Nate Connors – MyNorthwest.com Seattle news, sports, weather, traffic, talk and community. Fri, 13 Jun 2025 23:07:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8 /wp-content/uploads/2024/06/favicon-needle.png Nate Connors – MyNorthwest.com 32 32 Busy weekend ahead: Seattle protests, graduations, freeway closures will snarl traffic /chokepoints/seattle-weekend-traffic-2/4099320 Sat, 14 Jun 2025 00:15:16 +0000 /?p=4099320 Graduation, protests, freeway closures, and sports will prove to be challenging for drivers this weekend around Seattle.

UW graduation

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Let’s begin with the 150th commencement at the University of Washington (UW) on Saturday, where 50,000 are expected to attend, not including the 7,400 graduates. The weather will be perfect for this outdoor ceremony at Husky Stadium, which will kick off at 1:30 p.m. Traffic around Montlake will be packed starting hours before the ceremony and again when the ceremony wraps up.

Additionally, a planned “No Kings” rally is set to take place at the UW Red Square around the same time as the commencement ceremony. It is unclear if the protestors plan to stay on the campus or march to Husky Stadium. Another “No Kings” rally is planned at Cal Anderson Park. Both are scheduled between noon and 3 p.m., Saturday.

There are many other “No Kings” rallies around the region. Click to see if there is one near you.

I-405 closure

As far as road closures go, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is shutting down all northbound lanes on Interstate-405 (I-405) between Sunset Boulevard in Renton to Coal Creek Parkway in Factoria. This is another chapter in the .

The detour route will send most drivers onto Coal Creek Parkway. This route is not designed to withstand freeway traffic, and drivers can expect it to be packed throughout most of the weekend, especially during peak hours. WSDOT suggests taking alternate routes over the weekend, like I-5, or traveling during non-peak hours.

All northbound lanes on I-405 will shut down at 10 p.m., Friday, through 4 a.m., Monday.

I-90 overnight closure

WSDOT will close all eastbound lanes on Interstate-90 (I-90) across Lake Washington for tunnel maintenance. Routine check-ups in the Mount Baker and Mercer Lid tunnels will shut down all lanes between Seattle and Mercer Island starting Friday at 10 p.m. between 6 a.m. Saturday.

Drivers’ only option crossing the lake during this closure will be eastbound State Route 520 (SR 520), which is a toll bridge.

State Route 516 closure

Eastbound State Route 516 (SR 516) in SeaTac will be fully closed between SR 99 and Military Road South from 10 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday. The I-5 north 5 exit to SR 516 will also close Saturday, June 14, through the morning of Sunday, June 15. The closure will allow crews to pave and stripe SR 516 to accommodate an expanded interchange opening later this summer.

Eastbound drivers on SR 516 will be detoured onto I-5 south to South 272nd Street, then routed back onto I-5 north and exit at South 200th Street/Military Road South and follow a signed detour back to SR 516. Northbound I-5 drivers wishing to exit SR 516 will also follow a signed detour.

The reconfigured SR 516/I-5 interchange will include new signals, multimodal improvements, and a new Veterans Drive South underpass to help people travel through the interchange safely and efficiently.

This work is part of the .

SR 516 closure information

Friday, June 13, through the morning of Monday, June 16, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., all lanes of SR 516 east will close between SR 99 and Military Road South. A signed detour will be in place.

I-5 ramp closure information

Saturday, June 14, through the morning of Sunday, June 15, from 11 p.m. to 3:30 a.m., the northbound I-5 exit to SR 516 will close overnight. A signed detour will be in place.

Soccer, baseball

Seattle will also be packed with sports fans, as 150,000 will visit for the 10-day , starting this weekend鈥攏ot to be confused with the. If you are attending any of the matches, plan on full-capacity trains and buses headed to Lumen Field, and allow plenty of extra time to get there.

The Seattle Sounders will play 3 out of the 6 matches, with their first game on Sunday.

The Seattle Mariners play at home and will bring an estimated 120,000 fans over Father’s Day Weekend.

Sound Transit

Sound Transit will add bus and train services to accommodate the busy weekend, and remind passengers to check the schedule ahead of time for any potential changes.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听. Read more of his stories听here. Submit news tips听here.

]]> Seattle weekend commute... ‘A unique spot’: Everything you need to know about Sea-Tac’s new checkpoint /chokepoints/sea-tacs-new-checkpoint/4096723 Sat, 07 Jun 2025 00:32:08 +0000 /?p=4096723 The Seattle-Tacoma International (Sea-Tac) Airport had its busiest year in 2025 with 52.6 million passengers traveling between 30 different airlines.

During peak travel times, it was common to see lengthy lines stacking up at the security checkpoints. Sea-Tac had to address this before it got out of hand. Unfortunately, there wasn’t room to expand the airport building to add a spacious checkpoint, so staff had to get creative. That’s when the idea of transforming baggage claim 1 into checkpoint 1 was born.

Checkpoint 1 is located at the international flights gate and is the first security checkpoint on the lower level-baggage claim. The checkpoint is advantageous in a number of ways鈥攃lose proximity to international flights, a quick way to get through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening, and an option to avoid the busy checkpoints on the upper level.

Lauren Dunphy, Director of Operations, told 成人X站 Newsradio this project was five years in the making.

“I’ve been at the port for five and a half years, and they were talking about it when I walked in the door,” she shared.

Advantages of using Sea-Tac’s new checkpoint

Dunphy explained the benefits of Checkpoint 1.

“This is a unique spot, particularly for our travelers who are in the know,” she said. “It’s kind of a super fast door to security, when the upper drives are busy, during our peak departure times. Customers who are being dropped off can come down to the arrivals and come in at the very far south end and go directly to a checkpoint if they’re travel ready and don’t need to check a bag and already have their boarding pass, they can come right on in and speed through security here.”

If you do have to check luggage, you will need to go to the upper-level ticket counters, as there aren’t any on the lower level.

A couple of new features that help expedite travelers through Checkpoint 1 are the latest version of Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2). Passengers who opt for CAT-2 will have their photo taken and their identification scanned. Once the facial matching technology confirms a match, the passenger can continue through security. CAT-2 also has the passenger’s ticket information, confirmed through facial technology, negating the need to show a boarding pass.

New technology at the checkpoint

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Another new TSA feature is the state-of-the-art body scanners. This new version features a flat-panel body scanner with an open design, instead of an enclosure. It uses millimeter wave technology that detects any object that doesn’t match a person’s body contour. For example, a phone, wallet, or even a razor blade will show up as a foreign contour object.

However, the body scanners and CAT-2 are optional. If a passenger declines those procedures, they can check in the “old-fashioned” way by showing their boarding pass and walking through the metal detector.

Once through screening at the new checkpoint, travelers will choose the easiest way to get to their gate or concourse. They鈥檒l find flight information displays on a landing between escalators that lead straight up to the A gates, or down to catch the SEA Underground to the S gates or the north end concourses.

Checkpoint 1 offers five general screening lanes, with the potential for TSA PreCheck and SEA Spot Saver in the future. This brings the total number of screening lanes at SEA to 33. Checkpoint 6, when fully opened, will provide an additional six lanes, two in late summer and the rest before Thanksgiving.

Don’t miss the art displays

Along with being more efficient, the checkpoint is also more aesthetically pleasing.

More than 20 new pieces of art are showcased as part of Sea-Tac’s ever-increasing art collection鈥攐ne of the largest airport collections in the country. A dramatic set of glass cases outlines the edge of the new checkpoint, displaying public art to travelers inside and outside the checkpoint.

And Sea-Tac still has local musicians performing throughout the airport, adding to the ambience as you relax before your flight.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.

