WSDOT releases Labor Day weekend travel update

OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Transportation released an announcement Thursday providing an update on Labor Day weekend travel and encouraging the public to use WSDOT tools to keep up with expected holiday traffic.

“With the popular travel weekend fast approaching, now is the time to make plans for expected holiday congestion on most routes – whether by ferry, vehicle, bus, rail, foot, bicycle or plane,” said the announcement. “This year’s charts include U.S. 2, Interstate 90 and I-5 between Lacey and Tacoma as well as Bellingham to the United States-Canada border.”

According to the press release, most state highway construction work is suspended through the holiday weekend – including Monday, Sept. 4 – to ease congestion. However, on State Route 970 near Teanaway River, east of Cle Elum, contractor crews are working on a project to fix roadway erosion that requires around-the-clock, single-lane, alternating traffic which is projected to result in delays of up to three hours during the Labor Day weekend.

To reduce these long delays, the release stated that WSDOT is restricting westbound traffic on SR 970 to local traffic only starting at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1 through 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5. Travelers on southbound US 97 headed west from Wenatchee will detour to I-90, said the release.

No construction is planned on Interstate 90 Sept. 1-5., but the release stated that travelers should expect delays due to holiday traffic, especially eastbound on Friday and westbound on Monday.

In the release, WSDOT encouraged travelers to identify potential safety rest areas before heading out to ensure enough breaks to avoid drowsy driving, and to have a backup outdoor destination since parks and other outdoor recreation sites tend to fill up quickly on holiday weekends.

For WSDOT holiday traffic volume charts, visit bit.ly/HolidayVolumeCharts. For more information on traffic and traveler information, visit wsdot.wa.gov.