WSDOT offers Labor Day travel tips
Looking forward to your long Labor Day weekend? If you’re traveling, expect traffic congestion and plan accordingly, state transportation officials warn.
Washington State Department of Transportation officials encourage travelers to give themselves extra time to reach their destinations and check state travel charts for the best and worst times to travel through the state’s major corridors.
Most highway construction will pause starting Sept. 4 to help ease congestion, but delays are still likely.
The I-90 Vantage Bridge, which has been down to one lane in each direction, will open all lanes Sept. 4 through Sept. 7. Closures will resume beginning Sept. 8.
Fire danger remains high across the state, and travelers should stay alert and up to date on closures if traveling near active wildfires.
Ferry routes are expected to be busy, and officials recommended reservations on routes that offer them. Those boarding a ferry by vehicle may see long wait times when traveling westbound (or onto an island) Sept. 3-4 and eastbound (or leaving an island) Sept. 6-7. Walk-on passengers can usually board much faster.
In the Puget Sound region, weekend toll rates will be in effect Sept. 7 on the SR 520 bridge, SR 99 tunnel and the SR 509 Expressway, while the I-405 and SR 167 express toll lanes will be free and open to all drivers that day.
Travelers making trips by train, bus or personal aircraft are also encouraged to plan ahead to avoid delays.
For those planning trips to the Oregon coast or other Oregon destinations, go to tripcheck.com for information about road closures and delays in the state.
