Date:
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Contact:
Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7080 (Olympia)
OLYMPIA – Declare your independence from travel delays by using WSDOT’s Web site for travel over the upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend.
WSDOT offers many ways to know before you go, including our Web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov, and the 24-hour traveler information line, 5-1-1.
To help drivers navigate holiday weekend traffic, WSDOT listed on its Web site the times drivers may likely see delays on US 2, I-90, I-5 at the Canadian Border and I-5 south of Olympia through Lewis County .
Work at most construction projects around the state will move off the highway from noon Thursday until Monday morning. Although there may not be any active construction, drivers should prepare for shifted lanes, roadway detours and reduced speed zones in places.
Drivers should expect longer-than typical wait times at ferry docks most of the holiday weekend. Travel times are significantly lighter Thursday morning and on Monday.
On I-5, we typically see a significant increase in traffic near the Canadian border crossing and in the area south of Olympia into Lewis County. There is an active construction zone on I-5 south of Olympia. While construction activity is suspended July 3-5, drivers should be aware of reduced lane widths.
We expect Fourth of July holiday-related traffic delays south of Olympia through Lewis County:
- Thursday, July 2, northbound 3 to 5 p.m.; southbound 3 to 6 p.m.
- Friday, July 3, northbound 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; southbound 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, July 5, northbound noon to 7 p.m.; southbound from 1 to 6 p.m.
Historical data from I-5 in the Bellingham area shows possible heavy traffic Sunday afternoon (July 5) northbound from 1 to 6 p.m. and southbound from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Drivers should also expect additional traffic on US 2 Stevens Passand I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass, primarily on Friday and Sunday.
- US 2: The heaviest traffic is expected westbound US 2 west of Stevens Pass on Sunday (July 5) from noon to 6 p.m.
- I-90: We expect heavy traffic eastbound I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. We also expect heavy traffic and possible congestion westbound I-90 from Cle Elum to North Bend over Snoqualmie Pass on Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.
The following are additional areas where motorists may encounter delays over the holiday weekend:
Washington State Ferries
- WSF is expecting heavy traffic for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Limited extra service will be added on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes during the Fourth of July weekend. The holiday schedule is in effect Friday, July 3, on the following routes: Point Defiance/Tahlequah, Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, Seattle/Bainbridge Island, Edmonds/Kingston, and Mukilteo/Clinton. Holiday schedules and other ferry information can be found at Washington State Ferries’ Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries or by calling toll-free at 1-888-808-7977.
- Crews working for the city of Anacortes have closed the intersection of the SR 20 Spur and Commercial Avenue to build a roundabout. Detour signs will direct drivers around the closure. This is the main route to the San Juan Islands ferry terminal.
Northwest Washington/Puget Sound area:
- Travel on Puget Sound highways will increase late Thursday, with peak travel times from noon to 9 p.m. Friday. Sunday afternoon travel back into the Puget Sound area will peak just before noon and continue into late evening hours.
- Drivers heading home from the Fourth of July weekend will face delays on westbound I-90 west of Issaquah as crews begin a project to replace cracked steel bridge joints on the I-90 floating bridge. Starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 5, westbound I-90 will be funneled into a single lane across the floating bridge as crews begin restriping the freeway. Drivers coming from east of the Cascades are advised to take alternate routes such as SR 202 to SR 520, or SR 18 to I-5. Then on Monday, July 6 at 5 a.m., all westbound I-90 traffic will be diverted into the two express lanes. WSDOT traffic engineers expect delays of an hour or more unless enough drivers change how or when they commute. For more information on the project, please go to: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/HomerHadleyBridgeRepair.
- The right lane (one of three) of northbound I-5 will be closed for four miles through Snohomish/Skagit counties from milepost 213 to 217 all weekend. For more information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/SR532ToHillDitch/.
- Local parades will close US 101 on Saturday, July 4, in Forks and Port Angeles. The Forks parade is 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Port Angeles parade is scheduled from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Detours are available.
- A temporary signal directs one-way, alternating traffic 24 hours per day on US 101 at the Purdy Creek Bridge in Mason County. Expect delays.
- On Saturday, July 4, we expect heavy traffic using the Tacoma Narrows Bridge manual toll lanes between 1 and 7 p.m. and possibly from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. On Sunday, July 5, we expect congestion from 1 to 7 p.m. that may affect the electronic toll lanes. Drivers are encouraged to schedule their trips accordingly. Good To Go! customers should stay in the left-hand lanes as they pass the toll plaza and, if possible, use the 24th St. on-ramp in Gig Harbor to bypass the toll booths altogether. WSP will be monitoring traffic and take action if necessary to minimize the delays.
Eastern Washington:
Trains
Amtrak Cascades is very popular on holiday weekends. Travelers are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance and arrive early at the station for departure. Visit www.amtrakcascades.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL for more information.
Aviation
The 16 state-operated airports are open for the season. WSDOT Aviation encourages pilots to review the most current Airport Facilities Directory (AFD), file a flight plan and check for current Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR's) before each flight. To contact the Flight Service Station, please call 1-800-WX-BRIEF. Temporary flight restriction information is available at: www.airspace.nifc.gov/mapping/nifc/index.cfm. To check the status of state-operated airports, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/airports/Amenities.htm or call 1-800-552-0666.
Buses
Most public transit systems will follow a holiday schedule and some transit systems will not operate fixed route or Dial-A-Ride service. Check with your local transit agency for more information.
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