Agencies from Washington to Massachusetts will focus on reducing excessive speeds and improving traffic safety along I-90.

National I-90 patrols crack down on speeders

Throughout the enforcement period, drivers along I-90 should expect increased patrols from law enforcement, most notably in western Washington.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) reported that in 2024, 34% of all traffic fatalities in Washington included speed as a contributing factor, according to .

“Our goal is simple: to save lives,” Chief John Batiste of the Washington State Patrol said. “Excessive speed remains one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatal crashes.”

In order to enhance safety across one of the nation’s busiest highways, travelers are being encouraged to stay alert and drive responsibly.

“By collaborating across state lines, we send a strong, unified message: safety has no borders,” WTSC Director Shelly Baldwin said.

Follow Jason Sutich��.������Ի���news tips here.

To smooth things out, the intersections and stop lights on both sides of the freeway are being replaced with multi-lane roundabouts, the .

Shoreline’s ‘Roundabout Ready’ event

To help drivers — especially new ones — who aren’t familiar with driving through multi-lane roundabouts, the City of Shoreline is hosting a “Roundabout Ready” event at Shoreline City Hall on July 22, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Participants can try a new roundabout simulator, ask questions, and learn about the safety benefits of roundabouts. The roundabouts won’t be quite the same as European Vacation at the Arc de Triomphe.

‘Roundabout Ready’ event details:

When: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22.

Where: Shoreline City Hall — 17500 Midvale Avenue North, Shoreline.

If you can’t attend the Roundabout Ready event, but want to try the simulator, you can also find it at these events:

• Swingin’ Summer Eve, Cromwell Park — Wednesday, July 16.
• Shoreline Farmers Market, 192nd and Aurora — Saturday, August 2.
• Celebrate Shoreline, Cromwell Park — Saturday, August 16.

Shoreline’s I-5 roundabout construction updates

The City of Shoreline provided its for the roundabouts on the 145th Street corridor.

The construction began in April 2024 with a full closure of 145th at I-5, and opened a few months later in January 2025.

145th Street will be open with reduced lanes until late 2025, and the city estimates that around that time, the roundabouts and I-5 interchanges will open with reduced lanes. In Spring 2026, final paving of the roads will begin.

The Johansen Construction Company is building the roundabouts, and the company urged drivers to reduce their speed through the area, as it is an active work zone.

For additional construction details and project updates, the City of Shoreline provided the .

SR 18 will close under I-90 in Snoqualmie at 9 p.m. Thursday for . You will not be able to travel under I-90 until next Friday, July 25. A similar closure in June only lasted a few days.

“There’s a lot more work that’s involved this time,” David Rasbach, communications coordinator for the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), said. “There’s a lot of electrical work to get the traffic signals set up, get some cameras set up, some drainage, more islands to build, more paving to do, getting the on ramps to I-90 set and everything like that.”

Drivers will still be able to access I-90 from SR 18, but only in very limited ways.

“If you’re going on eastbound SR 18, you’re going to have to take eastbound I-90,” Rasbach said. “And it’s the same thing coming from Snoqualmie, you have to get on westbound I-90.”

You will only be able to make a right turn from SR 18 to I-90. The simplest thing to do is to get on I-90 and go up one exit and make a U-turn. The traffic was manageable during the closure in early June.

“Expect delays, add extra time,” Rasbach said. “Leave early if you need to be somewhere on time, or just expect delays. We realize this is a big closure to close SR 18 under the bridges.”

What comes after the eight-day closure

After this eight-day closure, drivers will be using the new diverging diamond interchange, but the work isn’t finished. There will still be work around the interchange and on SR 18 toward Tiger Mountain.

“We still need to widen SR 18 to two lanes in each direction down to Deep Creek,” Rasbach said. “It’s currently only one lane in each direction. We’re getting close to that. Probably this fall we’ll open that, and that’s when we really think you’re going to see the diverging diamond shine.”

This will be the second to open in Washington. The first was in Lacey.

What makes a DDI unique is that you drive on the left side of the road. This cuts down on the possible conflict points where cars and pedestrians can interact. It’s really designed to cut down on making left turns in front of oncoming traffic. It will seem strange at first, but drivers will adjust quickly.