]]> sea-tac's new checkpoint (2)... Colossal closures could challenge drivers this weekend in and around Seattle /chokepoints/closures-seattle-weekend/4094353 Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:05:30 +0000 /?p=4094353 The busy construction season is upon us and this weekend drivers will be tested with three major closures between Everett, Seattle, and near North Bend.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is in the middle of repairing and repaving the network of bridges between Everett and Marysville, including the Snohomish River Bridge, the Steamboat Slough Bridge, and the Ebey Slough Bridge.

This weekend work moves to the Steamboat Slough Bridge in the southbound direction. Originally built in 1927, this section of bridge will undergo rehabilitation work on the end lift upper wheels and the movable span, which have deteriorated over the years from the marine environment.

Other preservation work involves seismic retrofitting, repaving and replacing panels on the bridge deck, and a fresh coat of protective paint.

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This project will close State Route 529 (SR 529) southbound between the Ebey Slough and Steamboat Slough beginning Friday, May 30th at 11 p.m. through Tuesday, June 3rd at 11 p.m.

During this closure drivers can only access Smith Island via northbound SR 529, but can leave the island via north and south SR 529.

WSDOT plans a similar closure next weekend between Friday, June 6th and Tuesday, June 10th.

What about Seattle?

This weekend’s scheduled closure at the Ballard Bridge has been , but the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will still close the Leary Way Bridge at the north end of the Ballard Bridge.

People driving south on 15th Ave NW will need to travel down to Leary Way NW, then use the on-ramp to access the Ballard Bridge. People traveling north from Interbay via the Ballard Bridge will need to exit down to Leary Way NW using the off-ramp to continue into Ballard.

SDOT suggests to take the Aurora Bridge as a detour route to avoid increased traffic.

There is a weekend closure on the Ballard Bridge scheduled for next weekend.

State Route 18/Interstate 90 Interchange

WSDOT is moving forward on the behemoth through early Wednesday morning.

Both directions of State Route 18 (SR 18)will close under the I-90 bridges from 9 p.m. Thursday, May 29, to 5 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, for construction of the diverging diamond interchange.

People can detour using eastbound and westbound I-90 and using adjacent interchanges to loop around — exit 20 (High Point Way) or exit 22 (Preston-Fall City) to the west of SR 18 and exit 27 (Southeast North Bend Way) to the east of SR 18.

Additionally, SR 18 will be reduced to a single lane with flaggers and pilot vehicles alternating traffic from 9 p.m. Sunday, June 1, to 5 a.m. Monday, June 2, near the Raging River and Deep Creek bridges to shift eastbound SR 18 traffic onto the new bridges.

]]> The overpass above Leary Way N.W. is shut down all weekend long. (Photo: Seattle Dept. of Transport... Memorial Day travel: 40 million hitting the road鈥攈ere鈥檚 what WA drivers need to know /chokepoints/memorial-day-weekend/4089620 Tue, 20 May 2025 12:38:33 +0000 /?p=4089620 Memorial Day Weekend is often referred to as the “unofficial start to summer,” with many Americans coming out of their winter hibernation and traveling to visit family or sunny destinations.

According to AAA, an estimated 45 million Americans will travel over the holiday weekend, with nearly 90% opting to drive.

Locally, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) generates on some of the busiest highways. The graphs depict peak travel times and can help you avoid lengthy backups, some taking hours to clear.

Snoqualmie Pass is the busiest cross-state route and typically has heavier-than-normal traffic Friday through Sunday on eastbound Interstate 90 (I-90), with all that traffic coming back to Seattle on Monday. For drivers commuting on I-90, you can keep up on traffic alerts by texting “WSDOT Snoqualmie” to 468311.

Eastern WA delays and backups

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In Eastern Washington, construction will be put on hold at the Vantage Bridge during the holiday weekend, opening up all lanes. Most construction projects across the state will pause as well to ease congestion.

Travelers on the Washington State Ferries should brace for heavy volumes and delays westbound between Thursday and Saturday. On Sunday and Monday, those travelers will be headed back home, delaying eastbound travel. Remember, you can bypass the delays if you walk on and leave the car behind. Click to keep up on all the latest ferry information, including ticket information, travel times, real-time data, and travel alerts.

If you’re traveling aboard 听or hopping on a plane at , be sure to arrive early to avoid any unexpected delays, and don’t forget your or passport.

For those staying close to home, be sure to check your route before you head out and remember that most transit services will operate on a holiday schedule on Memorial Day.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听. Read more of his stories听here. Submit news tips听here.

]]> memorial day weekend... Traffic alert: WSDOT postpones 5-day closure, some weekend work due to weather /chokepoints/get-ready-for-traffic-wsdot-rolling-out-major-shutdowns-across-western-wa/4087652 Thu, 15 May 2025 12:00:41 +0000 /?p=4087652 Drivers will want to plan ahead as the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is rolling out several closures over the weekend and spilling into next week. However, WSDOT announced some closures have been postponed due to weather.

State Route 18 closure at I-90 postponed

Drivers along State Route 18 (SR 18) at I-90 will see big changes following a 5-day closure at this busy interchange near the city of Snoqualmie. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) decided on this unprecedented closure to tackle a number of projects at once, as opposed to taking a series of weekend closures to address the next phase of the sometime after Memorial Day.

Crews will install new drainage and electrical crossings, pave the new roadway, and construct concrete islands to form the southern part of the new I-90/SR 18 diverging diamond interchange.

However, work on the left turn pocket for traffic from westbound SR 18 onto Southeast 104th Street, as well as the signalized U-turn south of I-90 (which will allow eastbound SR 18 traffic to head westbound toward Auburn), has been postponed for rain. Both of these features will be operational when SR 18 reopens on Wednesday, May 21.

During the closure, there will be no access on SR 18 underneath the I-90 overpass. Drivers will be able to access Snoqualmie Parkway from westbound I-90 only, and accessing SR 18 will only be open from eastbound I-90. Detours will be in place.

This extended closure starts Thursday, May 15 at 9 p.m. to Wednesday, May 21 at 5 a.m.

Lane and ramp closures on I-405 in Renton postponed

The one-lane reduction on southbound Eventually, crews will close one lane between Northeast 44th Street and Northeast 30th Street while they work to realign and repave the Northeast 30th Street on,听 and off-ramps. This work will fully close the on-ramp to southbound I-405 and the off-ramp from southbound I-405 at Northeast 30th Street.

Closures begin Friday at 11 p.m. to Monday, May 19, at 4 a.m. Detours will be in place. Drivers should expect heavy delays through Renton, with added freight traffic due to the closure at the SR 18 and I-90 interchange.

State Route 529 closures on the Snohomish River Bridge

Unlike the past couple of weekends, there will be 12-hour closures on Saturday and Sunday on northbound State Route 529 (SR 529) for bridge maintenance, including repair to bridge girders. This work will not affect southbound SR 529. Daily closures are scheduled between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Westbound I-90 closure between Mercer Island and Seattle

All westbound lanes on I-90 will close between Island Crest Way on Mercer Island to Rainier Avenue South in Seattle for routine maintenance inside the Mercer Tunnel and the Mount Baker Tunnel. Routine maintenance typically includes fire suppression testing, testing emergency systems, replacing bulbs, and overall cleaning.

Westbound I-90 lanes will begin closing Friday, May 16, at 8:30 p.m., with all lanes closed by 10 p.m. All ramps along this route will also close, with all lanes and ramps reopened by 6 a.m., Saturday, May 17. This leaves westbound SR 520 as the only route across Lake Washington during this closure.

