News
Find news releases and announcements about the agency in our virtual newsroom.
Climate mitigation and the Highway System Plan
The draft Highway System Plan (HSP) addresses many diverse and complex issues, one of which is Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG).
Finding salmon in Purdy Creek and opening the new SR 302 Spur bridge
As Gill said in Finding Nemo, “Fish aren’t made to be in a box, kid.” And even if many drains do lead to the ocean, fish may not be able to swim through some culverts along the way. Now, fish won’t struggle to pass under the State Route 302 Spur in Purdy.
Work wraps up at two fish barrier projects in Jefferson County
QUILCENE – It was a busy summer in Jefferson County opening habitats for local fish. Two big projects, one on US 101 and the other on State Route 104 and SR 19, have wrapped up.
Replacing the Elwha River Bridge
After serving the Olympic Peninsula for almost 100 years, the beloved Elwha River Bridge has reached the end of its useful life
That’s a wrap: Highway construction from Yakima to Walla Walla winds down for 2023
YAKIMA – The approach of the calendar year’s end brings with it a number of significant highway construction milestones. With so many improvements made on highways between Yakima and Walla Walla in 2023, here is a brief recap of some of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s construction activity across…
Opening the next section of the North Spokane Corridor: full completion now in sight
Whether you’ve lived in Spokane your whole life, or just recently moved to the Lilac City, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard or perhaps uttered these eight words: “It will never be built in my lifetime.” Sometimes those eight words come in the form of a rhetorical eight-word question: “Will it ever be built in…
Nearly 300,000 stuffing onto ferries for Thanksgiving
SEATTLE – Carve out some extra time if your Thanksgiving travel plans include a state ferry ride. In addition to the long vehicle lines over holiday weekends, all passengers should prepare for possible last-minute schedule changes. Edmonds/Kingston route travelers should plan for reduced one-boat service due to…
I-5 HOV project in Pierce County aims to reduce bridge strikes on JBLM
It happened again. On November 3, a semi-truck got stuck on Pendleton Avenue under Interstate 5 in Pierce County. It's the fourth bridge strike this year at this location. Every time it happens, we hope that the damage is superficial because those bridge girders are holding up the lanes of I-5. So far, we've…
Public invited to comment on Washington’s 2024-2027 program of multimodal transportation projects
OLYMPIA – A compilation of prioritized transportation improvement projects is now ready for public review and comment through Tuesday, Dec. 19.
Busy 2023 construction season wraps for I-90 between North Bend and Ellensburg
SNOQUALMIE PASS – From highway expansion to rock blasting, deck rehabilitation and roadway erosion mitigation, much was accomplished along the Interstate 90 corridor in 2023 from North Bend to Ellensburg.
Slow down on ice and snow.
It's easier to skid or lose control traveling at higher speeds. Give yourself more time to stop.
Carry chains, practice installing them.
Winter conditions could mean chains are required on your route. Practice putting them on your vehicle ahead of time.
Pack your winter car kit.
Carry extra supplies like warm clothing, ice scraper and brush, jumper cables and other emergency items.