“It’s really as easy as following the lines and signs,” Rasbach said. “They’re clearly marked with lines, arrows, signs that point you in the right direction, so you just follow that.”

WSDOT chose to do a full eight-day closure to get the project finished as fast as possible and cut down on multiple weekend and overnight closures.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for ����Xվ Newsradio. Read more of his stories��here.��Follow ����Xվ Newsradio traffic on��.

The is expected to open earlier than expected, reported Thursday.

However, while the light rail could open at the end of 2025 instead of early 2026, Sound Transit is not ahead of its original schedule.

Federal Way light rail delayed multiple times

In 2023, ����Xվ Newsradio reported that the Federal Way light rail would be delayed another year and wouldn’t be open until 2026, making it a two-year setback.

The light rail extension was 70% done in 2023 when crews were hit with a bump in the road.

Contractors had to build a 500-foot-long bridge over unstable soil. The original plan was to build flat rail tracks, but following the discovery, there was concern that a single seismic event could disrupt the rail.

Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell said Sound Transit did study the soil before construction, but failed to find anything wrong until May 2023.

“They [Sound Transit] were required to do it before,” Ferrell said. “Then I think that it was so heavily wooded in that area, that it wasn’t really till they got a lot of those trees out. And they really kind of figured out what they had with the trees gone.”

He noted that “nobody likes delays,” but for a critical project, it’s important to get everything right.

“My comparison is when I’m getting on a plane, or if I’m on a plane, and they’re saying, ‘Well, we gotta do some work for security, for the safety of the plane.’ My attitude is, take your time, get it right,” Ferrell said.

The exact opening date for the Federal Way light rail is still being finalized, according to The Urbanist. When it’s up and running, riders will be able to travel between downtown Federal Way and Westlake in less than an hour.

Contributing: ����Xվ Newsradio

Follow Julia Dallas on�� Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.

The Wenatchee, already one of the largest boats in the fleet, is now the most technologically advanced ferry in the fleet. The conversion cost $133 million and makes the Wenatchee the largest hybrid-electric ferry in all of North America.

“We’ve made a decision to transition away from that dirty fuel, and that climate change gas, and we’re doing it right here on the Wenatchee,” former Washington Governor Jay Inslee said.

Inslee joined current Washington Governor Bob Ferguson for a tour aboard the Wenatchee along with members of the media.

Washington State Ferries’ hybrid-electric ferry conversion

During the conversion, two of the Wenatchee’s four diesel engines and two generators were removed. Meanwhile, two battery rooms and 864 batteries were added.

“The Wenatchee is now the largest hybrid-electric ferry in the entire country. It has a 202-vehicle capacity,” Ferguson said.

The Wenatchee is expected to burn 25% less diesel. Once shore charging is installed at the docks, as early as 2029, the Wenatchee will reduce greenhouse emissions by up to 95% and burn up to one million fewer gallons of diesel each year.

“We’re leading the world in a decarbonized, maritime fleet starting right here with the Wenatchee,” Inslee said.

The ferry operates similarly to most hybrid vehicles. When the Wenatchee is running under diesel power, the batteries are charged. When the battery’s charge reaches a certain level, the diesel engines shut off and the electric motors take over. This results in a much smoother ride for passengers and significantly less vibration, which is less physically taxing on the crew.

Washington State Ferries converted the Wenatchee to its first hybrid-electric ferry. (Photo: James Lynch, ����Xվ Newsradio)

And the news gets better, especially for those who use the ferries regularly.

“Bringing the Wenatchee back online is the final piece of the puzzle to restoring full domestic service to pre-pandemic levels,” Ferguson said.

Inslee called it a major point of pride for all Washingtonians, whether they use the ferries or not.

“It’s got the most advanced electric propulsion system ferry, not just in Washington, not just in America, but in all of North America,” Inslee said.

The Wenatchee will officially go back into service next week. It will provide service between Seattle and Bainbridge Island.

Follow James Lynch on����Read more of his stories��here. Submit news tips��here.