Northeast 85th Street closure at I-405 in Kirkland

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Both directions of Northeast 85th Street will fully close between Kirkland and Totem Lake to allow WSDOT crews to perform a number of big projects, including demolishing the old bridges and noise walls, repaving ramps, and installing new gas lines and a waterline.

The closure鈥攂etween 114th Avenue Northeast (Kirkland) and 120th Avenue Northeast (Totem Lake)鈥攂egins Friday, May 16, at 11 p.m. to Monday, May 19, at 5 a.m.

Click to see the detours this weekend.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听. Read more of his stories听here. Submit news tips听here.

]]> WSDOT shutdowns I-405Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project... All aboard! First ST3 light rail opens in Redmond Saturday with ribbon cutting, celebration /chokepoints/redmond-st3-light-rail/4085162 Thu, 08 May 2025 21:01:41 +0000 /?p=4085162 The public is invited to join in the festivities at Downtown Redmond Station on Saturday for the first ST3 light rail. Trains will begin serving the new stations as soon as the ribbon is cut around noon. Community events will follow from noon to 4 p.m.

Join the community, leaders, and contributors from across the region on May 10 at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate two new stations on the 2 Line. The 3.4-mile, two-station extension of the 2 Line is the first ST3 light rail project to open.

At 10:30 a.m., a speaking program will kick off the day at Downtown Redmond Station (16620 NE 76th St., Redmond, WA 98052), followed by a ribbon cutting. Trains will begin picking up passengers at Downtown Redmond and Marymoor Village stations shortly after the ribbon is cut around noon.

Marymoor Village Station

At Marymoor Village Station, join OneRedmond Foundation to see diverse local performance groups, community booths, touch-a-trucks, food trucks, commemorative giveaways, and more.

Downtown Redmond Station

At Downtown Redmond Station, join Move Redmond for a stroll or roll along Redmond’s Central Connector Trail from the train station to the park. All along the trail, you鈥檒l find local vendors, live music, tasty food, and family-friendly fun.

Highlights include:

  • Music, dancing, and a fashion show hosted by Africans on the Eastside.
  • Move Redmond’s Station Access Map.
  • Group bike rides to the event hosted by Eastrail Partners.
  • A light rail-themed bounce house.
  • Crafts, beading, and more.

More information on the Downtown Redmond Link Extension, including station details and opening day activities, is available on .

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听. Read more of his stories听here. Submit news tips听here.

]]> Redmond ST3 light rail... Weekend road work roundup: Major closures to hit Ballard Bridge, I-5 /chokepoints/road-work-ballard-bridge-i-5/4080168 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 21:57:51 +0000 /?p=4080168 The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will close both directions of the Ballard Bridge from 10 p.m. Friday, April 25, to 5 a.m. Monday, April 28. This closure allows contractors to resume the which began last fall. The goal is to upgrade parts of the 108-year-old bridge that spans Salmon Bay. Several weekend closures will be necessary to complete the work, and this weekend marks the first of four confirmed dates, with two additional weekends scheduled as backups if needed.

With the bridge closed, traffic will shift to surface streets between Ballard, Queen Anne Hill, and Fremont. Drivers can expect congestion in these areas as approximately 48,000 daily commuters seek alternate routes. The University and Fremont bridges will carry much of the overflow traffic, while State Route 99 (Aurora Avenue) and Interstate 5 (I-5) are also expected to see increased volumes. These changes could affect weekend travel, including trips to Seattle Mariners games.

State Route 520 / Montlake Boulevard

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WSDOT crews will continue work on a new temporary off-ramp from eastbound State Route 520 (SR 520) to Montlake Boulevard. The ramp is being constructed next to the existing one, which will be closed for safety from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. This work is part of the SR 520 which began in November 2024.

During the closure, eastbound drivers on SR 520 will be directed across Lake Washington, where they鈥檒l need to pay a toll. To avoid the toll, WSDOT recommends using Interstate 90 as an alternate route.

State Route 18 / Interstate 90 Interchange

Drivers traveling on State Route 18 (SR 18) will not be able to access westbound Interstate 90 (I-90) over the weekend. WSDOT crews will be relocating a barrier, repaving, and repainting the on-ramp as part of the The closure will be in effect from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, with a detour in place for drivers during this time. The project is expected to be completed this summer.

Interstate 405 / Northeast 85th Street Interchange

In Kirkland, WSDOT will continue work at the I-405 and in preparation for a major traffic switch onto a new bridge. Drivers should expect significant lane and ramp closures throughout the weekend.

On northbound I-405, up to three lanes will be closed between SR 520 and NE 85th Street from 10 p.m. Friday to 4:30 a.m. Monday. Southbound I-405 will also see up to three lane closures overnight between NE 124th Street and NE 85th Street, starting 9:30 p.m. Sunday and ending 4:30 a.m. Monday.

Ramp closures include the northbound I-405 on- and off-ramps at NE 85th Street from 10 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Sunday. The southbound I-405 off-ramp to NE 85th Street will close twice: from 10 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday, and again from 10 p.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday.

During these closures, the Express Toll Lanes (ETL) will be open to all drivers regardless of registration or payment status.

Nisqually River Bridge

WSDOT crews will conduct a scheduled inspection of the Nisqually River Bridge on southbound I-5 this weekend. To complete the work, crews will use a specialized inspection truck that extends over the bridge鈥檚 edges and beneath the deck. This will require lane closures between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Drivers should expect slowdowns and potential backups during those hours.

]]> Photo: The Ballard Bridge.... Work Zone Awareness Week honors 61 WSDOT employees killed on the job /chokepoints/work-zone-awareness-week/4079271 Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:00:42 +0000 /?p=4079271 This week, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), along with the Washington State Patrol (WSP), addressed the importance of safety on our state鈥檚 highways. Every April, WSDOT promotes a month-long reminding drivers of the importance of slowing down through work zones.

Last year, WSDOT and WSP saw a 17% increase in work zone crashes compared to the previous year, rising from 1,377 in 2023 to 1,607 in 2024. The largest increase was seen in serious injury crashes, which rose by 36 percent during the past year, with the vast majority of those injuries involving drivers and passengers.

Since 1950, there have been 61 work zone-related deaths, with distracted driving, excessive speed, and following too closely reported as the top three causes. The WSDOT campaign reminds drivers that the safety concern isn鈥檛 solely about contract workers on the ground; it also includes members of the WSP and the Incident Response Team (IRT) lending help to drivers.

WSDOT Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith said giving traffic crews the space they need can make all the difference.

“Our incidents response teams are the helpers of our agency, the ones who show up on someone’s very bad day and help turn it around, whether they’re clearing a stalled vehicle, providing traffic control for an incident, or offering a reassuring presence while aid arrives, they make a real difference every day,” she shared. “As secretary, nothing is more important to me than safety, the safety of our crews, our contractors, our first responders, and also the traveling public.”

Meredith added that she is pleased with the launch of the new work zone speed camera program.

“I’m very happy to have launched our work zone speed camera program earlier this month. This program is about changing driver behavior and keeping everyone safe in our work zones. Every year, too many of our crew are faced with making split-second decisions because of driver inattention, speeding, or reckless behavior,” she said. “Today, we remember those 61 WSDOT employees who have lost their lives working to keep our roads open, our transportation systems running, and our communities connected.”

Speed Camera Program highlighted during Work Zone Awareness Week

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is the first of its kind in Washington State, debuting near Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), where a high volume of high-risk drivers have been reported through a major work zone in the area. Five more cameras are expected to roll out through the summer, with a total of 15 cameras by 2027.

Dennis Smith, WSDOT IRT Superintendent, spoke on behalf of his team, stating how important it is to respect road crews as they are our neighbors and friends.

