The worst of the worst: Roads to avoid during Labor Day weekend
Sep 2, 2015, 4:16 PM | Updated: Sep 4, 2015, 9:50 am
Let’s face it, traffic during Labor Day weekend is going to be rough. But some roads will be significantly worse than others.
The Washington State Department of Transportation released information on which roadways drivers may want to avoid during peak hours, which includes four stretches of highway in particular:
• I-90 North Bend to Cle Elum
Avoid:
EB I-90 North Bend to Cle Elum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday
WB I-90 Cle Elum to North Bend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday
• US 2 between Stevens Pass and Leavenworth
Avoid:
EB US 2 Stevens Pass to Leavenworth from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday
WB US 2 Leavenworth to Stevens Pass from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday
• I-5 Olympia to Tacoma
Avoid:
SB I-5 Tacoma to Olympia from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday
NB I-5 from Olympia to Tacoma from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday
• I-5 near U.S./Canada border starting near Bellingham
Avoid:
NB I-5 from Bellingham to border from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday
NB I-5 from Bellingham to border from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday
In addition to the heavy traffic in those areas, WSDOT warns drivers to expect longer-than typical wait times at ferry docks.
Though most construction will be suspended during the weekend, some will continue. That work includes:
• I-405 closures – nighttime lane and ramp closures from Friday through Monday near Bellevue between Northeast 8th and Northeast 70th streets and in the Totem Lake area from 124th Street and State Route 522. The work is part of the I-405 widening and express toll lanes.
• Tacoma – A Street on-ramp to I-705 closed for construction; northbound SR 7 on-ramp on southbound I-5 closed;
• Fife – 20th Street East closed through spring 2017 for I-5 Puyallup River Bridge construction;
• Eatonville – traffic reduced to one alternating lane for slide repair on SR 7 at milepost 30;
• Grays Harbor County – traffic reduced to one alternating lane on US 101 north of Artic at Rock Crusher Hill at milepost 72; Simpson Avenue Bridge in Hoquiam, will be closed from Aug. 31 to mid-October for bridge painting;
• Mason County – traffic reduced to one alternating lane on US 101 north of Hamma Hamma at milepost 316.