WSDOT initially planned to have Southbound SR 167 in Kent, between Willis and 277th Street, shut down from 12 a.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Monday before deciding against it Thursday afternoon for an undisclosed reason.

“We worked with our contractor to see if they had some flexibility to kind of lessen the regional impacts with all the work that’s going on this weekend, and they had that available to do that,” Craig Smiley, construction communications manager for WSDOT, told ����Xվ Newsradio.

The closure was part of the widening and express toll lane expansion project WSDOT is currently undertaking. WSDOT has yet to confirm a rescheduling date for the closure, but it will likely happen toward the end of July or early August.

“Just need to kind of see how some other work shakes out,” Smiley added.

Other highway closures this weekend

Southbound I-5 will be closed at Stewart Street under the Convention Center from 11 p.m. Friday night. This closure lasts until 6 a.m. The express lanes will remain open in the southbound direction. This closure will likely have the least amount of impact.

��will be closed through Kirkland from 11 p.m. Friday night through 4 a.m. Monday. The closure extends from 124th Street in Totem Lake to 70th Place.

��will be closed in Renton from 11:59 p.m. Friday night through 4 a.m. Monday. This closure is at the SR 169 interchange and Sunset Boulevard.

Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for ����Xվ Newsradio. Follow him on��. Read more of his stories��here. Submit news tips��here.

It’s happening this weekend.

Southbound I-405 in Kirkland. Northbound I-405 in Renton. Southbound I-5 in Seattle. All of these freeways will be shut down at some point this weekend. Two of them all weekend long. The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) even planned to have Southbound SR 167 in Kent between Willis and 277th Street shut down from 12 a.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Monday before deciding against it Thursday afternoon for an undisclosed reason.

This is a combination of maintenance, preservation, and a bunch of construction.

“It’s going to be a lot of paving and a lot of concrete panel replacement,” Craig Smiley, construction communications manager for WSDOT, said. “We’re going to be doing a lot of drainage work and replacing sign structures. Those are all things that require full closures.”

WSDOT admits that there is no good time to shut down a freeway, much less four at one time, during peak summer travel.

“We don’t like doing these full closures, but sometimes they are necessary,” Smiley said. “Summer is a very short window to get a lot of work done.”

If you want added lanes on I-405 or necessary maintenance, this is just the price the region has to pay.

“It’s a really complex puzzle trying to put all these projects together and get the work done in a reasonable amount of time and minimize impacts as much as possible,” Smiley said.

WSDOT says avoid driving through areas as much as possible

So what’s the best game plan?

It’s the simplest, and it’s almost insulting. But just avoid driving through these areas. Not very realistic, I know. Postpone your trip. Use light rail. Alter your schedule. No matter what, this will have a regional impact.

“The detours can’t handle the volumes the freeways normally handle,” Smiley said. “We need everybody’s patience and in the end it will be worth it, but it’s going to be tough going.”

Here’s a look at the closures specifically.

Southbound I-5 will be closed at Stewart Street under the Convention Center from 11 p.m. Friday night. This closure lasts until 6 a.m. The express lanes will remain open southbound. This closure will likely have the least amount of impact.

will be closed through Kirkland from 11 p.m. Friday night through 4 a.m. Monday. The closure extends from 124th Street in Totem Lake to 70th Place.

will be closed in Renton from 11:59 p.m. Friday night through 4 a.m. Monday. This closure is at the SR 169 interchange and Sunset Boulevard.

These three closures will have a regional impact. Expect delays to ripple across any of your travel plans.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for ����Xվ Newsradio. Read more of his stories��here.��Follow ����Xվ Newsradio traffic on��.

Bellevue’s Transportation Department is downsizing speeds in line with its goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2030.

Almost 90% of fatalities and serious injuries in the Bellevue area happen where speed limits are 30 mph or above.

Bellevue reducing speeds in 4 areas

This summer, staff will study the impact of lowering speeds near the Factoria Mall, Microsoft Campus, a portion of Northup Way, and Village Park Drive. By the end of the month, speeds will drop by 5 to 10 miles per hour at these four locations.

