With Labor Day just around the corner, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) wants to help you prepare for inevitable backups.
According to a WSDOT press release, while most construction along highways will be paused, crashes may still happen causing backups. In addition, the Revive I-5 project will continue as planned.
WSDOT also recommends not to disregard fire warnings, as fire danger is still high. They urge you not to park on dry grass, avoid throwing anything flammable out of your car, and calling 911 if you see a brush fire.
Traveling by ferry will also be a challenge, with WSDOT noting the busiest routes will be “westbound (or onto an island) Thursday and Friday, Sept. 3-4 and eastbound (or departing an island) Sunday and Monday, Sept. 6-7,” according to the press release.
In order to get around delays, WSDOT says making reservations, double checking ferry schedules online, and signing up for their alert system can help. They also say walk-on passengers get on faster.
Weekend toll rates will still be in effect through Sept. 7 in the 99 tunnel, 509 Expressway, and 520 bridge. That being said, I-405 and SR 167’s express lanes will be “free and open to all drivers” this Labor Day, according to WSDOT.
They also urge those traveling by train, bus, or plane to plan ahead and monitor times in case of delays.
For those looking for an in-depth breakdown of Labor Day weekend traffic patterns, you can visit WSDOT’s travel chart website.
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