South Puget Sound Interstate 5 - Throughput

In 2023, throughput productivity at most locations in both directions of I-5 improved compared to 2022, likely due to the completion of I-5 construction near the Tacoma dome. After construction was completed, delay in these sections decreased significantly.

In 2022, throughput productivity at most locations in both directions of I-5 improved compared to 2021, probably due to the completion of I-5 construction near the Tacoma dome. After the completion of construction, delay in these sections was significantly reduced.

In 2021, throughput productivity worsened from 2020 due to the recovery of traffic volume in the wake of COVID-19, but still didn't reach the pre-pandemic level. Vehicle throughput at these locations ranged from 77% to 99% of maximum throughput at the most congested times. Throughput productivity varies by direction of travel, location and time of day. For example, in 2021, 27% of the freeway's capacity was reduced due to slower speeds caused by congestion for commuters traveling northbound on I-5 (Tacoma Dome, MP 133.5) at 7:50 a.m. compared to the same area in 2020 was 23% at 7:50 a.m.

In 2020, due to the statewide response to COVID-19 there was a significant improvement in vehicle throughput compared to previous years. Vehicle throughput at these locations ranged from 77% to 99% of maximum throughput at their most congested times. Throughput productivity varies by direction of travel, location and time of day. For example, in 2020, 23% of the freeway's capacity was reduced due to slower speeds caused by congestion for commuters traveling northbound on I-5 (Tacoma Dome, MP 133.5) at 7:50 a.m compared to the same area in 2019 was 50% at 8:00 a.m.

In 2018 and 2019, vehicle throughput at these locations ranged from 41% to 99% of maximum throughput at their most congested times. Throughput productivity varies by direction of travel, location and time of day. For example, in 2018 and 2019, 28% of the freeway's capacity was reduced due to slower speeds caused by congestion for commuters traveling southbound at I-5 at Fife at 8:00 p.m. Throughput productivity loss was an hour and 35 minutes longer in 2019 than it was in 2018, starting at 10:40 a.m and ending at 8:10 p.m.