More specifically, portions of��124th Avenue Southeast/Southeast 38th Street and Northup Way, from Bellevue Way to 120th Avenue Northeast, will be reduced from 35 to 25 mph. The speed limit on Village Park Drive and a portion of Northeast 40th Street will be reduced from 35 to 30 mph.

Their proximity to schools, busy bike lanes, and a busy residential area were deciding factors. Staff will study the impact and use that data for future phases of this project.

The next step includes reviewing speed limits on all streets in Bellevue with a speed limit of 30 mph or more.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for ����Xվ Newsradio. Follow him on��. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.

Despite the lane closures ending, heavy congestion is expected near the Tacoma Dome after the one-vehicle collision, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) . There are 50-minute delays from Federal Way to Tacoma, as of this reporting.

Multiple southbound I-5 lanes blocked near the Tacoma Dome

WSDOT noted that the car crashed near milepost 134.1.

Expect heavy congestion approaching Tacoma Dome due to one vehicle collision and emergency response. Potential for extended lane closures for investigation.

— WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma)

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Follow Jason Sutich��.������Ի���news tips here.

Road work in western Washington this week

State Route 509 at Port of Tacoma

Monday, July 7 at 7 p.m., crews will remove the center left turn lanes at the intersection of Alexander Avenue East between northbound and southbound State Route (SR) 509 in Tacoma. Drivers can still make left turns onto SR 509 from the left-through lanes.

Additionally, Alexander Avenue East between 12th Street East and northbound SR 509 will be reduced to a single lane in each direction, with access to right turns. The lane reduction will remain in place for approximately one year while crews rebuild the intersection.

This work is part of the . Once complete, this will add six new miles of tolled highway between Puyallup and the Port of Tacoma and build sidewalks and shared-use paths for non-motorized travelers. Completing this unfinished highway will greatly benefit the movement of freight, improve safety, and reduce congestion on local roads and highways in the surrounding area, according to WSDOT.

I-5, SR 516, SR 509 at SeaTac

WSDOT has scheduled lane and ramp closures on I-5, SR 516, and local roads in Des Moines, SeaTac, and Kent starting Monday, July 7, through the morning of Friday, July 11.

The lane and ramp closures on I-5 will allow contractor crews to stripe the roadway. The lane and ramp closures on SR 516 will allow crews to perform work in the median of the roadway. Local road closures will allow crews to install new roadway signs.

This work is part of the��.

I-5 lane closure information

Monday, June 7, through the morning of Tuesday, July 8:

• 9:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. – Up to three lanes of northbound I-5 will close overnight between SR 516 (Exit 149) and South 200th Street/Military Road South (Exit 151).

Monday, July 7, through the morning of Friday, July 11:

• 11:59 p.m. to 4 a.m. – Up to four lanes of northbound I-5 will close nightly between SR 516 (Exit 149) and South 200th Street/Military Road South (Exit 151).

I-5 ramp closure information

Monday, July 7, through the morning of Friday, July 11:

• 9:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. – The northbound I-5 exit to SR 516 will close nightly. A signed detour will be in place.

Monday, July 7, through the morning of Tuesday, July 8:

• 9:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. – The southbound I-5 exit to SR 516 will close overnight. A signed detour will be in place.

SR 516 ramp closure information

Monday, July 7, through the morning of Tuesday, July 8:

• 11 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. – The westbound SR 516 ramp to northbound I-5 will close overnight. A signed detour will be in place.

Tuesday, July 8, through the morning of Thursday, July 10:

• 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – The eastbound SR 516 ramp to northbound I-5 will close nightly. A signed detour will be in place.
• 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – The SR 516 ramp to southbound I-5 will close nightly. A signed detour will be in place.

Saturday, July 12, through the morning of Sunday, July 13:

• 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – The SR 516 ramp to southbound I-5 will close overnight. A signed detour will be in place.

509 ramp closure information

Tuesday, July 8, through the morning of Friday, July 11:

• 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – The eastbound South 188th ramp to northbound SR 509 will close overnight. A signed detour will be in place.
• 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. – The westbound South 188th ramp to northbound SR 509 will close overnight. A signed detour will be in place.