“Every single day, our incident response team puts themselves in harm’s way so the rest of us can get home safely, because behind every safety vest, every incident response truck is a real person. These aren’t just operators. They’re parents, coaches. They are neighbors,” Smith said. “They volunteer in your schools, shop in the same grocery stores, and cheer from the sidelines at Little League games, just like you. And every time they step out onto a highway to clear a crash or help a driver, they are trusting the rest of us to look out for them.”

In 2024, Smith shared some figures about his IRT team, noting that in the northwest region alone, 42 team members handled 25,721 incidents. These operators often work just feet from traffic moving at 60 to 70 miles per hour. They cover some of the state’s busiest highways, including I-5, I-405, I-90, and state routes 167 and 18, patrolling thousands of lane miles throughout the area. They鈥檙e always on call鈥24/7.

80 WSP vehicles hit by drivers in 2024

Lieutenant Noel of the Washington State Patrol highlighted the dangers troopers face throughout the state.

“Just last year, 80 of our patrol vehicles were hit by drivers, causing about $750,000 in damages. Out of those, 37 were parked in what qualifies as emergency work zones. That number may sound high, but it only represents a small piece of the broader issue of work zone safety,” said Noel. “We鈥檙e proud of our partnership with the State Department of Transportation, and together we鈥檙e committed to protecting these zones鈥攂ut we can鈥檛 do it on our own. We rely on the public to slow down and stay alert.

Our strategy focuses on three key areas: raising awareness through events like this, educating drivers through 鈥榤ove over鈥 campaigns, and enforcing the laws that require drivers to either slow down by 10 miles per hour below the speed limit or safely move over when approaching work zones.”

He concluded by saying, “We need everyone’s cooperation to protect these workers. They’re more than just workers鈥攖hey鈥檙e our loved ones, our friends, our neighbors. They’re real people, and it takes a team effort to ensure their safety.”

WSDOT’s month-long Work Zone Safety Awareness campaign includes:

  • National Work Zone Awareness Week: April 21鈥25 also recognizes the start of the busy construction season and encourages drivers to be attentive and drive safely through work zones.
  • Go Orange Day: Wednesday, April 23, WSDOT employees will don orange-colored attire as part of the national safety campaign.
  • National Moment of Silence: At 9 a.m. on Friday, April 25, WSDOT will take part in a moment of silence to remember the people who lost their lives in work zone-related incidents.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.

]]> work zone awareness week... Washington unleashes first-ever work zone highway speed camera /chokepoints/speed-camera-washington/4076165 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:00:59 +0000 /?p=4076165 Drivers on I-5 through DuPont will now see a trailer-mounted camera on the shoulder at the Steilacoom-DuPont Road interchange work zone. It is the first on Washington State’s highways. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is hopeful the camera will encourage drivers to slow down in work zones.

The location was chosen due to ongoing safety concerns for WSDOT contractors.

“Too many workers have been injured or killed, and statistics show drivers are not slowing down,” Julie Meredith, Secretary of Transportation, said. “This provides another tool to help ensure workers鈥攁nd everyone on the roadway鈥攃ome home safe at the end of the day.”

According to WSDOT, Washington has averaged 1,345 work zone crashes each year since 2020.

This has prompted enforcement with speed cameras using light detection and ranging, or LiDAR, to detect vehicles traveling faster than the posted speed limit. If a vehicle is traveling too fast, an image will be taken of the vehicle and license plate but not the driver. From there, the information is passed on to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), which will determine if a violation was committed.

What happens if drivers get a ticket from the speed camera?

Since this is a brand-new program, drivers caught traveling above the posted work zone speed limit will get one free pass. However, the second and any infraction after that will carry a $248 fine.

When someone receives a notice of infraction, they will be directed to the program鈥檚 website to acknowledge the incident. The vehicle鈥檚 registered owner must respond to the notice of infraction online or through the mail, even if it carries no financial penalty. The infractions are recorded as non-moving violations and do not affect driving records or insurance. Unpaid fines will be added to vehicle registration renewals.

Understandably, there will be drivers who may want to contest an infraction, and they are welcome to go through the appeals process.

The Washington Office of Administrative Hearings will oversee appeals for infractions. After filing an appeal, individuals can submit supporting evidence, such as photographs or other documents, for the judge to consider. Depending on the nature of the appeal, they will have either a brief adjudicative proceeding, which involves only documents, or a formal adjudicative hearing, where they can also provide testimony by phone to a judge.

Amy Moreno with WSDOT said this is a safety mechanism and not at all intended to issue tickets.

“We’re just hoping by getting everybody to reduce their speeds, (this) will hopefully save a few lives, and these cameras are just there to get people to slow down,” she said. “We would love it if we never issued a single infraction. There will be plenty of signs out there warning people. They will only enforce when there are active workers in the work zone. They will not be there enforcing when people are not working in the work zone.”

Money from infractions goes back to program, DUI enforcement

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The work zone speed camera enforcement will, undoubtedly, generate funds through infractions. So, where will the money go?

“The money generated from these cameras will actually go back into supporting the program, and any extra money goes to DUI enforcement and other safety programs for the Washington State Patrol,” Moreno said. “This program is about safety鈥攖rying to save lives for drivers and for those who work in our work zones.”

The plan is to have six more mobile cameras by summer, rotating them throughout busy work zones, including the one near the and the

“This program starts on Wednesday, but it’s going to go on for years to come,” Moreno explained. “The legislature has approved this for five years, and it could be re-approved down the line. We’re just asking people, if you see a work zone, please slow down鈥攃onsider your own safety and the safety of the workers who are out there.”

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.

]]> work zone speed camera (1)... Headed to an event this weekend? You may be stuck in road work /chokepoints/headed-to-an-event-this-weekend-you-may-be-stuck-in-road-work/4074931 Sat, 12 Apr 2025 12:35:14 +0000 /?p=4074931 With the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival underway and a full deck of sports in Seattle, the roads will be packed. Here are some of the projects taking place this weekend that you will want to avoid or plan on adding time to your commute.

Everett: Northbound SR 529

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close all northbound lanes of State Route 529 (SR 529) at the Steamboat Slough for WSDOT will provide a shuttle service to carry pedestrians, cyclists, and mobility device users around the closure.

Drivers will still be able to access Smith Island from northbound SR 529, but will only be able to leave the island on southbound SR 529 during the weekend closure between 9:30 p.m., Friday, through 5 a.m., Monday.

Drivers should prepare for added volumes on northbound Interstate 5 (I-5) through Everett all weekend.

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Kirkland: Southbound I-405

WSDOT crews continue to make progress with the . This weekend will require the closure of 2 lanes southbound on Interstate 405 (I-405) between NE 124th Street and NE 85th Street. Crews will prepare the roadway for the southbound traffic switch to the new bridge in the coming weeks.

During the lane reductions, the Express Toll Lanes (ETLs) will be open to all drivers. Heads up: at a later date, the general-purpose lanes of southbound I-405 will shift to the new bridge during an overnight lane reduction, with the southbound ETLs shifting shortly after. Those dates have yet to be confirmed by WSDOT.

This project runs between 10:30 p.m., Friday through 6:30 a.m., Monday. Drivers headed to Seattle for games this weekend will need to add plenty of extra time to your commute.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Drivers traveling westbound on State Route 16 (SR 16) from Tacoma could see late night back ups. A section of highway will need 2 consecutive overnight closures to address expansion joint seals.

7 p.m. Friday, April 11 until 5 a.m. Saturday, April 12

  • Two left lanes approaching the bridge, including the HOV lane, will close.

