Date:  Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Contact: Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7080

OLYMPIA – It was tough out there for many travelers as the combination of concerts, festivals, lower gas prices and summer-like weather drew thousands to Washington’s roadways for Memorial Day Weekend 2009.

WSDOT’s initial traffic counts show increase of nearly 10 percent in holiday traffic from 2008, with I-90 Snoqualmie Pass showing a 9 percent increase, US 2 over Stevens Pass a 12 percent increase and I-5 near Olympia a 7 percent increase.

These increases, combined with traffic collisions, led to long delays. Travel was especially tough over I-90 Snoqualmie Pass both Friday afternoon and Monday.

“Unfortunately, when you have collisions combined with heavy holiday travel volumes, drivers experience delays,” said Ted Trepanier, WSDOT State Traffic Engineer.

Trepanier reminds drivers that WSDOT offers many ways to know before you go, including the Web site www.wsdot.wa.gov, and the 24-hour traveler information line, 5-1-1.

Many did use WSDOT’s travel information tools over the 2009 Memorial Day weekend, with calls to the WSDOT 5-1-1 travel information hotline double from Memorial Day weekend 2008.

WSDOT will continue to provide travel information so drivers can make the best decisions for their travel plans.

The Memorial Day weekend travel roundup from across the state in comparison to 2008:

I-90 Snoqualmie

• 199,000 vehicles traveled over Snoqualmie Pass between Friday and Monday, an increase of just more than 9 percent (16,500 vehicles).
• 57,000 traveled Friday, an increase of close to 7 percent. The largest increase was morning and early afternoon drivers. On Friday, a number of early afternoon minor traffic collisions on eastbound I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass led to 17 miles of stop-and-go traffic through the evening.
• 1,400 more vehicles Saturday.
• 4,900 more vehicles Sunday. There was good attendance all weekend at the Sasquatch music festival at The Gorge Amphitheatre, especially for Sunday performers Jane's Addiction and Nine Inch Nails.
• 56,000 traveled Monday, and increase of 8 percent, with the largest increase before noon. Those drivers coming back Monday faced 22 miles of stop-and-go traffic.

US 2, Stevens Pass

• 38,200 vehicles traveled US 2 from Friday through Monday, an increase of 12 percent (4,300 vehicles).
• 10,000 traveled Friday, an increase of 13 percent.
• 800 more vehicles Saturday.
• 1,200 more vehicles Sunday.
• 10,800 traveled Monday, an increase of 12 percent. Westbound drivers noting the Monday backups on I-90 may have gone to US 2, as traffic was stop-and-go between Peshastin and Leavenworth between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday.

Olympic Peninsula/Hood Canal Bridge

• The Hood Canal Bridge closure, along with increased holiday traffic and boaters headed to Shrimp Fest, contributed to significant backups and long delays on southbound US 101 at Hoodsport in Mason County. At one point, backups stretched nine miles and WSP reported it took them between 1 and 1 1/2 hours to get through the backup.

I-5 Thurston/Lewis counties

• 269,700 vehicles traveled I-5 south of Olympia into Lewis County between Friday and Monday, an increase of 7 percent (17,700 vehicles).
• 79,100 traveled Friday, an increase of 5 percent.
• 6,000 more vehicles Saturday.
• 5,900 more vehicles Sunday.
• 65,000 traveled Monday, an increase of 4 percent.
• Just north of this area, holiday traffic resulted in significant congestion on northbound I-5 Monday afternoon and evening from the I-5/US 101 interchange in Olympia to Fort Lewis (mileposts 104 to 121).

I-5, near US/Canada Border

• There was a communications outage at the traffic counter and no data is available.

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