memorial day traffic
WSDOT is considering opening some shoulders on I-5 to drivers during rush hour to help ease congestion. (AP image)

WSDOT considering I-5 shoulder driving to ease congestion

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on December 5, 2012 @ 6:44 am (Updated: 8:32 am - 12/5/12 )

When you're stuck in traffic on the freeway, you have to admit the thought of driving on the shoulder can be pretty tempting. Now, the Washington State Department of Transportation is thinking of making that OK on some stretches of I-5.

WSDOT is reportedly looking at opening the shoulder to traffic on northbound I-5 between Everett and Marysville during peak evening hours, according to KING 5.

Officials say they're considering that stretch because of budget constraints, and with water on both sides there isn't enough room to build another lane.

"In the areas where we have limited space and we have enough width in the roadway, it's making use of every bit of that width," said Mark Leth, WSDOT Region Traffic Engineer.

Shoulder driving is currently allowed on westbound US 2.

WSDOT says they're also considering squeezing a third lane in on northbound I-5 at Seneca in downtown Seattle, one of the consistently worst bottlenecks in the state.

But Leth said even those fixes cost more money than the state currently has in the budget. Just making the changes to allow shoulder driving would cost an estimated $30 million. Leth said the state has tried to get additional federal grants, but with little success.

KIRO Radio's Karen Taylor contributed to this report.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
Straight from the newsdesk.
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Comments (15)


  • Add A Comment

  • JustAnotherFish wrote...
    Why not just lose the HOV lanes?
    December 5, 2012 6:32 am
    Is there no logic to anything anymore?

    Also: Interstate highways don't have sidewalks.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Seattle is a cesspool wrote...
    JustAnotherFish...
    December 5, 2012 6:50 am
    That area between Everett and Marysville is only three lanes and no HOV. It creates a bottle neck that often times extends into Lynnwood. And CH... Trolling is fun.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 51pete wrote...
    shoulder driving
    December 5, 2012 6:47 am
    where will the police/ambulances go?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Maybe someone at DOT didn't prioritize correctly
    December 5, 2012 7:40 am
    There is only so much money in the budget....so I beg to ask, where was it budgeted for and what was more important then this issue....I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say my guess was rapid transit got the money.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2shbag wrote...
    To those of you who poo poo this idea
    December 5, 2012 7:47 am
    I suggest you travel to Atlanta, Houston, and LA where this practice has been ongoing for the last 15 years and for the most part is semi effective. I'm not saying those places are traffic heavens but it does appear to help during peak hours.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SnakeBite wrote...
    Shoulder Driving
    December 5, 2012 8:24 am
    This lazy, cheap approach by WSDOT won't do any good. WSDOT bases their traffic decisions - in part - on the unspoken theory that most drivers are safe, courteous and responsible. Ain't so. Every day, every hour, every minute you drive the open freeways you are surrounded by crazies, out-of-control idiots and people who don't care about their own well-being much less your safety. I see people blazing down the freeway at or above 70+ miles and hour with a car load of passengers, many times kids. These fools cut-off others, tailgate, drive well beyond the so-called "speed of traffic" and thus create bottlenecks, enormous back-ups and breathtakingly dangerous situations. This in turn forces WSDOT to "consider" other possibilties to reduce gridlock, like driving on the shoulder. The only way to get this traffic madness under control are massive, painful fines and actual jail time when the police nail one of these jerks and they're convicted. I'm talking about a $750.00+ fine, first offense when it's determined it was YOU that caused an accident with poor driving. If the iron-boot of the law were used like that and the word spead among drivers that you face wallet-punishing penalties I'm betting you would see reductions in traffic back-ups. Of course with a government that won't put down speed bumps to outright solve the problem of speeders in schools zones don't hold your breath that they will do the right thing and crucify bad drivers.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WAmovesRight wrote...
    @Snakebite
    December 5, 2012 9:14 am
    Holy Cow man... where do you drive at? Granted there are some crazies on the road but to the extent you're talking??? no... you obviously are thinking of CA.

    And dude... chill out with the Freeway Nazi rhetoric... some well-intentioned yet misinformed liberal policy maker will think you're serious and see a way to increase the states revenue...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    JustAnotherFish wrote...
    December 5, 2012 9:10 am
    I like the logic. We paid taxes to build all the lanes, including the carpool lane. We should be able to use ALL the lanes regardless of how many people we have in our car. If we use the WDOT's logic, then maybe eliminating the carpool lanes would ease traffic. And another thing, where did all the money go? Where in the e*ff did it go I ask?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Lets be like Bermuda
    December 5, 2012 9:14 am
    And restrict each household to one car.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • slocummedia wrote...
    Motorcycles Only?
    December 5, 2012 10:55 am
    In California Motorcycles are allowed to pass through congested traffic between cars by riding the reflectors. It's called "Lane Splitting".. For years now WA legislators have denied that practice here. Maybe it's time to do so. Bikers can ride the shoulder or split lanes and reduce some of the congestion. Sure, it's a small help but even a little help is some help and it shouldn't be overlooked.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    that would help...
    December 5, 2012 12:27 pm
    ...about .00002 percent.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • zounds wrote...
    So that is LEGAL??????
    December 5, 2012 1:03 pm
    I am always blown away when a bike goes by me at 60, inches from my mirror.

    I have learned something.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Motorcycles
    December 5, 2012 1:21 pm
    Let us split lanes here!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    I remember trying to drive around Mexicao City during the 1968 Olympics.
    December 5, 2012 2:27 pm
    Once people started driving the shoulders, it wasn't 10 minutes before the roads were gridlock again. All this would do is compacy the back-ups.

    And for CH, I do remember driving on sidewalks - also in 1968. But that was on acid, so who knows for sure?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }