The Washington State Department of Transportation is implementing a pilot project to try and solve westbound chain-up woes. The new system will be used throughout the winter when traction tires are required on trucks traveling westbound and are over 10,000 pounds.

Here’s how the system works:

• When traction tires are required, trucks traveling westbound and are over 10,000 pounds must chain up.

• Overhead signs will direct trucks to the westbound chain-up area and notify trucks where a chain-up space is available.

• Double parking is not allowed with the new system; trucks will chain up in a single-file line.

WSDOT believes this is the first time engineers have used Intelligent Transportation Systems to actively organize the chain-up process. If successful, this pilot project may be expanded to other areas in the I-90 corridor and across the state.