All lanes on I-90 have been reopened as of 12:10 a.m., according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), the collision happened around milepost 31, temporarily shutting down all eastbound traffic.

The silver car was traveling westbound and forced off the road into oncoming traffic, striking a black truck head-on.

Silver car was traveling WB 90 and was forced off the road by another vehicle, crossed the median and struck the black truck that was traveling EB and struck head on. Serious and possibly critical injuries involved. Driver of possible causing vehicle is being questioned. pic.twitter.com/fIL8kAfCa7

— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) October 31, 2025

Tow trucks were on the scene to remove both vehicles from the roadway. No estimated time was initially provided for when the roads will be cleared.

Serious injuries were suffered in the accident, according to Eastside Fire & Rescue. Three patients have been transported to local hospitals, with one in life-threatening condition.

EF&R is on scene of a collision near MP31 on EB 90. Three patients transported to area hospitals, one with life threatening injuries. Expect delays in the area pic.twitter.com/eHaRjJy5kF

— Eastside Fire & Rescue (@EastsideFire) October 31, 2025

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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The crash happened near Montlake Boulevard at milepost 2.

On SR 520 westbound at Montlake Blvd (MP 2) there is a collision blocking the left general purpose lane and the HOV lane.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 30, 2025

There are still significant backups on the highway, as of this reporting.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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This fake passenger fit the Halloween theme, with WSP Trooper Rick Johnson calling it a “scary HOV violation.”

#ScaryHOV violation NB 5 near I-90. #DoesNotCount pic.twitter.com/rGtd5QezDY

— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) October 29, 2025

Johnson is reminding the public that items do not count as humans. The driver was pulled over on northbound I-5 near the I-90 interchange.

Back in June, a woman had a similar plan, dressing up a fake skeleton in the back seat with a black t-shirt and a paper crown.

Her excuse? That she “accidentally left her Halloween decoration up,” Johnson wrote on X.

#AnotherOne on Monday SB 5 near 185th. HOV violator. The driver explained she accidentally left her Halloween decoration up!? pic.twitter.com/YUKbSBkUx0

— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) June 18, 2025

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Whether you see them or not, state troopers are watching you and watching for violations.

If you’re new to the upgraded toll system, there is a flashing light when you go under the tolling equipment. It flashes blue when charging a toll. It flashes white if you are declaring HOV. The flex pass on your windshield (you should have one by now) determines the color of the flash. HOV mode or toll mode.

“The light will go off if you’re in HOV status and you can look and see, okay, there’s only one person in that car,” Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson said.

That flash is the first indication. Troopers also look for the color of the pass. HOV is red. Toll is white. But those are very hard to spot at speed and in the dark.

You can still try to cheat the system. You can declare HOV and roll solo, but you run the risk of a ticket.

Having standardized tolling equipment and rules should help with compliance.

“I think it’s going to be easier for people to understand, and it’ll be easier for us to enforce that because there’s extra troopers out every day during the week in enforcing those toll lanes,” Johnson said.

Drivers also looking to report HOV violations on SR 167

And troopers aren’t just looking for HOV violations.

“I understand the public says ‘we’re not enforcing this,’ but we are,” Johnson said. “We’re enforcing people that are jumping that double white line, and that’s really a safety thing.”

Jumping the double white line is one of the most dangerous things you can do in these tolled facilities. In a lot of cases, drivers pull out from a dead stop into the toll lanes and into the path of a car traveling at speed.

Just don’t do it. I get it. You’re tempted, but the downside is massive.

As for the HOV violators that are still tolling for free, Johnson said that is a sure way to invite problems from other drivers.

“One of the number one complaints that we get is HOV violators,” Johnson said. “It’s an inciting violation. We have a lot of road rage that begins with somebody violating the HOV lane.”

You shouldn’t have to think hard about the number one excuse given to troopers for failing to flip your flex pass from HOV — it’s “I forgot.” That’s not going to fly.

You’d have better luck putting a dummy in your front seat, but troopers are great at catching people at that.

How about we all follow the rules and pay our fair share?

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here. Follow KIRO Newsradio traffic on X.

Follow @https://twitter.com/newsguysully

At approximately 6:00 a.m., Eastside Fire & Rescue (EFR) responded to the collision on westbound State Route 18 (SR 18) near MP 25, where the driver had sustained serious injuries, EFR announced.

FedEx driver injured after colliding with Tiger Mountain Summit trees

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) updated around 3 p.m. that all lanes were back open on SR 18 near Tiger Mountain Summit.

UPDATE 7: On westbound SR 18 at Tiger Mountain Summit (MP 25), the collision is now only blocking the right lane.

Continue to expect delays and drive with caution. https://t.co/do6lWnHRma pic.twitter.com/FdYhnlo5j5

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 29, 2025

At 10:36 a.m., Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Rick Johnson stated that the westbound 18 remained closed as crews are continuing to pull the FedEx truck out of the roadside.

WB 18 still closed. Crews working hard to get the roadway clear. pic.twitter.com/N4hsew0zbJ

— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) October 29, 2025

Johnson revealed the driver had lacerations and a bump on the head, with extended traffic delays as the truck continues to be removed from the ditch.

The driver of the truck was transported to a nearby hospital.

At 8:36 a.m., WSDOT noted all lanes of WB SR 18 were fully blocked again. Officials advised travelers to seek alternate routes and expect delays throughout the area.