7 p.m. Saturday, April 12 until 5 a.m. Sunday, April 13

  • Two right lanes approaching the bridge will close.
  • Jackson Avenue on-ramp to westbound SR 16 will close.
  • During the work, the HOV lane will remain open to all travelers.

These repairs are to the surface of the road at the east approach and does not include any bridge work itself.

Dupont: I-5 closure at Steilacoom-Dupont Road

If you happened to get stuck in this closure last weekend, this weekend is a repeat.

WSDOT crews need one final weekend to of the new overpass at I-5 and Steilacoom-Dupont Road. This massive undertaking involves placing steel beams over 50-yards in length and weighing over 200,000 pounds each over the busy freeway.

Most of the work was accomplished last weekend, but there’s still more to do. To safely guide these girders in place WSDOT needs to close the freeway in both directions at the work zone.

Overnight Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12, crews will reduce travel lanes in both directions of I-5 to a single lane. That up and over the Steilacoom-DuPont Road off- and on-ramps. Law enforcement will be in place to assist with traffic control at both the northbound and southbound I-5 ramps.

  • I-5 lane closures start at 8 p.m.
  • At 10 p.m. one lane will begin using the off- and on-ramps at Steilacoom-DuPont Road.

Lanes begin reopening at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13

During these hours WSDOT recommends:

  • Add at least one hour of extra travel time.
  • Consider postponing or rescheduling discretionary trips.
  • If possible, travel before or after the work.

WSF: Sunday Bike Ride on Vashon Island

Sunday, April 13, plan for possible delays and limited vehicle capacity on our Vashon Island routes as hundreds of bicyclists cross the island for the .听听

The heaviest bike traffic is expected:听听

  • Departing Point Defiance: 9:15 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.听
  • Vashon to Fauntleroy sailings: Midday through the afternoon听听

If you鈥檙e driving onto the ferry, please plan ahead for delays or consider alternate travel times or routes.听

Take transit to all your sporting events in Seattle

    • Seattle Reign FC听will have a match at 4:30 p.m.听on Saturday at听;
    • The听Seattle Mariners听will play Friday and Saturday at 6:40 p.m. and on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. at听;
    • The听Kraken听will play on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the听;
  • 听will start the听听on听Saturday,听April 12 with the return of late-night weekend service to West Seattle

]]> Expect 'Lengthy delays' on I-405 in Kirkland this weekend. (Photo Credit: WSDOT)... ‘Backups of epic proportions’: Your comprehensive guide to Revive I-5 closures and traffic delays /chokepoints/revive-i-5-highway-project/4070799 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 21:58:00 +0000 /?p=4070799 Despite earlier claims from the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Revive I-5 is happening this summer, closing down significant stretches of the highway for four weeks, much to the chagrin of Seattle drivers and commuters.

The campaign, Washington’s effort to rehabilitate Interstate 5 (I-5), is set to improve the most vital sections of the major highway, section by section, between King and Snohomish counties. The prioritization of the sections is based on traffic volume and the present conditions of the roadway, with safety being the number one concern.

With heavy backups during rush hour traffic already too common, Seattleites are about to see backups of epic proportions once two of the four lanes close for a month on northbound I-5, beginning in late July.

The project had an original start date of March 2025, but in January, WSDOT announced that Revive I-5 was going to be postponed until next year due to an abrupt revelation that there weren’t enough funds to start it.

While the massive highway overhaul is “very” critical to the state’s infrastructure, according to 成人X站 Newsradio traffic reporter Chris Sullivan, drivers felt a subtle sigh of relief, believing they had a little more time before significant lane closures and extensive backups. Unfortunately, that sinking feeling of looming traffic resurfaced this week when WSDOT announced they were going to start this project this summer after all.

How did WSDOT rebudget to continue Revive I-5?

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“We had a budget set for the project, and when we established the budget, we thought the funding was sufficient,” WSDOT spokesperson Tom Pearce said. “However, as we got into the project and worked with the contractor, they saw what the work was going to entail and they determined that we would need more money this year.”

“The Legislature will not set our budget until, of course, late in their session, but we needed to start the work before the session was finished if we were going to do the work in 2025,” Pearce added. “In March 2025, it would have required starting before the necessary funds were fully committed from the Legislature.”

That explains why this project was initially delayed. So what changed?

“We reduced the scope of this project to focus on the Ship Canal Bridge,” Pearce explained. “We changed the plans to align our construction spending with the available funding.”

Here’s where Revive I-5 will start

This summer, with Revive I-5 back in action, WSDOT will begin working between Interstate 90 (I-90) and Ne45th Street across the Ship Canal Bridge鈥a vital connection between north and downtown Seattle, with 200,000 estimated daily commuters.

Recently, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) finished the section along Boeing Field into Tukwila. The next phase moves north, fixing concrete, potholes, and drainage systems along the Ship Canal Bridge.

What can drivers expect to see this summer?

“We will close northbound I-5 at I-90 from July 25-28,” Pearce told 成人X站 Newsradio. “We’re closed the entire weekend to allow our contractors to get out and set up a work zone that will keep the people working on I-5 safe, as we’ll repave about 900 feet of the two left lanes of the Ship Canal Bridge.”

When the northbound freeway opens on July 28, the right two lanes will be open for travel, but the left two lanes will remain closed.

“We’re going to have the express lanes open northbound 24/7 while we have the two left lanes closed off the main line,” Pearce stated. “Once we finish our work on Aug. 22, we will have another full closure from Friday night, Aug. 22, to early Monday, Aug. 25, so that our contractor can go in, pick up the safety barrier that they’ve put up, restripe the freeway, and have all four lanes open on Monday morning.”

Lots of traffic congestion to go around

According to WSDOT, this will be a four-week preview of what people can expect for approximately nine months out of the year in 2026 and 2027. The traffic backups will be shared in both directions of I-5. Southbound drivers will also be without their morning express lanes, adding to an already tough commute into Seattle.

Over the course of this summer’s one-month closure, Atkinson Construction will repair and resurface about 20% of the northbound Ship Canal Bridge, partially repair five expansion joints, and replace drainage.

Restarting this summer will keep the overall project on track and allow crews to gather critical data on the bridge’s condition to better prepare for next year’s phase.

What is WSDOT’s plan for 2026?

Next year brings the World Cup to Seattle, adding further complications to the three-year highway revitalization.

“In 2026, we will close the two left lanes early in the year so that we can finish repaving and make any repairs we need,” Pearce said in anticipation of the World Cup. “When we get to early June, when the World Cup is getting ready to fire up, we will pick up everything.”

King County officials claimed the World Cup would generate at least $929 million in revenue for the county, and create nearly 21,000 jobs. Organizers estimate that 750,000 people will visit Seattle during the three-week event.

“Once the World Cup is complete, our contractor will come back out in mid-July, and then they’re going to close down the freeway again,” Pearce said. “They will close the two right lanes of the northbound bridge so that they can work on those for several months. And then, come fall 2026, they will pick it up, and we will have everything open as we get into the winter.”

What’s Revive I-5’s outlook in 2027?

In 2027, with the focus pivoting to southbound I-5, two lanes will be closed, and the other two lanes will remain open for several months. Once that work is done, WSDOT crews will flip their construction zone again, working on the previous two open lanes while opening up the recently completed lanes.

“We understand there’s no good time to do this work. People are always going places. There are always events in the city,” Pearce said. “We did the best we could to schedule this around things like the holidays, like Independence Day and Labor Day. Each of those (Ichiro) Hall of Fame weekends, we understand it is going to draw huge crowds to T-Mobile every night.”

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听.听Submit news tips听here.