Local road closure information

Monday, July 7, through Friday, July 11:

• 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – Westbound Veterans Drive will close nightly at Military Road South. A signed detour will be in place.

Coming up: I-90/SR 18

the project will resume this month, according to WSDOT.

This will be the second around-the-clock, extended closure of SR 18 under the I-90 bridges to build the northern end of the diverging diamond interchange.

The expanded closure will be a lot like the five-day closure that WSDOT did in early June to build the southern end of the diverging diamond interchange. A lot of work is involved during these closures, including installing drainage and conduit, installing and synchronizing traffic signals, installing new traffic cameras, constructing traffic curbs, and pouring new median islands.

WSDOT will announce the closure dates and detours soon. Once this second closure is done, the roadway will reopen in the diverging diamond traffic pattern.

Ship Canal Bridge

Revive I-5 over resumes July 18, with a full closure on north I-5 between I-90 and Northeast 45th Street. During this closure, the express lanes will remain open 24/7 in the northbound direction.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for ����Xվ Newsradio. Follow him on��. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.

A section of����from the night of Friday, June 27, through the early morning of Monday, June 30.

“Traffic backups were long. Local neighborhood streets were congested. For many, the detours simply didn’t feel like enough,” wrote WSDOT.

On Saturday afternoon,��.

“We made real-time adjustments with our partners to ease traffic where we could, and we’re already applying what we learned to future closures. We know we need to do better, and we will,” stated WSDOT.

WSDOT continued, explaining why the project was important, what got done during the weekend closure, and how travelers can stay connected with WSDOT and prepare for future disruptions.

You can find that information��.

“The next big weekend is July 11–14, which includes directional closures on I-405 in Kirkland and Renton, northbound SR 167 in Algona, and southbound SR 167 in Kent. We’re working hard to prepare and will use everything we’ve learned to help keep you informed and reduce delays,” promised WSDOT.

How to stay informed and connected with WSDOT:

Link to real-time travel map:��

Link to WSDOT app and social media channels:��

Sign up for email updates at I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov.

A woman admitted she had nothing in her pockets, but that her sweaty groin set off TSA scanners at the airport, according to the media outlet.

Several people shared similar stories, referencing the term “swamp crotch.”

TSA expert Malvini Redden told that perspiration can trigger the scanners. At the same time, TSA spokesperson R. Carter Langston explained that Advanced Imaging Technology is used at airport checkpoints.

“It’s a millimeter wave scanner that detects a wide range of metallic and nonmetallic threats in a matter of seconds,” she said to Reader’s Digest.

In June,��Alaska Airlines announced it is expanding its to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac).

TSA security could get even easier

AAA projected that 72.2 million travelers will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day holiday travel period from June 28 to July 6.

Seattle’s top 10 for Fourth of July travel destinations

AAA projects a record 61.6 million people will travel by car over Independence Day weekend, an additional 1.7 million travelers compared to last year, and 7 million more than in 2019.

“Cruises, beaches, and fireworks are the main motivators for travelers heading to these cities,” AAA stated. “Alaska cruises are in peak season, Florida and Hawaii are in high demand for their resorts and attractions, and New York and Boston host two of the most popular fireworks shows in the nation.”

The top 10 domestic travel destinations in order include:

Orlando, FL; Seattle, WA; New York, NY; Anchorage, AK; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Honolulu, HI; Denver, CO; Miami, FL; Boston, MA; and Atlanta, GA.

“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4��is one of the most popular times to get away,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel.��

AAA also projected that 5.84 million people will fly to their July 4 destinations, a 1.4% increase compared to last year, and 8% of all Independence Day travelers.

“Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week,” Barber said. “With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”

Through transportation data and insights, found that the worst travel times by car this holiday are July 3 and July 4 between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Date��	Worst Travel Time��	Best Travel Time��
Monday, Jul 1��	Minimal Traffic Impact Expected��	����
Tuesday, Jul 2��	2 – 6 p.m.��	After 7 p.m.��
Wednesday, Jul 3��	2 – 7 p.m.	Before 12 p.m.��
Thursday, Jul 4��	2 – 7 p.m.��	Before 12 p.m.
Friday, Jul 5��	11 a.m. – 4 p.m.	Before 10 a.m.
Saturday, Jul 6��	10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.��	Before 10 a.m.��
Sunday, Jul 7��	2 – 8 p.m.	Before 11 a.m.��
Monday, Jul 8��	1 – 5 p.m.	After 7 p.m.��

 

The peak congestion route for Washington during the Fourth of July holiday is expected to be Ellensburg to Seattle via eastbound I-90. Travelers should expect peak congestion on Sunday around 4:30 p.m., with an estimated travel time of 2 hours and 19 minutes.

AAA recommends that travelers undergo routine vehicle maintenance ahead of their Fourth of July plans, citing a whopping 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls occurred last year, including issues such as dead batteries, flat tires, and running out of gas.

AAA noted that the Independence Day travel period is a nine-day window from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6.

“Historically, this holiday period included only one weekend,” AAA stated. “The expanded travel window was instituted starting in 2024, with historical results calculated back to 2019 using the new nine-day period.”

Follow Jason Sutich��.������Ի���news tips here.

The new light rail station would demolish the local Freighthouse Square, an indoor market for more than 100 years, and is expected to displace 43 local businesses.

Tacoma’s new light rail station

Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello, a vice president on the Sound Transit Board, told the new light rail is the best route for commuters due to its distance from the Amtrak, T Line, and bus stations.

The design will not be up for approval until 2027, and construction is projected to be completed in 2035. As a result, expect to be displaced by the new light rail station.

The total taxable value of the Freighthouse Square building, according to the Assessor-Treasurer’s Office, is nearly $3 million. Additionally, a parking lot owned by Time in Space LLC across the street is valued at slightly less than $1 million.

Impact on local businesses

Current Freighthouse Square tenants have mentioned to The Tacoma News Tribune that they have “felt out of the loop,” in response to Sound Transit’s claim to support them with ongoing engagement and relocation assistance.

David Jackson, Sound Transit spokesperson, mentioned that each displaced business would be eligible for up to $200,000 in moving expenses and re-establishment. Additionally, Jackson noted in an email that the amount of money each business would receive “will vary based on [the] type of business and its requirements,” according to The News Tribune.

Regarding alternative plans the board could have chosen, Mello said that transit construction would “highly impact” business owners, and there would not be relocation assistance from the Sound Transit Board.

Natural Allah, a business owner in Pierce County for five years, noted that the lack of communication from the Sound Transit Board has been concerning.

“The ambiguity is the problem,” Allah said, according to The Tacoma News Tribune. “Many of the businesses here, it’s their livelihood, and you’re basically saying, ‘Well, we’re gonna give you something, you know, but we’re not gonna tell you what it is. You’re going to have to move, but we’re not gonna say exactly when.’ How does that play out, you know, in the scheme of things?”

The Sound Transit Board contemplated three alternative routes, which would displace significantly fewer businesses, although it would be more expensive.

Sound Transit officials have thought of various ways to support local businesses, which would include a new food hall that could be housed in the bottom level of the new station.

The planning process for the new station began in 2017 and is expected to end in 2027. The design process is expected to last from 2027 to 2029, and construction would be underway between 2029 and 2035.

Follow Jason Sutich��.������Ի���news tips here.

Driving in the sand is a lot of fun. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. But let me be blunt—this weekend is probably not the best time to try it. The sand is going to be packed with people this weekend. The is expecting 100,000 people. officials told me they can’t begin to estimate, but that the city is expecting a ton of people.

There will be no room to move and no room for error.

And if you don’t believe me, please take Paul’s advice. He volunteers with .

“If you’ve never driven on the sand, the best thing is don’t make the Fourth of July weekend your first try,” he said.

The nonprofit rescue group volunteers its time getting people out of trouble.

“We’re just a bunch of people down here that realize that tourism is lifeblood to the peninsula, and so we were here to help as locals,” he said. “We don’t take any money. We just help people get out.”

Here are some really good tips for driving in the sand: Pick the line you want to take and go with it. Keep your speed up. Watch for deep ruts and don’t assume your truck or SUV will take care of you.