UPDATE 4: WB SR 18 is fully blocked again after a collision at Tiger Mountain Summit (MP 25). Seek alternate routes if you can and expect delays. https://t.co/B6HobMdrGC

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 29, 2025

WSDOT posted an update at 7:38 a.m., noting the right lane of westbound SR 18 was blocked after a lane was previously reopened. Travelers were advised to expect delays throughout the area.

UPDATE 3: Back to just the right lane of WB SR 18 blocked at Tiger Mountain Summit (MP 25). Continue to expect delays in the area. https://t.co/qfaR1T8hzJ pic.twitter.com/7WuHpIlbkX

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 29, 2025

WSDOT previously posted on social media that a downed tree was fully blocking travel while crews worked to clear the roadway.

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Seattle Fire Department (SFD) crews first responded to the collision just after 6 a.m., reporting that five cars were involved in the crash. One person was trapped inside their vehicle.

SFD crews were able to pull the person out safely, who is now recovering at a nearby hospital in stable condition.

The accident caused significant traffic delays, which reached nearly 50 minutes at one point.

UPDATE 2: A collision on EB I-90 at Island Crest Way (MP 7) is blocking the right two lanes and the off-ramp to Island Crest Way. Continue to expect delays in the area. https://t.co/yEX7EblWzt pic.twitter.com/9U72JNdoTr

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 29, 2025

CLEARED: The collision on EB I-90 at Island Crest Way has cleared. All lanes are now open. https://t.co/fz0MKa9VJp

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 29, 2025

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.

Ferguson provided this update regarding the I-90 Bullfrog overpass after it was damaged by an oversized load on Oct. 21.

Crews hired by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) worked nonstop over a 22-hour period to remove damaged portions of the overpass in response to an emergency proclamation signed by Ferguson on Thursday.

“Thank you to the WSDOT crews and contractors who moved quickly to reopen westbound I-90,” Ferguson said. “Our work to repair the damage is just beginning.”

Westbound lanes will remain open until WSDOT begins to replace the Bullfrog overpass, which requires the complete closure of westbound I-90 on a limited basis.

The communications manager for WSDOT, Meagan Lott, previously told KIRO Newsradio how impactful the closures will be for thousands of travelers who use this route each day.

“I-90 is one of the busiest routes in the state for east-to-west transportation,” Lott said. “We see about 17,000 drivers going westbound, and about 1,500 vehicles traveling over the overpass every day. It is going to have an impact on drivers, specifically if you’re trying to get somewhere in a timely manner.”

Most of the work is expected to take place at night, with limited daytime closures to occur only if necessary. A complete, updated timeline for the project is expected to be released in December.

“The loss of this overpass severely impacts the Cle Elum, Roslyn, and the Suncadia area. We will work as quickly as possible to replace this vital connection for the community,” Ferguson said. “We’ve seen too many bridge strikes — and their impacts on local communities — in the last few months. They are preventable, and we are working on strategies to reduce them.”

Looking ahead to WB I-90 replacement efforts

WSDOT is currently designing plans to repair the damaged section of the Bullfrog overpass. Engineers will choose the solution that “allows for rapid construction of the new span.”

Ferguson previously issued an emergency proclamation for the Bullfrog Road overpass, allowing the state to seek federal funding to begin work more quickly.

Ferguson noted that to remain eligible for the requested funds, the state must work alongside the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which is operational throughout the federal government shutdown, and delays are not currently anticipated.

As winter weather can be challenging for road construction, WSDOT will analyze the weather conditions and other needs once the design process is finalized, with additional information expected to be released in December.

When construction is underway, drivers can expect a full closure of westbound I-90, with detours via the on- and off-ramps during that time. WSDOT crews will install girders during the overnight closures, and travelers will receive updates in advance.

The state is also seeking reimbursement for the damages and repair costs from the truck operator and all responsible parties.

Driver who hit Bullfrog Road overpass cited for violating permit

The semi-truck driver who hit the Bullfrog Road overpass was cited for permit violations.

Allan Bergsma, 64, from Ontario, Canada, was issued a permit to carry the oversized load but did not follow the guidelines.

As part of the conditions for the permit, Bergsma had to use certain exits. In this case, Bergsma was supposed to get off on Exit 80 and then re-enter I-90 to avoid the ramp, but he kept going, Jeremy Weber, Public Information Officer for the Washington State Patrol (WSP), explained to KIRO Newsradio.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

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The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced that the train accident occurred at the railroad crossing near the Edmonds terminal, and that the crossing was completely blocked temporarily.

At 12:59 p.m., WSDOT announced that the ferry vessels had returned to service for a late Edmonds to Kingston departure at 12:40 p.m., and a 12:45 p.m. Kingston to Edmonds departure.

WSDOT previously posted to social media at 12:12 p.m., estimating services would not be restored for at least one hour. However, ferry services were fully functional in approximately 40 minutes.

#Edmonds/#Kingston riders: The route is currently out of service due to a train accident in Edmonds blocking the terminal. The route is projected to return to service shortly once the train clears. Thank you for your patience.

— Washington State Ferries (@wsferries) October 28, 2025

WSDOT has provided a real-time map of each ferry route with updated delays, departures, and arrivals.

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Now that locations have been identified, the city is conducting a public awareness campaign to encourage the community to voice their opinions on the camera system.