]]> Revive I-5... Weekend traffic roundup: ST’s schedule change, ramp closures, studded tires /chokepoints/weekend-traffic-roundup/4069532 Sun, 30 Mar 2025 03:56:52 +0000 /?p=4069532 When we think of Spring we often think of changes. Like warming tempertures and more sunshine, the budding of new leaves and the birth of new flowers. It also brings new changes to service, starting Saturday, March 29th.

This year introduces a brand new ST Express bus route through Federal Way, and adjustments on routes between Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties. Minor adjustments will be added on the 1-Line service between Lynnwood and Angle Lake. May 10th the 2-Line service is set to expand into Redmond.

A lot of exciting additions are being implemented to better serve a growing need for expanded service across the region.

Here’s what’s happening in Kirkland

Sunday, March 30th between 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. the Northeast 70th Street on-ramp to southbound Interstate 405 (I-405) will close, including the right lane on I-405 approaching the area. This closure will allow the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews to repair damaged guard rails.

Everett closures through Monday听

The southbound I-5 off-ramp to and southbound SR 529 from Ebey Slough to Steamboat Slough closed 11 p.m. Friday, March 28, as WSDOT crews connect the new southbound I-5 off-ramp to SR 529.

Work is expected to wrap up by 4:30 a.m., Monday, March 31st.

Tiger Mountain Pass impacted

WSDOT crews are working on re-aligning the new on-ramp from State Route 18 (SR 18) to eastbound Interstate 90 (I-90). This weekend-long project closed this on-ramp Friday, March 28th, at 9 pm. and is scheduled to reopen Monday, March 31st by 5 a.m.

The March 28-31 work on the SR 18 on-ramp to eastbound I-90 represents the first of two weekend-long ramp closures for the project. Beginning Friday night, April 4, the westbound I-90 off-ramp to SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkway will close through Monday morning, April 7, as work continues on a new .

Don’t miss the Monday deadline

Technically, you can still have on your vehicles through the end of Monday, March 31st. On Tuesday, you’ll be eligible for a fine of $137 dollars.

]]> Seattle weekend commute... Plan for traffic: WSDOT’s Thursday overnight work includes full SR 167 closure /chokepoints/thursday-overnight-work/4068616 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 23:30:21 +0000 /?p=4068616 The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will install sign bridges and toll structures on State Route 167 (SR 167). This work needs a full closure of the highway between 277th Street and West Willis Street/State Route 516 (SR 516) in both directions of SR 167. This 1.5-mile section will close Thursday at 10 p.m. through Friday at 4 a.m., with a detour in place.

Once complete, this will be part of the long-term plan to connect a 50-mile express toll-lane system between Lynnwood and Puyallup. This work is part of the

The following on- and off-ramps will also be closed:

  • West Willis Street/SR 516 on-ramp to southbound SR 167.
  • South 277th Street on-ramp to northbound SR 167.
  • Northbound SR 167 off-ramp to West Willis Street/SR 516.
  • Southbound SR 167 off-ramp to South 277th Street.

WSDOT crews will remove signs from Interstate 405 (I-405) southbound through Canyon Park, part of the .

Expect intermittent full I-405 closures during WSDOT’s Thursday overnight work

The plan is to have as little impact to drivers as possible, with lane closures beginning Thursday at 8 p.m. approaching State Route 527 (SR 527). At midnight, contractors will have intermittent full closures on I-405 to safely remove signs over the freeway, stopping traffic for up to 15 minutes.

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All lanes will reopen Friday by 4:30 a.m. WSDOT plans to have similar late-night closures in April in both directions of I-405 at different locations.

Drivers on Mercer Island will have one less option to enter Interstate 90 (I-90) east beginning Thursday at 9 p.m. Contractors will shut down the East Mercer Way on-ramp to take measurements for the set to begin this summer.

This is a short three-hour closure, reopening by midnight on Thursday.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听.听Submit news tips听here.

]]> Thursday overnight work... Local Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famer Jimi Hendrix receives state’s highest medal /entertainment-news/hendrix-state-medal/4064950 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:00:38 +0000 /?p=4064950 From a young boy raised in poverty in Seattle to close out the original Woodstock Music Festival in 1969 to landing in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, 2025 marks the year Jimi Hendrix receives the Washington State Medal of Merit.

According to a press release from Washington State’s Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, the posthumous honor was awarded to Hendrix as a “national and international recognition.”

Hendrix started playing guitar at 15 after finding a discarded ukulele with only one string. He taught himself how to play by ear, and one of the first songs he learned was Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog.” Twelve years later, at the age of 27, Hendrix passed away after a night of partying. In his short time performing, he rose to be one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in history and has accumulated a library of awards and recognitions, including a nUSPS commemorative postage stamp.

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, Governor Bob Ferguson, Lt. Governor Denny Heck, and State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos presented the awards to Hendrix and four members of the Department of Ecology.

Hendrix among four other recipients of the award

鈥淭hese five worthy recipients are the best of Washington and well deserving of our highest awards,鈥 Hobbs said. 鈥淭hey represent the good people of our state through their actions, their impact, and their inspiration for Washington, the nation, and the world. We are forever grateful for their contributions.鈥

RELATED STORIES

Hendrix was posthumously awarded the Medal of Merit for his outstanding service to Washington.

Alex Hernandez, Lisa Stingley, Dave Thompson, and Jon Tollstrup received the Medal of Valor for their courageous actions on October 3, 2024. While working on a litter crew for the Department of Ecology, they rescued a woman from a burning vehicle after she crashed on the side of the highway. Despite the risk to their own safety, they extinguished the flames and forced open the driver鈥檚 door, pulling her to safety just before the fire engulfed the car.

The Medal of Merit honors those who have given a lifetime of service to the people of Washington, while the Medal of Valor recognizes individuals who have risked their lives to save another person. The Medal of Valor cannot be awarded to first responders whose actions are part of their public duties.

Contributing: Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest.

]]> Jimi Hendrix gets the Washington State Medal of Merit this year. (Getty Images)... Flying out this week? Plan on late night delays to Sea-Tac Airport /chokepoints/delays-to-sea-tac-airport/4064454 Tue, 18 Mar 2025 21:30:19 +0000 /?p=4064454 Those using the Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport this week should pack in some extra travel time.

The (WSDOT) will have lane and ramp closures across three major highways near the airport this week, potentially adding more time to the commute. State Route 99 (SR 99), State Route 509 (SR 509) and Interstate-5 (I-5) will all have lane and/or ramp closures beginning as early as 8 p.m. nightly.

Contractors on I-5 will use the lane closures for. The ramp closures are needed for striping the roadway and installing concrete safety barriers.

I-5 lane closures

  • Tuesday, March 18, through the morning of Wednesday, March 19 — from 11:59 p.m. to 4 a.m. — up to four lanes of northbound I-5 will close overnight between SR 516 (Exit 149) and South 200th Street/Military Road South (Exit 151).
  • Wednesday, March 19, through the morning of Thursday, March 20 — from 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. — up to two lanes of northbound I-5 will close overnight between SR 516 (Exit 149) and South 200th Street/Military Road South (Exit 151).
  • Wednesday, March 19, through the morning of Thursday, March 20 — from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. 鈥 up to two lanes of southbound I-5 will close overnight between South 200th Street/Military Road South (Exit 151) and SR 516 (Exit 149).

I-5 ramp closures

  • Monday, March 17, through the morning of Friday, March 21 — from 9:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. — the northbound I-5 off-ramp to SR 516 will close nightly. A signed detour will be in place.
  • Monday, March 17, through the morning of Friday, March 21 — from 11 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. — the northbound I-5 on-ramp from SR 516 will close nightly. A signed detour will be in place.

