KIRO Newsradio traffic reporter

Chris Sullivan

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. He cares deeply about the amount of time you spend sitting in Seattle traffic. Email Chris at csullivan@kiroradio.com

Traffic patterns are changing with the new Seattle tunnel

UIt's been about three months since the new Seattle tunnel opened and traffic patterns are changing. We're in flux. What have we seen so far?
7 years ago

Testing out the newly-opened Paine Field Airport

I wanted to give the new Paine Field Airport a shot recently. It certainly was a different experience than what you get at Sea-Tac Airport.
7 years ago

This unique Factoria intersection is confusing drivers

97.3 KIRO FM listener Nicole Starr asked me to check out the intersection of SE Eastgate Way and Richards Road. The lane configuration has led to quite some confusion for some time.
8 years ago

Work to remove over 5,000 trees for Lynnwood light rail begins

Work to remove over 5,000 trees for the Lynnwood light rail expansion kicks off Thursday, with the project expected to be fully completed by 2024.
8 years ago

Needed road projects part of new state transportation budget

The newly-passed transportation budget may be stripped down from what Democrats originally wanted, but it includes a handful of important road-improvement projects.
8 years ago

Self-healing concrete could make PNW’s potholes a thing of the past

Our wet and somewhat cold conditions in the Pacific Northwest are the perfect conditions for creating potholes. Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to keep them from forming? Well, it turns out that could be possible.
8 years ago

Washington state troopers are targeting unsecured loads

Troopers with Washington State Patrol are conducting a 28-day emphasis patrol right now, targeting vehicles with unsecured loads. It's a significant problem, easily remedied, that drivers often ignore.
8 years ago

Sound Transit’s first ST 3 project about to start

We all likely think light rail and distant expansions immediately when thinking about ST 3, the voter-approved $54-billion transit package for King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties, but it includes other transit projects, many which will be completed a lot sooner than you might think.
8 years ago

Seattle area traffic delays and road closures this weekend

There are multiple road closures and traffic delays planned for major routes around Seattle, from the tunnel to I-5. Drivers should be prepared.
8 years ago

Why drivers are paying tolls for undriven miles

Drivers o I-405 wonder why there isn't a toll exit and price for getting off at Canyon Park. The exits are Totem Lake, Highway 522, and Lynnwood at I-5.
8 years ago

Highway 2 preparing for a very busy construction season

There have been a lot of improvement projects set aside for Highway 2 -- from I-5 to east of Monroe. They've been piling up and WSDOT can't wait any longer. It's time to get this work done.
8 years ago

Is it time for distracted drivers to put their phones in the trunk?

Something has to be done to eliminate the epidemic of distracted driving. That's the message from the National Safety Council as is kicks off "Distracted Driving Awareness Month" with a new survey on driver behavior.
8 years ago

Seattle fixes signal, Tacoma has to wait for bridge repair

I have been working through my co-workers traffic issues lately, and I recently tackled a concern by 97.3 KIRO FM's Dori Monson. Here's how it shook out.
8 years ago

I-90 work marks milestone for light rail to Bellevue

The light rail extension to Bellevue is passing a major milestone as the bridge over I-90 continues to take shape. Major construction changes this week will be noticed.
8 years ago

New tunnel signs to warn drivers of game-day traffic

Game day traffic in Seattle might be a bit easier now that the city is telling drivers in the SR 99 tunnel where it is cutting off routes to the freeway.
8 years ago

Construction starting on Washington’s first diverging diamond interchange

Construction on the state's first diverging diamond interchange is about to get underway on I-5 in Thurston County, and that means road closures and detours for drivers.
8 years ago

Tacoma transition begins final piece of I-5 construction

Tacoma drivers have dealt with a never-ending series of lane changes and movement on I-5 as the state adds HOV lanes to the freeway. Only one major shift is left before the project is complete.
8 years ago

Seattle’s newly-opened SR 99 tunnel is still without buses

A total of 12 Metro bus routes once used the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Those buses now use surface streets as the newly-opened SR 99 tunnel is cars-only ... for now.
8 years ago

Chokepoints grab bag: Potholes, bus lanes, and bike backups

Today's Chokepoint will feature a grab bag of everything from potholes to bus lanes, as Sully goes through questions from listeners.
8 years ago

The SR 520 project giveth and taketh away in Montlake

Construction is about to start again on the SR 520 project at Montlake, and that means drivers are going to have to get used to another lane change. This is what drivers should be prepared for.
8 years ago

Roundabout 101: Some drivers need some serious help

KIRO Radio's Chris Sullivan went out to watch how things worked in a new roundabout in Marysville, and the results were not pretty.
8 years ago

Traffic problem emerges around Seattle’s new tunnel after stadium events

The first major sporting event since the new Highway 99 tunnel in Seattle opened revealed an issue that could be a big problem for drivers trying to get to I-90.
8 years ago

Metro buses are getting booted out of Seattle transit tunnel

Buses are being kicked-out of the Seattle transit tunnel later this month, and that means more than 800 daily trips are now going to be sharing downtown surface streets.
8 years ago

Washington ferry system blames Trump tariffs for rising Colman Dock costs

Washington is two years into a massive renovation of Seattle's Colman Dock and the price-tag continues to rise by the millions, thanks in part to the Trump Administration's tariff's on foreign steel.
8 years ago