By December, the Bellevue City Council will decide whether to move forward with the cameras or not. The soonest they can be installed is mid-2026.

“Bellevue’s Vision Zero Initiative is working to make sure everyone gets home safely — no matter how they travel,” the city stated. “The goal is to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030. One of the most important ways to reach that goal is by encouraging safe speeds.”

Bellevue’s Vision Zero plan, similar to Seattle’s, is a directive to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injury collisions on city streets by 2030.

Each camera will also include a minimum 30-day warning period before citations are issued.

The cameras are planning to be installed in priority areas with a history of severe crashes and street-racing hot spots, including Bellevue Way N.E., Coal Creek Parkway S.E., Forest Drive S.E., Lakemont Boulevard S.E., and several downtown streets.

A map of the locations for each speed safety camera in Bellevue can be seen here.

“Speed remains a top contributing factor in serious and fatal collisions,” Andrew Singelakis, Bellevue’s transportation director, told KIRO 7. “By identifying strategic locations for speed safety cameras, we’re taking a proactive step to protect people walking, biking, and driving in Bellevue.”

An informative session will be held at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, to give the Bellevue community its first chance to voice opinions or concerns regarding the speed safety cameras. Click here to join the meeting online.

Contributing: KIRO 7

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I sat down with Washington State Patrol (WSP) Sergeant Rocky Oliphant at the I-5 weigh station in south Everett to talk about commercial trucking. He is in the commercial vehicle division at WSP, and his job is to pull over big rigs every day, ensuring drivers are qualified, their paperwork is in order, and their trucks are safe.

Oliphant can pull over any truck he wants at any time. He doesn’t need to see a violation, like speeding or a flat tire, to pull a truck over.

“There’s just a lot of regulations that they have to abide by,” Oliphant said. “There are a lot of restrictions on what they can do. They’re just subjected to a lot more regulation because of the fact that they’re operating a rig that’s excessive weight compared to a normal passenger car, that if something does go wrong, it’s going to be much more catastrophic.”

Three types of WSP inspections

There are three levels of inspection. Level 3 is a paperwork and license check. Level 2 is an inspection of the rig’s exterior. Level 1 puts Oliphant under the truck and trailer for a full inspection.

There has been a lot of scrutiny lately over commercial drivers’ licensing mills where unqualified drivers are getting licenses. One in Washington is alleged to have given a license to the driver accused of killing three people in Florida after making an illegal U-turn earlier this year. That driver couldn’t speak English and reportedly failed the CDL exam 10 times, but was issued a license anyway.

WSP does not perform immigration status checks during inspections.

“There’s a lot of federal regulations associated with just the safety equipment violations, commercial driver’s license status,” Oliphant said. “That’s where our lane is when it comes to immigration. That’s not something that we’re enforcing.”

But WSP does perform English proficiency checks with drivers. It always has. It has always been a federal requirement for big rig drivers to have a basic understanding of English and of the signs and warnings on the road. You don’t need to be fluent, just proficient.

The rules were relaxed in 2016 so that if a driver failed the English test, they would only get a violation. They wouldn’t be put “out of service,” which means no more driving.

In June, the Trump Administration reinstated the rule that if you fail the test, you are immediately put “out of service.”

For Oliphant and WSP, it’s a judgment call. He will recognize quickly if a driver needs to be tested, and if they are having difficulty understanding. While he doesn’t consider it a test, he will go over words and phrases with the driver.

“Things that we’ll read together and will go over together, and if they’re able to understand and or communicate, they’re free to go down the road,” he said. “If they can’t get past that point with what I go over with them, then they’re out of service until they can pass that.”

That doesn’t appear to have been an issue with the drivers in our recent bridge strikes.

In Cle Elum, where the over-height truck destroyed the Bullfrog overpass, the driver simply didn’t follow his trip permit or follow the directions of his pilot car.

Every driver with an over-height truck must get a permit for their journey. These permits are pages long and include every bridge, overpass, and construction zone along the way. They are very specific. It is clearly spelled out that over-height trucks must exit westbound I-90 at milepost 80.

The maximum height for any vehicle in Washington is 14′. If you’re taller than that, you need a permit. If you’re over 14’6″, you need a pilot car.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here. Follow KIRO Newsradio traffic on X.

Follow @https://twitter.com/newsguysully

At 11:30 a.m., the left and center lanes on SB I-5 were reopened. The right lane remains closed as crews work. Lengthy backups are expected in Olympia and Lacey as traffic continues to clear.

The left and center lanes are now open on SB I-5 in Olympia. The right lane remains closed while crews wrap up work. Expect lengthy backups in Olympia and Lacey until traffic clears. Real time traffic info https://t.co/HUGa1WTJfY pic.twitter.com/soqiCZgcq3

— WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma) October 24, 2025

At approximately 11:20 a.m., the semi-truck was removed from the concrete barrier and is currently being removed from SB I-5. Crews will now clean up the roadway of remaining debris. All lanes continue to be blocked.

The semi is off the barrier and is being removed from SB I-5 in Olympia. Next, our crews will cleanup the spilled fuel and remaining debris on the road. The road remains blocked while we work to finish our response. Traffic continues to be detoured at 2nd Ave./Exit 103. pic.twitter.com/GVrAVH103X

— WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma) October 24, 2025

At 10:51 a.m., two tow trucks arrived to remove the semi-truck from the concrete barrier. All lanes remain blocked, and traffic is being diverted to exit 103.