SR 509 lane closure听

  • Monday, March 17, through the morning of Thursday, March 20 — from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. 鈥 one lane in both directions of SR 509 will close nightly between Des Moines Memorial Drive South and South 160th Street.

SR 509 ramp closure

  • Monday, March 17, through the morning of Thursday, March 20 — from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. — the southbound SR 509 off-ramp to South 160th Street will close nightly. A signed detour will be in place.

Contract work on SR 99 will use lane closures to continue working on new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sidewalks. Later this spring, crews will repave this section.

SR 99 lane closure

  • Monday, March 17, through the morning of Friday, March 21 — from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. — both directions of SR 99 will close a lane between South 200th Street and SR 516, in Des Moines. This work is part of the .

Additionally, the has work scheduled this week on the arrivals and departures decks, with intermittent closures between 8 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. through Friday.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听.听Submit news tips听here.

]]> Sea-Tac Airport... Closures this week along the Valley Highway (SR 167) /chokepoints/closures-this-week-along-the-valley-highway-sr-167/4063985 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 22:15:39 +0000 /?p=4063985 Late-night travel through the Auburn Valley this week will have full closures and lane restrictions on State Route 167 (SR 167) while the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) pushes forward on the This week, WSDOT contractors will be installing overhead sign bridges and toll gantry structures that hold the toll collection equipment, such as cameras and readers.

Southbound SR 167 closure detail, March 17-22

On Monday, March 17th, through Saturday, March 22nd, drivers can expect up to two lanes on southbound SR 167 to close between 84th Avenue South in Kent and 24th Street East in Sumner. This 11-mile section of highway is scheduled to close nightly between 10 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Southbound SR 167 closure details, March 19-20

All southbound lanes of SR 167 in Auburn will be closed overnight from 15th Street Northwest to SR 18 from 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 19 to 5 a.m. Thursday, March 20.

The following on- and off-ramps will also be closed:

  • 15th Street Northwest on-ramp to southbound SR 167
  • Southbound SR 167 off-ramp to westbound SR 18

A will be in place.

Full SR 167 closure details, March 20-21

All lanes of northbound and southbound SR 167 in Pacific will be closed overnight from Ellingson Road to Stewart Road Southeast/Eighth Street East鈥痜rom 10 p.m. Thursday, March 20 to 4 a.m. Friday, March 21. The following on- and off-ramps will also be closed:

  • Ellingson Road on-ramp to southbound SR 167
  • Stewart Road Southeast on-ramp to northbound SR 167
  • Northbound SR 167 off-ramp to Ellingson Road
  • Southbound SR 167 off-ramp to Stewart Road Southeast

Detours will be in place. Work on this project will continue through the year with a January 2026 completion date.

]]> SR 167, Auburn, crash... Aliens, runners and road closures: Expect traffic this St. Patrick’s Day weekend /chokepoints/st-patricks-day-traffic/4062877 Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:09:41 +0000 /?p=4062877 Tis the season for all things green! St. Patrick’s Day weekend brings everything from festive outfits and green beers to runners lacing up their green shoelaces for a race. A couple of St. Patty’s runs will lead to road closures.

St. Patrick’s Day Dash

A colorful event 鈥 featuring costumes ranging from aliens to ballerinas to dinosaurs 鈥 will take place this weekend. The will听start and finish at the Seattle Center and weave its way through the Amazon corridor and north along State Route 99/Aurora Avenue. All northbound lanes of State Route 99 (SR 99) will close Sunday morning between 6 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Drivers will still have access to the SR 99 Downtown Tunnel northbound and will be detoured to Republican Street near the exit. During this time, the SR 99 southbound exit to eastbound Harrison Street will have intermittent closures. Drivers through Seattle should consider using Interstate 5 (I-5) Sunday morning or plan on delays if you plan to use SR 99.

More from MyNorthwest: Summer-long lane reductions return to Eastern Washington鈥檚 Vantage Bridge

Kirkland Shamrock Run

Another holiday event, considerably smaller than Seattle’s St. Patrick’s Day Dash but with spirit just as big, is also happening this weekend. During the , hundreds of colorful runners will take to the streets of downtown Kirkland near the waterfront. If you’re heading to Kirkland, plan around the closure of surface streets Saturday morning between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., or until the last runner crosses the finish line.

There are several Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) projects that will also impact traffic.

Interstate 5 express lanes

The express lanes on I-5 will be closed starting Friday night at 11 p.m. through 4 p.m. Saturday. WSDOT will repair safety barriers that were heavily damaged on Wednesday evening when a car traveling on I-5 south struck the barrier and crossed into the northbound express lanes. Drivers can expect heavy volumes on I-5 during this closure.

More from MyNorthwest: Snow flurries on Snoqualmie cause spinouts and crashes, I-90 shut down overnight

Eastbound Interstate 90

All eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 (I-90) will close across Lake Washington from 10 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday. WSDOT crews will conduct regular maintenance inside the Mercer Tunnel and the Mount Baker Tunnel. A number of ramps will also close starting at 8:30 p.m. Friday and will reopen by 6 a.m. Saturday.

  • The southbound I-5 on-ramp to eastbound I-90.听
  • The northbound and southbound Rainier Avenue South on-ramps to eastbound I-90.鈥
  • The I-90 to West Mercer Way off-ramp.

Interstate 405 south

Drivers between Bellevue and Renton will need to plan alternate routes or expect major delays overnight Saturday beginning at 11 p.m.

Interstate 405 (I-405) south will be reduced to a single lane from 112th Avenue Southeast/Lake Washington Boulevard (Exit 9) to North 30th Street (Exit 6) from 11 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday. The Northeast 44th Street on-ramp to I-405 south will also be closed during this time.听

This is part of the .听听

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听.听Submit news tips听here.

]]> St Patrick's Day Dash... Chokepoints: Plan ahead for road work this week, impacting I-405, I-5, I-90 and more /chokepoints/chokepoints-plan-ahead-for-road-work-this-week-impacting-i-405-i-5-i-90-and-more/4060311 Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:27:15 +0000 /?p=4060311 The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has quite a few projects scheduled this week as construction season begins to ramp up. The following closures are overnight with a limited effect on drivers. For those who commute in the off-hours this could be crucial to help you avoid delays.

Related from Gee and Ursula:听Union leader optimistic that King County will tackle violence, homelessness on transit

Bellevue: Full closure on Interstate-405

Monday, March 10th through Thursday, March 13th, WSDOT crews will close all northbound lanes on Interstate-405 (I-405) between Southeast 8th Street and Northeast 4th Street. Along with the interstate lanes, the Southeast 8th Street on-ramp and the Northeast 4th Street on/off-ramps will close between 11 p.m. – 4:30 a.m., nightly.

The Main Street Bridge will also close during these hours with a detour in place. This closure is to allow crews to continue work on the .

Seattle: Interstate-5 lane reductions

WSDOT is currently preparing for the massive 听 project.

The biggest part of the project, the renovation of the Ship Canal Bridge, has been delayed until 2026 due to budget concerns, in the meantime crews are working on less tedious repairs and improvements associated with the overall project. Monday and Tuesday drivers will see lane closures on southbound I-5 from Northeast 45th Street to Mercer Street. The on-ramp from Northeast 45th Street and the off-ramp to Mercer Street will join the closure between 10 p.m. – 5 a.m.

Wednesday and Thursday lane and ramp closures move to northbound I-5 between Harvard Avenue East to Northeast 45th Street, including the on-ramp from Harvard Avenue East. Detours will be in place during the closures between 9 p.m. – 5 a.m.