“All wheel drive versus four wheel drive, they are not the same,” Paul said. “If you have four-wheel drive or all wheel drive and you’re on the beach, disengage your traction control. That will get you stuck faster than anything.”

And don’t even try it with anything bigger than a car or truck.

“People with motor homes and vans and stuff just don’t try it,” Paul said.�� “In the last two or three weeks, we’ve pulled several motor homes off, and Sprinter vans that are four-wheel drive, but they just, for whatever reason, don’t do well.”

This Fourth of July weekend will be particularly dangerous because of the tides.

High tides expected during Fourth of July evening

High tide will be between 9 and 10 p.m., just about the time you’ll be shooting off fireworks or watching the big displays. It’s a high tide, meaning the water will be coming in a little more. Park up a little higher on the soft sand to make sure your car doesn’t end up in the ocean.

“The tide is coming in, and your car, if you don’t think about it, is going to be all sudden in the water,” Paul said.

And I’ve seen this happen more times than I can count. People are distracted by the bonfire and the fireworks, and they don’t notice how far the water has crept up to them. And when the fireworks are over, everyone will try to leave the beach at the same time. You will be doing this in the dark. Dodging the ocean, unpredictable people and pets, raging bonfires, and debris piles. And drunk drivers.

This is the worst possible time to get stuck in the sand.

Should you find yourself in trouble, the best advice is to stay calm. Put on your flashers. And ask for help.

Be careful with just throwing a chain on your bumper and hooking it to another car. You’ll likely damage your vehicle. It’s best to carry a small shovel and a flat piece of wood in your car so you can try to dig yourself out.

You can call a tow, or if you’re in Long Beach, you can call 4-by-4 Rescue at 360-244-1099.

“We jump people. We’ll get them unstuck out of the sand, but if they’re in the surf, we won’t touch them. They’re going to have to go to a tow company to get out of that. We just can’t do that,” Paul said.

So have a great fourth, but be safe and smart.

And always point your car toward the ocean if you’re parking on the beach.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for ����Xվ Newsradio. Read more of his stories��here.��Follow ����Xվ Newsradio traffic on��.

The highway speed camera project began in April, along two stretches of state highways that are notorious for high-speed violations. In Skagit County, it was a 4.5-mile stretch on I-5 south between Bow Hill and Cook Roads. In Spokane County, it was a 3.5-mile stretch on I-90 east between Liberty Lake and the State Line.

Hundreds of cars clocked going 100 mph+ in highway speed camera pilot program

In both locations, there were signs placed well ahead of the cameras warning drivers to slow down and that their speeds were being recorded. However, WSDOT clocked 161 vehicles topping 100 mph in Skagit County and 116 in Spokane County during the pilot program.

The 2-month campaign wrapped up this past week. Kyle Miller, with WSDOT, shared some of the findings with ����Xվ Newsradio.

“We just took the cameras off the roads, so we haven’t had a chance to fully analyze the data yet,” he shared.

However, Miller said WSDOT sent out around 16,000 courtesy notices asking people to slow down when they were caught speeding on the road.

“Once the signs went up, we noticed that speeding went down. So that was great news,” he said.

What were the recorded speed reductions?

“I haven’t really dove in with my team yet to see exactly what these outcomes were. Just looking at the data at a high level, I could see a drop, but to what percentage, or to what speeds, that’s still further down the road that we’re going to be working on,” Miller replied.

Goal of highway speed camera program is to remind drivers to slow down

That was the goal with this pilot program: slowing drivers down and reminding them to follow the posted speed limits or risk future infractions. The state never planned to issue speeding tickets during this period.

In 2024, 728 people were killed on Washington roadways. While that number dropped slightly from 2023, it’s still far above pre-pandemic averages.

The cameras identified several instances of excessive speeds, with 277 notices for vehicles averaging 100 mph or more through the three-mile monitoring areas. On state highways alone, there were 368 fatal or serious injury collisions in 2024 where speeding was cited as a factor, and that does not include local roadway crashes.