Officials advised travelers to take the northbound exit at US 101 and turn around at Black Lake Blvd. or Mud Bay Rd. while traffic is detoured.

We’ve got two tows working to remove this crashed semi from the barrier on SB I-5 in Olympia. All lanes are blocked. Traffic is detoured at 2nd Ave/Exit 103. While traffic is detoured, it might be easier to exit at NB US 101 and turn around at Black Lake Blvd. or Mud Bay Rd. pic.twitter.com/kchWHH3Nns

— WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma) October 24, 2025

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) mentioned there will be lengthy delays while the semi-truck is extracted from the concrete barrier.

WSDOT advised using alternate routes or delaying travel until the road is reopened.

At 9:41 a.m., WSDOT provided an update advising drivers to use the Mud Bay Road exit to turn around as the Crosby Blvd. and Black Lake Blvd. exits are heavily congested.

Here’s a look at the semi truck crash on SB I-5 in Olympia. All lanes are blocked. Traffic is detoured to NB US 101. Expect congestion on US 101 ramps in Olympia as folks turn around. Crosby Blvd. and Black Lake Blvd. exits are packed, consider Mud Bay Rd. exit to turn around. pic.twitter.com/TznfqZ4ZSC

— WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma) October 24, 2025

The semi-truck had two unloaded trailers and lost control around a curve due to wet conditions, eventually colliding with a concrete barrier separating the north and southbound lanes.

Traffic is currently getting past the collision on the shoulder. Once a tow truck makes it through the traffic, the detour will resume.

Here’s a look at SB I-5 near US 101 in Tumwater. All southbound lanes are blocked. Traffic getting by on the shoulder. This will take a lot of time to clear. Delay your travels if possible and expect northbound congestion from the distraction. pic.twitter.com/O00rLzwA8y

— WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma) October 24, 2025

Semi-truck on SB I-5 collides with concrete barrier

At approximately 9:19 a.m., Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Kameron Watts confirmed on social media that traffic is being diverted to northbound US 101.

Trooper Watts advised travelers to be patient, as a lengthy delay is expected.

The semi-truck had two unloaded trailers and lost control while going around a curve in the wet roadway.
It collided into the concrete barrier separating the north and southbound lanes. Troopers and DOT crews are trying to clear the road ASAP.
-DS pic.twitter.com/9LpAo7sfW7

— Trooper Kameron Watts (@wspd1pio) October 24, 2025

No injuries have been reported.

WSP and WSDOT crews are actively trying to clear the roadway.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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The company claimed that throughout the outage, more than 229 flights were cancelled, and additional disruptions are expected as aircraft crews reposition planes.

“We are working to get our operations back on track as quickly and safely as possible,” Alaska Airlines stated. “We appreciate the patience of our guests whose travel plans have been disrupted. We’re working to get them to their destinations as quickly as we can.”

Alaska Airlines operations have been restored after a significant IT outage resulted in a system-wide ground stop of flights for Alaska and Horizon. The ground stop was lifted at 11:30 p.m. Pacific. We are working to get our operations back on track as quickly and safely as…

— Alaska Airlines News (@AlaskaAirNews) October 24, 2025

The airliner urged travelers to check their flight status before arriving at the airport, noting a flexible travel policy is active and will support guests as the company transitions back to normal operations.

Alaska Airlines issues system-wide ground stop due to IT outage

Alaska Airlines previously issued a temporary ground stop due to an IT outage, the airline reported on X Thursday, just before 4:30 p.m.

However, flights departing from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are exempt from the ground stop, KIRO 7 reported, citing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notice.

Alaska Airlines is experiencing an IT outage affecting operations. A temporary ground stop is in place. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you’re scheduled to fly tonight, please check your flight status before heading to the airport.

— Alaska Airlines News (@AlaskaAirNews) October 23, 2025

The ground stop has extended to Horizon Air, KIRO 7 noted.

Alaska Airlines urged travelers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

“We apologize for the inconvenience,” Alaska Airlines wrote in its post.

Alaska Airlines reiterated its response in a statement to KIRO 7.

“Alaska Airlines is experiencing an IT outage affecting operations. A temporary ground stop is in place. We apologize for the inconvenience,” the airline wrote to the media outlet.

Contributing: Jason Sutich, MyNorthwest; KIRO 7

Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.

Allan Bergsma, 64, from Ontario, Canada, was issued a permit to carry the oversized load but did not follow the guidelines.

As part of the conditions for the permit, Bergsma had to use certain exits. In this case, Bergsma was supposed to get off on Exit 80 and then re-enter I-90 to avoid the ramp, but he kept going, Jeremy Weber, Public Information Officer for the Washington State Patrol (WSP), explained to KIRO Newsradio.

Weber said Bergsma appeared to be hauling large industrial-type equipment.

“Almost like it looked like a tank of some sort, great big, heavy steel piece of equipment. And obviously, it was very heavy, because it went through and then cleared the whole bridge. So when it went through, it knocked down every section of the bridge,” Weber shared.

He noted that Bergsma was not impaired, but that there was a miscommunication.

“According to his interview with the trooper, he had a lead car that was up ahead of him, and there was some radio traffic going on, and there might be some sort of confusion in radio traffic, or multiple people maybe talking. And obviously, there was a communication breakdown between his lead car and him,” Weber explained.

