News

Find news releases and announcements about the agency in our virtual newsroom. 

Goodbye summer, hello busy Labor Day travel weekend

Posted 08/22/2024

OLYMPIA – Before the return of yellow school buses and all things pumpkin spice, many people plan summer festivities over Labor Day. The Washington State Department of Transportation encourages people to make travel plans now for the popular three-day weekend.

11 Washington ports awarded state funding for electrification projects

Posted 08/21/2024

OLYMPIA – Announcement of Port Electrification grant awards totaling $26.5 million.

Double trouble: Closures on SR 520 and northbound I-405 in Renton begin Friday night, Aug. 23-26

Posted 08/20/2024

SEATTLE – Drivers traveling across Lake Washington on State Route 520 or through the Interstate 405/SR 167 corridor should plan for substantial closures beginning Friday night, Aug. 23 to early Monday, Aug. 26. The three separate closures could mean “triple trouble” for drivers if they don’t plan and adjust their…

POSTPONED: Retired state ferries sold for $100,000 each

Posted 08/16/2024

SEATTLE – Two vessels that each spent more than 50 years as part of the Washington State Ferries fleet are heading to South America.

Northbound I-5 HOV extension from Everett to Marysville opens

Posted 08/14/2024

EVERETT – The HOV lane extension on northbound Interstate 5 from Everett to Marysville has opened, allowing vehicles with two or more occupants their own lane to the I-5 State Route 529 bridge.

Improving salmon habitat and transportation for generations to come

Posted 08/14/2024

Per a 2013 federal court order, WSDOT is actively working to correct hundreds of outdated fish barriers and open hundreds of miles of habitat.

UPDATE: Weekend closure scheduled for 54th Avenue over I-5 in Fife Aug. 23-26

Posted 08/13/2024

FIFE – Travelers who use 54th Avenue across Interstate 5 in Fife will want to plan for an around-the-clock weekend closure in August.

Weekend travel alert: Full closure of southbound SR 167 in Kent, Aug. 23-26

Posted 08/13/2024

KENT – Travelers should plan for a full closure of southbound State Route 167 late Friday, Aug. 16 to early Monday, Aug. 19 in Kent.

New ramp meters coming to Vancouver in August to improve travel times for Clark County commuters

Posted 08/13/2024

VANCOUVER – Interstate 205 and I-5 travelers in southwest Washington will now experience improved travel times and reduced congestion during their commute.

Public invited to environmental hearing on I-5 Nisqually corridor improvements

Posted 08/13/2024

LACEY – People are invited to attend a combined environmental hearing and informational open house which discusses potential environmental effects of proposed improvements to Interstate 5 across the Nisqually Delta.

166,800 electric vehicle

registrations in Washington in 2023, up from 114,600 in 2022.

87 wetland compensation sites

actively monitored on 918 acres in 2023.

25,000 safe animal crossings

in the Snoqualmie Pass East Project area since 2014.