Snoqualmie: I-90/State Route 18 interchange

WSDOT crews will be installing signs, traffic signals and loops, and conduits through most of the week bringing lane and ramp closures at the interchange.

  • SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkway on-ramp to eastbound I-90: The ramp will close from 9 p.m. Monday, March 10, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, March 11. A signed detour will use westbound I-90 and loop around at Preston/Fall City (exit 22) to eastbound I-90.
  • Eastbound I-90: The left two lanes will close from 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, to 1 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, near the SR 18 interchange. The right two lanes will close from 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, to 12:01 a.m. Thursday, March 13.
  • SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkway: SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkway will be reduced to a single lane in each direction under the I-90 bridges from 11 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, to 4 a.m. Wednesday, March 12. SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkway will be reduced to a single lane with flaggers alternating traffic under the I-90 bridges from 9 p.m. Thursday, March 13, to 4:30 a.m. Friday, March 14.
  • Eastbound I-90 off-ramp to SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkway: The ramp will close from 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, to 5 a.m. Thursday, March 13. A signed detour will continue eastbound on I-90 to Winery Road/Southeast North Bend Way (exit 27) and loop around to use the westbound I-90 off-ramp to SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkway.

This work is part of the project, expected to be complete later this year.

SeaTac: Southbound I-5 off-ramp to South 188th Street

WSDOT continues with ramp improvements and repairs this week on the South 188th Street/Orillia Road off-ramp from southbound I-5. This is one small project on a much larger scale that spans 3 counties on the .

Monday through Friday drivers will not have access to this off-ramp between 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. A detour will send drivers to South 200th Street/Military Road and loop back to the South 188th Street off-ramp via northbound I-5.

SeaTac Airport

Monday through Friday, the Port of Seattle will have crews replacing overhead signs and sign bridges. Drivers will see lane closures on both upper and lower decks between 8 p.m. – 8:30 a.m. All lanes may close momentarily between midnight and 4 a.m.听

]]> seattle traffic congestion... Summer-long lane reductions return to Eastern Washington’s Vantage Bridge /chokepoints/vantage-bridge-work/4057664 Thu, 06 Mar 2025 13:00:09 +0000 /?p=4057664 If you drove to Eastern Washington at any time last fall, it’s likely that you crossed the Columbia River at the Vantage Bridge, especially for concert seekers en route to the Gorge. It’s also likely that you sat in mile-long backups approaching the 62-year-old bridge due to a major rehabilitation project.

After a long winter break this week, the (WSDOT) is resuming work and that means single-lane closures in both directions of Interstate 90 (I-90) spanning the bridge through the fall.

Before we get to this year’s agenda, let’s first recap what WSDOT accomplished in its first year with spokesperson Summer Derrey:

“The I-90 Vantage Bridge is in desperate need of replacement,” she said. “It’s rather old. There’s no real easy way to fix the bridge other than just to replace it panel by panel at the cost of pretty severe traffic impacts. Last year, we had to reduce traffic to a single lane in each direction and replace the corner panels, panel by panel, to get the work done.”

There were sixty panels to be exact, plus WSDOT completed 80% of repairs to the bridge piers last year.

More from MyNorthwest: Are hiking, camping and fishing trips about to get more expensive in Washington?

Impact of Vantage Bridge work on summer travelers

So, what will drivers see this year?

“To the best of my knowledge, we’re just replacing the bridge deck itself, so it just involves removing or replacing broken concrete panels,” Derrey said. “We’re starting work early this year, so we can get a lot more accomplished. The bad news is it does come at the impact of the travelers. Last year, we just started in the fall, and we experienced backups then. So, for that reason, drivers certainly need to plan ahead.”

Derrey offered some advice to avoid the big backups.

“You can go up north toward Wenatchee, kind of loop around, or you can go all the way down south to the Tri-Cities and sort of shoot that way to get to your destination,” she said. “It doesn’t add a significant amount to your time, and the benefit is that at least you’re in motion and not stuck at the bridge.”

In order to safely perform this panel work, the bridge will be down to a single lane in both directions, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, with speed reductions. But, there is a nice break, as Derrey explained.

“We are taking a break for the month of June,” she said. “So between Memorial Day and the 4th of July, for the most part, we’ll be off the highway with occasional single-lane closures. We know that the heaviest traffic is in June, so for that reason, our contractor is going to be working on other activities related to the bridge at that time with all lanes open so that travelers can certainly get to their destinations a little bit smoother.”

Last year, drivers were sitting in 6-mile backups that took 5 hours to get through. Planning your trip well in advance is strongly urged and consider driving during non-peak hours.

“We have two seasons in Washington,” Derrey said. “We have winter and we have construction. For those reasons, we need drivers to always be on point. Always be aware of the surroundings and be careful.”

And as always, drive slowly through construction zones.

More from MyNorthwest: 鈥楬ey, you know any missing Liberty Bells?鈥 Meet the man who helped track down stolen Liberty Bell replica

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio. Follow him on听.听Submit news tips听here.

]]> After a long winter break, this week the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) resu... Chokepoints: Here’s how to avoid weekend traffic nightmares /chokepoints/weekend-traffic-3/4049381 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:30:20 +0000 /?p=4049381 STATE ROUTE 99 TUNNEL:

Both directions of Seattle’s State Route 99 (SR 99) Downtown Tunnel will close Friday overnight between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., Saturday. Crews working with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will be conducting regular maintenance that includes testing fire suppression systems, cleaning drainage, and repairing lights.

This shuts down a major route through downtown Seattle sending drivers to Interstate 5 (I-5), the downtown corridor, and along the waterfront.

STATE ROUTE 520/MONTLAKE:

Beginning 11 p.m. on Friday, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close the Montlake Boulevard on-ramp to westbound State Route 520. WSDOT crews will be installing utilities along the ramp with work completed by 5 a.m., Monday. Drivers will still be able to exit at Montlake from westbound SR520. Eastbound SR520 will not have any closures.

On Saturday and Sunday, WSDOT crews will close the right lane across the Portage Bay Viaduct in both directions of SR520 while crews conduct impact piledriving on the new viaduct. The daytime closure last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

SOUND TRANSIT 1-LINE DISRUPTION:

Unlike past weekends, this weekend Sound Transit (ST) will disrupt service for one day only. Sunday February 23rd, service between Capitol Hill and SODO will shut down to allow ST crews to move forward on the connectivity of the 1-Line along Interstate 5, and the 2-Line on the eastside of Lake Washington.

Link Shuttle buses will provide transportation between the closed routes running every 10-15 minutes. The 1-Line will continue to operate normally between Capitol Hill and Lynnwood to the north and SODO to Angle Lake to the south.

Passengers are encouraged to seek alternative service options and plan ahead for additional travel time.

Affected Stops:

Capitol Hill
– To Angle Lake: Broadway & E Denny Ave

Westlake
– to Lynnwood: 3rd Ave & Pine St
– to Angle Lake: Pine St & 5th Ave

Symphony
– to Lynnwood: 3rd Ave & Union St
– to Angle Lake: 3rd Ave & Union St

Pioneer Square
– to Lynnwood: 3rd Ave & James St
– to Angle Lake: 3rd Ave & James St

Int’l Dist./Chinatown
– to Lynnwood: 4th Ave S & S Jackson St
– to Angle Lake: 5th Ave S & S Weller St

Stadium
– to Lynnwood: SODO Busway & S Royal Brougham Way
– to Angle Lake: 6th Ave S & S Royal Brougham Way

SODO
– to Lynnwood: SODO Busway & S Lander St

Sound Transit plans to rinse and repeat this disruption next weekend.

]]> Looking ahead: Weekend transportation projects...