He said he believes the fine for violating the permit is around $250.

Gov. Ferguson issues emergency proclamation for Bullfrog Road overpass

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has issued an emergency proclamation for the Bullfrog Road overpass that was hit by a semi-truck late Tuesday night.

The strike subsequently closed the westbound lanes of I-90 underneath the overpass at Exit 80, near Cle Elum.

The proclamation will allow the state to seek federal funding to start work more quickly, Ferguson stated on X.

I signed an emergency proclamation today on the Bullfrog Road overpass that was severely damaged by a strike, closing the westbound lanes of I-90 underneath.

The proclamation allows us to seek federal funds and enter into an emergency contract to start work as quickly as… pic.twitter.com/FT3EVFki9c

— Governor Bob Ferguson (@GovBobFerguson) October 23, 2025

Demolition on Bullfrog Road overpass will start Thursday night

Multiple concrete girders were damaged, and numerous pieces of rebar were seen extending down into the roadway.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) determined the damaged portion of the overpass is not repairable and will have to be demolished.

“WSDOT has hired an emergency contractor, Scarsella Bros, Inc., to remove the overpass portion over westbound I-90. This will allow for westbound I-90 to reopen to traffic until construction begins on a replacement overpass. The overpass over the eastbound I-90 lanes is unaffected,” the agency stated.

Demolition will begin the night of Thursday, October 23. Travelers will continue to use the westbound off- and on-ramps at Exit 80 as a detour.

An eastbound lane of I-90 will be closed during the demolition, which starts at 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Work will pick back up on Saturday, October 25.

Weather permitting, once demolition is complete, the westbound lanes of I-90 will reopen to traffic by early next week.

UPDATE #2: An emergency contractor will demolish the damaged Bullfrog Road overpass beginning Oct. 23. One lane of EB I-90 will be closed during demo from 6 p.m. Oct. 23 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25. WB I-90 expected to reopen early next week. Traffic is detoured at Exit 80. https://t.co/BqiJVichoa pic.twitter.com/Hvxos5QHwT

— Snoqualmie Pass (@SnoqualmiePass) October 23, 2025

Washington Trucking Association issues statement

The Washington Trucking Association (WTA) stated it is redoubling its safety training efforts after the  hit the overpass.

“Safety remains our top priority, for both truck drivers and the traveling public. Our association invests significant resources in providing the very best training available to provide best practices for truckers, including those in the heavy haul industry,” WTA President and CEO Sheri Call stated via a news release.

“Tuesday night’s accident on I-90 is a good reminder that we must continue our vigilance on safe driving practices. WTA works in tandem with the Washington State Patrol on training and enforcement, and we will be looking to develop even more resources to ensure drivers are prepared to operate safely,” Call continued.

She added that the WTA is working with law enforcement and WSDOT to find new ways to train and educate truck drivers.

Background on repair work

Wednesday afternoon, Ferguson shared, via X, that bridge inspectors were examining the damage. The state was pursuing the cost of the repairs with the trucking company.

Our bridge inspectors are on site examining the bridge.

We anticipate sharing with the public how long Westbound I-90 will be closed, and our next steps, no later than Monday. If that changes, we will alert the public right away.

The Washington State Patrol is investigating… pic.twitter.com/uG0war3peV

— Governor Bob Ferguson (@GovBobFerguson) October 22, 2025

WSP previously provided an updated video of the scene on I-90.

I-90 closed near Cle Elum. See video @SnoqualmiePass @WSDOT_East @wsdot_traffic pic.twitter.com/atgGryJUqD

— District 6 PIO (@wspd6pio) October 22, 2025

WSDOT expects overpass closures to affect thousands

Meagan Lott, communications manager for WSDOT, revealed the severity of the damage and how impactful the closure will be for thousands of drivers through the area.

“The damage looks pretty bad. We have our bridge inspectors from Olympia coming out today to do a full assessment of the damage,” Lott told KIRO Newsradio. “I-90 is one of the busiest routes in the state for east-to-west transportation. We see about 17,000 drivers going westbound, and about 1,500 vehicles traveling over the overpass every day. It is going to have an impact on drivers, specifically if you’re trying to get somewhere in a timely manner.”

WSP Trooper Jeremy Weber detailed the overpass collision and the massive impacts it has on commuters throughout the area.

“There was a truck driver who had an oversized load. He was supposed to take Exit 80 to go around the bridge, and didn’t,” Trooper Weber told KIRO Newsradio. “I’m not an engineer, but I’m assuming that’s extremely volatile, and it’s going to take quite a bit of time to make that secure. This is a pretty big deal. That whole Cle Elum area is going to be really busy.”

The Cle Elum overpass collision is the third time a truck driver has caused damage to a bridge in the past few months. Weber explained the necessary preparations truck drivers must take as they navigate roadways.

“I consider [truck drivers] as professionals out here. They drive for a living, much like I do,” Trooper Weber said. “These trucks going down the road, even speeding, they can’t just stop on a dime. So when they crash, they cause significant damage and shut down roadways for a long time.”

WSDOT noted the closures were still in effect at approximately 8:10 a.m.

