mishaps will force WSDOT to close a section of the roadway Friday through Monday. Officials hope the work can be complete before the freeway is down to two lanes so crews can get the express toll lanes up and running.

The additional closures are absurd, ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Dori Monson says. Think about the incredible summer we’ve had in the Pacific Northwest; why would WSDOT wait until the very last minute to restripe?

Dori Monson: They’ve had months and months to get the stripes down. They couldn’t do it. They start tolling on Sunday. They’ve had years and they couldn’t get it striped on time. It’s another example of how government can’t do anything right.

Producer Jake Skorheim: Why are they painting in the rain?

DM: And why are they doing it the last second, if they have known for years that this project was coming?

JS: This is one of the nicest summers we’ve had and they look at the clouds and say, ‘hey, lets get this done.’

But the closures are actually a good thing, a WSDOT spokesperson told KING 5. It’s a “long closure, but it will allow crews to finish up the striping,” he said.

DM: How long does it take to paint a stripe? You give me four buddies and a gift card to Sherwin-Williams and I’ll get it done in a few hours.

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