Vancouver region Interstate 5 - Severe congestion
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Measures of severe congestion on the I-5 corridor in the Vancouver region
Severe congestion
Severe congestion occurs when highway travel speeds are slower than 60% of the posted speed (about 36 mph for a 60 mph speed limit). During this situation, vehicle speeds and spacing decrease along with reduced highway efficiency well below maximum productivity. See WSDOT's how to calculate severe congestion (PDF 5.9MB).
Sources: WSDOT Transportation Safety and Systems Analysis Division and WSDOT TRACFLOW (https://tracflow.wsdot.wa.gov/)
Note: Source data collection devices were updated in 2017.
Multi-year trends
In 2022, severe congestion continued to increase compared to 2021, due to the ongoing recovery of traffic volume in the wake of COVID-19. However, severe congestion was still significantly lower than the pre-pandemic level.
In 2020, due to the statewide response to COVID-19, there was a significant decrease in severe congestion compared to previous years.
Between 2018 and 2019, severe congestion on I-5 in the Vancouver region increased significantly.
Annual highlights
In 2022, severe congestion significantly increased along both the I-5 southbound morning commute between the I-205 interchange and the Interstate Bridge and the SR 500 interchange and the I-5 Interstate Bridge. At 7:35 a.m., speed for the section between the I-205 interchange and the Interstate Bridge was below 36 mph on 23.4% of weekdays, significantly up from 7.5% of weekdays in 2021.
In 2021, severe congestion along I-5 was at about the same level as in 2020, with the exception of reductions during the morning peak on I-5 southbound between the I-205 interchange and the Interstate Bridge. At 7:35 a.m., between the I-205 interchange and the Interstate Bridge speeds were below 36 mph on 7.5% of weekdays, down from 9.4% of weekdays in 2020.
In 2020, due to the statewide response to COVID-19 there was a significant decrease in severe congestion compared to previous years. Commuters driving on I-5 between SR 500 and the Interstate Bridge drove in severely congested conditions (speeds of 36 mph or less) less often than in 2019. At 6:25 a.m., speeds on this commute were below 36 mph on 25.5% of weekdays in 2020—down significantly from 90.4% of weekdays in 2019.
In 2019, commuters driving on I-5 between SR 500 and the I-5 Interstate Bridge drove in severely congested conditions (speeds of 36 mph or less) more often than in 2018. At 6:35 a.m. speeds on this commute were below 36 mph on 92.1% of weekdays in 2019—up from 88.5% of weekdays in 2018.
In 2018, commuters driving on I-5 between SR 500 and the I-5 Interstate Bridge drove in severely congested conditions (speeds of 36 mph or less) more often than in 2017. At 6:30 a.m. speeds on this commute were below 36 mph on 88.5% of weekdays in 2018—up from 86.8% of weekdays in 2017.