UPDATE: I-90 remains closed WB at Exit 80 near Cle Elum after an oversized load struck the overpass. Travelers are being detoured around the closure at Exit 80 via the off- and on-ramp. Crews will be out today to assess the damage. @wspd6pio are investigating. pic.twitter.com/O1idD3oPVI

— Snoqualmie Pass (@SnoqualmiePass) October 22, 2025

Debris from the overpass was covering both lanes underneath it, with excess parts of the overpass hanging down. Vehicles were advised to seek an alternate route by taking Exit 80, detouring around the overpass, and entering back onto I-90.

WSDOT crews arrived at the bridge and assessed the damage on the overpass.

WB I-90 at the Bullfrog overpass is closed due to the overpass being struck by an oversized load.
Traffic will be backed up, but vehicles are able to use exit 80 to detour around the bridge and enter back onto I-90. Updates to follow as more info is obtained. pic.twitter.com/hCpzSI9Syd

— District 6 PIO (@wspd6pio) October 22, 2025

This story was originally published on October 22, 2025. It has been updated and republished since then.

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It’s time to give the car a good once-over and make sure it’s ready for winter. Let’s start with the basics.

“Make sure your vehicle is maintained, make sure your tread depth is where it’s supposed to be, windshield wipers, headlights, the usual stuff,” Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson said. “The other thing is if you know it’s going to be snowing on the pass, and you’re not comfortable driving in those conditions, don’t.”

It’s time to put a small bag in the car in case you get stuck. A few bottles of water. A couple of power bars. A blanket, some gloves, and a warm hat. Make sure the flashlight you carry in your car has fresh batteries.

As you make your preparations, the 1,500 Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) maintenance workers are too. The sheds are full of salt and other materials. The more than 500 snowplows have been inspected.

“They’ve been doing a lot of winter preparedness trainings, getting equipment ready, making sure our maintenance sheds from Port Angeles to Pullman are ready to go,” WSDOT spokesperson Tina Werner said.

Biggest issue on the pass? Driver behavior

The biggest issue on the passes each year is driver behavior, with failing to follow the chain-up or traction tire restrictions at the top of the list.

“Many pass closures can be due to people driving way too fast for conditions, not following chain-up requirements when they are posted, or driving distracted or impaired,” Werner said.  “One poor choice like that can shut down a pass for everyone.”

All large rigs are required to carry chains starting November 1, and you can expect heavy enforcement early in the season. Not only will you get a hefty fine, but you will also be sent back down the pass. That’s a bad day.

The other issue for winter driving is overconfidence. Overconfidence in your driving ability and overconfidence in your vehicle’s ability. How many times have you seen that All-Wheel-Drive vehicle speed by in the snow?

“It’s really cool how easy you can get going in slippery conditions, but the icy roadways don’t care if you have 42-wheel-drive vehicle because you’re not going to stop any quicker than anybody else,” Johnson said.

It’s the stopping that gets you in winter conditions.

You can put on your studded tires November 1, but WSDOT encourages you to think of other traction alternatives. It estimates studded tires can cause $20-29 million in damage to the roads each year. And you still have to use chains, if required. There are plenty of options out there.

And now’s the time to practice putting on your chains. You don’t want your first attempt while freezing in the snow on the side of the highway.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here. Follow KIRO Newsradio traffic on X.

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Operations include paving, drainage work, electrical installations, and traffic signal alterations.

Lane closure on SR 16 west approaching Gorst

From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, the left lane of State Route 16 (SR 16) will close near Anderson Hill Road at milepost 28, approaching Gorst.

During the closure, the WSDOT maintenance crews will repair the roadway shoulder west of the SR 166 underpass.

Drivers should anticipate congestion in the area and plan accordingly.

Lane, ramp closures on SR 167 and North Meridian Avenue in Puyallup

WSDOT crews are entering the next step of the new State Route 167 (SR 167) Completion Project. Work includes electrical installations, traffic signal adjustments, and restriping.

To complete this work, contractor crews for WSDOT will close lanes and ramps at the SR 167/North Meridian Avenue interchange in Puyallup nightly, Monday, Oct. 20, through the morning of Friday, Oct. 24.

Lane closures Monday, Oct. 20 and Tuesday, Oct. 21

• 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. – One lane of southbound SR 167 from SR 410 to North Meridian Avenue will be closed.
• 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. – One lane of northbound North Meridian Avenue will be closed.
• 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. – One lane of southbound North Meridian Avenue will be closed.
• 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. – One lane of northbound SR 167 from North Meridian Avenue to SR 410 will be closed.

Full closure Wednesday, Oct. 22 and Thursday, Oct. 23

• 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. – The southbound SR 167 ramp to westbound State Route 512 (SR 512) will be closed.

SR 167 Completion Project

The SR 167 Completion Project builds 6 miles of new tolled highway between Puyallup and the Port of Tacoma.

The new expressway will be built in stages. The first stage of work completed the new Wapato Way East bridge and State Route 99 (SR 99) roundabout in Fife. The second stage builds the expressway between I-5 and the Port of Tacoma. It’s scheduled to open in 2026.

Work on the third stage between SR 161/North Meridian Avenue and SR 410 began in 2025. Construction of the last stage between North Meridian Avenue and I-5 will begin in 2026.

The entire project is planned for completion by 2030.

Overnight SR 99 lane closures planned Oct. 20-25 in SeaTac, Des Moines

Lane closures on both directions of SR 99 are planned from as early as 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, Monday, Oct. 20, until Thursday morning, Oct. 23, between SR 516 in Des Moines and South 200th Street in SeaTac for paving and utility work.

