SEATTLE — Three months after the Revive I-5 project started back up, drivers across the Seattle region are feeling the strain—especially during the already challenging morning commute.
What many commuters once considered routine has now turned into a daily test of patience. Congestion along Interstate 5 heading into Seattle has intensified in recent weeks, with long stretches of brake lights, bumper-to-bumper traffic, and significantly increased travel times becoming the norm.
“I have to leave early because of the traffic,” said driver Abdulahi Mohamed. “By eight o’clock, it’s bumper to bumper.”
Others report even more dramatic delays.
“It takes me more than two hours to get from Lynnwood to South Seattle,” said Rahel Behailu. “Travel time has not doubled—probably quadrupled.”
Transportation experts say these frustrations are backed by data. Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst with INRIX, says morning commute conditions have gotten noticeably worse.
“What we are seeing is traveling southbound on I-5, travel times are up as speeds fall,” Pishue said. “Speeds have dropped about 23% during the morning rush hour.”
The slowdown isn’t limited to I-5. According to INRIX data, speeds on State Route 99 have dropped about 24% during peak morning hours, particularly around 8 a.m. Interstate 405 is also experiencing increased congestion.
“On 99 speeds have slowed from about 21 or 22 miles an hour [during this time last year], down to 16, so traffic is definitely crawling on those routes,” Pishue said. “Even on 405 on the east side, travel speeds have dropped from 31 miles an hour to 24 miles an hour.”
The impact is spreading beyond major highways. As drivers attempt to avoid gridlock, traffic is spilling into neighborhood streets and local arterials.
There is, however, a small silver lining. Evening commutes appear to be improving, with data showing increased speeds on routes heading away from Seattle after work hours.
Still, for many drivers, the daily toll is significant. “It’s crazy,” said Behailu. “Spending that much time in traffic—it’s cutting into my productivity.”
Experts say that although they understand the frustration, drivers will be glad once the repairs are done.
In the meantime, commuters are advised to plan ahead, leave earlier than usual, and expect delays as work continues.
Washington State Department of Transportation recently released its March update on the Revive I-5 work around the Ship Canal Bridge. The report shows that morning travel times on I-5 have continued to climb over the past two weeks, along with a slight increase in delays on northbound I-405.
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