Last year, speeding was a factor in 34% of fatal crashes, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

“When you drive at safe speeds, you’re protecting families, neighbors, and the people working to maintain our roads,” Washington Traffic Safety Commission Program Manager Dr. Janine Koffel said.

The program was paid for with $1 million from the legislature. People can learn more about the cameras at an and share feedback. WSDOT will now analyze the data from the cameras, review public feedback, and report back to the legislature. A preliminary report will be ready in early July, and a final report this fall.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for ����Xվ Newsradio. Follow him on��. Read more of his stories��here. Submit news tips��here.

CLEARED: The incident on NB I-5 at I-405 in Tukwila has cleared. Continue to expect delays as traffic clears.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)

A person was hit in the leg from inside their car, according to WSP Trooper Rick Johnson.

“Detectives will determine how this happened,” Johnson wrote on X. “There is no danger to the public or any other suspects or vehicles involved.”

The Washington State Department of Transportation captured the traffic scene on X.

UPDATE: ALL NB I-5 lanes blocked at I-405 in Tukwila.

Seek alternate routes. Emergency responders are on scene.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)

Follow Julia Dallas on�� Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) noted that the from North Bend to Ellensburg is 157 minutes, more than double the average 73 minutes.

According to Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Rick Johnson, a semi-truck carrying a shipment of 10,000 bottles of whiskey rolled over. Johnson noted that speed played a role in the truck’s rollover and expected delays until the semi-truck was moved.

Back on the wheels! The load is 10,000 bottles of Woodinville Whiskey. Apparently most survived. Hope to open soon !

— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio)

“Right now, they’re still trying to recover it. The tow company is there, as far as I know, one lane is still getting by,” Johnson told ����Xվ Newsradio.

Regarding the whiskey, Johnson explained the status of the shipment and the process for clearing the road.

“It looks like everything’s kind of intact, and also they probably work in coordination with the company on what they want to see happen,” Johnson said. “Either way, we do it as quickly as possible to get the roadway back up.”

����Xվ traffic reporter Chris Sullivan noted there is currently a 13-mile-long backup on eastbound I-90.

No injuries have been reported, as of this reporting.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Follow Jason Sutich��.������Ի���news tips here.

According to the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), one of the gates on the bridge was not operating. Just before 8:30 a.m., the bridge was reopened.

“All lanes of southbound SR 529 at the Snohomish River Bridge are now open from an earlier malfunctioning gate,” WSDOT reported on social media.

CLEARED: All lanes of southbound SR 529 at the Snohomish River Bridge are now open from an earlier malfunctioning gate.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)

Follow Frank Sumrall .������Ի���news tips here.

You’ve seen the new toll signs going up on I-5 in SeaTac, along SR 167, and soon over I-405 between Bellevue and Renton. The state is streamlining the system and making it uniform, especially when it comes to express toll lanes.

It’s expected that the will go active next year. People going between Renton and Bellevue will need a flex pass to make sure they can declare HOV status if they have enough people in their cars. The flex pass will then be needed on SR 167 north from Sumner to Renton to declare HOV status. SR 167 south will eventually see the same thing.

Washington’s toll expansion will hit SR 509 in a few months

But happening this year, in just a few months, the newest tolls go into effect on the first mile of the SR 509 expressway from I-5 in Sea-Tac. This is part of the . Those tolls are expected to go active around October, though the freeway will open on Saturday.

Just last week, the set the rates for that corridor. It will vary between $1.20 to $2.40, depending on the time of day.

Those tolls will eventually be added to the entire corridor, connecting I-5 to 188th in Burien, once it is completed.

The commission also set the tolls for the 509/167 extension between the Port of Tacoma and Puyallup. SR 167 west of I-5 to SR 509 in Tacoma will be $1, no matter the time of day. That is set to go active in December of 2026.

The tolls east of I-5 to Puyallup will vary between $1 to $3, depending on the time of day. Those tolls are expected to go active in 2029.

These tolls will also vary depending on the size of your rig.�� A semi driver could end up spending up to $9, based on the time of day. The more axles you have, the more you pay, including cars just towing a trailer.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for ����Xվ Newsradio. Read more of his stories��here.��Follow ����Xվ Newsradio traffic on��.