The right lanes on westbound State Route 516 (SR 516) and northbound SR 99 also will close from 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

This nightly work is weather-dependent and could be rescheduled due to rain.

Contractor crews working for WSDOT are nearly finished with a project that repaved 2 miles of SR 99 between SR 516 and South 200th Street. The project also upgraded sidewalks along this corridor to modern Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Construction will finish later this fall.

Lane, ramp closures I-5 and SR 509 in south King County continue Oct. 20-25 

There will be lane and ramp closures on I-5 and State Route 509 (SR 509) for paving and drainage work, part of the SR 509 Completion Project.

I-5 lane closures

Monday, Oct. 20 through the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. — up to two lanes of northbound I-5 will close overnight between SR 516 (Exit 149) and South 200th Street/Military Road (Exit 151).

Monday, Oct. 20 through the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. — up to two lanes of southbound I-5 will close nightly between South 200th Street/Military Road (Exit 151) and SR 516 (Exit 149).

SR 509 lane closures

Monday, Oct. 20, through the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. — one lane of northbound SR 509 will close overnight from South 188th Street to South 176th Street.

Wednesday, Oct. 22, through the morning of Saturday, Oct. 25, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. — one lane in each direction of SR 509 will close nightly between South 188th Street and South 176th Street.

SR 509 ramp closures

Monday, Oct. 20, through the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. — the Des Moines Memorial Drive South ramp to northbound SR 509 will close overnight. A signed detour will be in place.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, through the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. — the southbound SR 509 exit to South 188th Street will close overnight. A signed detour will be in place.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Follow him on X. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.

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I saw something last week that blew my mind. It was Friday morning, just after 8:30 a.m., prime time for the commute. A small fender bender happened on southbound I-405 in Canyon Park. Two cars were sitting in the left lane.

What I saw next had me shaking my head. The two drivers standing between their cars are having a long discussion. I’m sure they meant well.

They were likely assessing the damage and sharing some information; that’s great — just don’t do it in the middle of the freeway.

If possible, move to the shoulder

If your car is drivable, move it to the shoulder.

“If your vehicles are driveable, we want you to move it to the shoulder, or you can move off to the next exit, just let us know where you’re going,” Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson said. “That’s the safest thing.”

Drivers might have different definitions of what’s drivable or not. I asked Trooper Johnson for his advice.

“Even if you’re leaking fluid, a lot of vehicles will drive a little bit, just to get it off the roadway,” he said. “That’s what we want people to do. There are some collisions where the vehicle is so heavily damaged it’s not going to move, and then we’ll come and we’ll push it.”

What if you think you’re injured?

“If you’re injured and don’t feel comfortable moving your vehicle, you’re not required to,” Johnson said.

If you can’t drive your car, call 911

Step one is to assess the people in the car, including yourself. If you’re OK, move the car to the shoulder and do the inspection there. Stay in your car if you can’t drive it. Then call 911.

“We don’t want you out of your car in a lane of travel,” Johnson said. “Even when you get moved to the shoulder, stay in your car until we get there and we can kind of protect the vehicles and individuals.”

And you won’t be messing with any investigation by moving your vehicle.

“I think there used to be, or maybe still is, the mindset where you have to leave the cars exactly how they ended up, otherwise the investigation won’t be correct,” Johnson said. “That’s not right. There’s no fleeting evidence in a collision scene.”

A trooper will take all the statements and file a report. Detectives don’t need a massive investigation on a minor crash.

“It’s not going to hurt anything, any part of the investigation or liability issues, if you move to the shoulder,” Johnson said.

In many cases, drivers talk on the shoulder and don’t even involve the police. A police report isn’t required for every crash.

But the big takeaway here is to never get out of your car on the freeway.

“We don’t want people on foot on a freeway outside their vehicles,” Johnson said. “It’s just not safe.”

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here. Follow KIRO Newsradio traffic on X.

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The agency stated that the idea is to help riders who miss the last Link light rail train, which usually ends before 1 a.m. It would also help early travelers heading to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Right now, the first southbound trains from Snohomish County don’t leave until around 5 a.m. The overnight bus could launch in fall 2026, when the 2 Line fully opens.

“When the 2 Line is fully open in 2026, 1 Line and 2 Line trains will each run every 8-10 minutes during the day, and every 12-15 minutes in the evening and early morning,” Sound Transit stated. “This will double the current Link service between Snohomish County and downtown Seattle, with service along this section every 4-5 minutes. In addition, both 1 Line and 2 Line trains will stop at the new Pinehurst Station.”

Sound Transit is gathering public feedback through Nov. 7. You can take the Sound Transit survey here.

On Monday, October 20, two lanes will open along this 2-mile stretch in both directions of SR 18, bringing much-needed relief to the 24,000 daily commuters.

Leading up to Monday’s grand reopening, however, is a four-day closure on SR 18 between I-90 and Issaquah-Hobart Road to put the final touches on this project.

David Rasbach, with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), spoke with KIRO Newsradio.

“Well, we’re going to be shifting SR 18 into its new configuration, which will be two lanes in each direction, between I-90 and Deep Creek,” David Rasbach, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), told KIRO Newsradio. “So this is a pretty exciting milestone. The first phase of this project was opening the diverging diamond interchange, which we did in July. And this is really the second big part of that project, widening state route 18 for two miles in each direction, and it’s all about improving traffic flow through that corridor and improving safety.”

