‘I don’t understand it’: KIRO traffic reporter rips ‘Conechella,’ WSDOT’s weekend closure update

In preparation for a busy traffic weekend in Seattle, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced “Conechella,” a Coachella music festival-themed press release listing Seattle road closures as artists set to headline the famous Indio, California music festival.

KIRO Newsradio’s traffic reporter, Chris Sullivan, wished for a simpler WSDOT press release that he could easily understand on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

“Normally it’s just like, here’s what is happening here, here, and here,” Sully said. “Today’s press release was a little, let’s say, I didn’t even understand what was going on because it was so confusing. It was meant for Gen X or Gen, whatever.”

WSDOT warns of road closures with Conechella

A total of nine different road closure locations are scheduled for this weekend, which include roads, on-ramps, and tunnels.

However, WSDOT had an update Thursday afternoon that the series of State Route 18 (SR 18) west closures has been postponed and will be rescheduled. Also, the work on the State Route 99 (SR 99) First Avenue Bridge has been canceled.

“It’s going to be another really, really busy weekend for construction, and [WSDOT] got out ahead of it today,” Sully said. “They let us know that over the weekend, a bunch of ramps and different roads all over the region will be closed with a press release.”

CONECHELLA 2025 LINEUP JUST DROPPED. The stage is set for a weekend of traffic jams, lane reductions, and ramp/directional closures!

Looking to score a VIP pass? Download the WSDOT app for exclusive access to all the real-time action. pic.twitter.com/ge6aGMkTRI

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 21, 2025

“Let me read you the headline of this press release. Announcing Conechella, multiple highway closures across greater Puget Sound,” Sully said. “Not Coachella, Conechella, like there are going to be a bunch of traffic cones.”

The WSDOT Conechella press release included a variety of play-on words relating to an average music festival line-up, including “The BridgeStreet Boys,” as a nod to the band the Backstreet Boys. The release actually meant that two lanes will be closed on northbound SR 99 on the 1st Ave bridge on August 23.

“It’s a play on words for them to kind of get the idea of the closures, and lo and behold, we’re talking about it,” Sully said.

Other closures with inspiration from current musical artists were listed like, Megan Thee Lane Reductions (Megan Thee Stallion), and Florence + the Paving Machine (Florence + the Machine)

“The story here is that people’s attention span is so diminished that we can’t issue a press release saying, ‘Hey, there’ll be multiple closures, it’s a difficult weekend for traffic.’ No, we’ve got to bait these people in with flash and bang,” Spike said.

In total, the closures in Washington include Kirkland, Renton, Seattle, Tukwila, Fife, and Auburn.

“Don’t forget, if you’re going to the main stage, here’s who we have, A$AP Rampy, and there’s also Maroon 405,” Sully said.

“Shouldn’t it be marooned on 405? Who’s writing this stuff?” Spike asked.

“I don’t know. There’s also The Aurora Tones, I don’t even know what that means. SR 99 Inch Nails, okay, I understand that one,” Sully said.

Listen to the full conversation below.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.