Rasbach explained why this project is such a big deal.

“There’s a pinch point located a couple hundred feet south of I-90,” he said. “And basically, that’s taking all traffic that wants to travel westbound on SR 18 towards Auburn, and funneling it down to one lane. So that includes traffic coming from Snoqualmie and Snoqualmie Parkway. That includes two lanes of traffic coming from westbound I-90 and two lanes of traffic coming from eastbound I-90. It’s all funneling down into one lane now.”

The bottleneck is creating heavy traffic backups.

“What we’re seeing during busier travel times, such as afternoon commutes, Sunday afternoons, is backups, and that congestion kind of stretches through the DDI (diverging diamond interchange), and it stretches up to I-90 and even onto mainline I-90,” Rasbach said. “So when we remove that pinch point, the diverging diamond will be able to function like it was intended to do, and move traffic through that corridor and down westbound SR 18.”

State Route 18

Future State Route 18 closures

This project isn’t quite finished yet. In the weeks ahead, WSDOT will once again have single-lane closures along this new stretch of SR 18 to finish minor details. Backups are expected to be minimal during these lane closures now that a second lane has been added. Dates for these lane closures have yet to be announced.

And then the cherry on top will be a final top layer of pavement.

“It’ll be quite a bit of pavement,” Rasbach shared. “We have to put a top layer of asphalt over that entire section of SR 18, through the diverging diamond itself, and on the on and off ramps to I-90. That asphalt needs prime weather conditions. It can’t be raining. It needs to be a certain temperature, so it cures properly. So we’re at a point in 2025 where we’re just not going to see that weather anymore. So we are going to finish applying that top layer of asphalt in 2026 once the weather warms up.”

In the meantime, during this four-day closure, WSDOT has a marked detour, and it emphasizes that freight needs to adhere to it.

“We’re trying to push all freight traffic off of Issaquah-Hobart road and Issaquah city streets, which are not suitable for freight, for semi trucks, basically. We’re asking them to stick to the interstates, I-405, I-90, State Route 169,” Rasbach said.

Drivers should anticipate heavy volumes along these routes through Monday morning when all lanes of SR 18 reopen.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Follow him on X. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.

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“The White River Bridge, which is a vital link between the communities of Buckley and Enumclaw, has been closed since Aug. 18 following a strike from an over-height truck. Our crews and contractor crews got to work immediately to assess the damage, draft up a plan, prop up temporary supports, and then fix it as quickly and safely as possible,” WSDOT wrote in its post.

WSDOT crews installed additional signs across the bridge and are working to develop a warning system.

“To the travelers and communities who were impacted by this closure, thank you for the adjustments that you made these past two months. We hope you enjoy that fresh bridge smell (although that may just be the new paint),” WSDOT wrote.

White River Bridge opens weeks ahead of schedule

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced Thursday that the bridge would reopen on Friday after it was damaged by a truck earlier this year.

“We understood how challenging the situation was for the community, its individuals, businesses, you name it,” Ferguson said. “That message was loud and clear, and was not lost on anybody about how vital this bridge is to this community.”

Ferguson claimed seven-day-a-week work schedules, collaboration between teams, and luck contributed to the bridge opening ahead of schedule.

“We pledged at that time we would do everything we could, working together, working with our partners, elected officials, community leaders, businesses, and do everything we could to open this bridge as soon as possible,” Ferguson said. “A lot can go wrong on a project like this. We’re very excited to announce today that this bridge will open tomorrow.”

White River Bridge shut down since Aug. 18

The White River Bridge has been shut down since Aug. 18 and has undergone permanent repair work since its closure.

According to a police report, a 70-year-old dump truck driver had just delivered a load, but did not lower the bed as he drove off. The driver went under SR 167, and that bed slammed into the concrete girders above. The driver was cited for negligent driving in the second degree and issued a $564 ticket.

The closure forced drivers onto a signed detour via State Route 164, State Route 18, and State Route 167, which can add up to an hour to travel times during peak periods.

Damage to the bridge was estimated between $5 and $6 million and was expected to remain closed to traffic until sometime between Oct. 31 and Nov. 15.

Ferguson issued an emergency proclamation on Aug. 27 that allowed the state to seek federal funding to reimburse the ongoing and future work being done to repair the bridge.

“The White River Bridge is a critical lifeline to these communities, and we are doing all we can to get it reopened as quickly as possible,” Ferguson previously stated. “The work is happening right now, and this declaration will ensure we can seek federal reimbursement to protect state dollars.”

In September, crews installed temporary braces. That work was completed ahead of schedule, allowing the contractor to get started early. Workers replaced damaged steel, heat-straightened bent components, and repainted affected areas.

This story was originally published on October 16, it has been updated and republished since then.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest; Frank Lenzi, James Lynch, and Chris Sullivan, KIRO Newsradio

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According to one passenger aboard, the train has been stalled for approximately 15 minutes.

“Unfortunately, we can’t get out. We’re all stuck inside,” the passenger told KIRO 7. “I think there’s, at least, I don’t know, 20-some odd people just on this car alone. Not super full, because they dump most of the people around the college and stuff coming southbound.”

The power has been turned off, while the emergency lights have turned on.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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