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.

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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.

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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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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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Raise your hand if you’ve ever been stuck on a pass for avalanche control.

This is where workers intentionally cause an avalanche of dangerous snow so it doesn’t come down on its own when there is traffic on the road. Most of the time, it is planned in advance. Sometimes it happens unexpectedly, forcing an emergency shutdown.

These controlled operations routinely shut down the freeway for several hours, in some cases up to six hours.

“For many years, this could have taken hours for our specialized avalanche teams from start to finish,” Tina Werner, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), said. “They would often have to haul very heavy artillery systems up a mountain in the middle of a snowstorm.”

Over the last 40 years, WSDOT has used some real firepower to bring the snow down.

“They’ve used several different types of artillery, including a recoilless rifle, an M-60 tank, and a World War II era howitzer,” Werner said.

While super fun to fire and highly effective, it’s not exactly the safest way to do the job, and it’s really expensive. The state had to rent the equipment from the military.

WSDOT installing 6 remote avalanche control systems

WSDOT is now installing six remote avalanche control systems around Snoqualmie Pass. They are solar-powered boxes that contain 12 individual explosives that can be remotely targeted and fired.

“Instead of having to haul up a large artillery system using a trailer up a mountain and pushing it with more traditional manpower, the boxes are going to be there, essentially ready to go when we need them to at a moment’s notice,” Werner said.

WSDOT is already using a similar system on Stevens Pass, with good success. It’s all about getting the job done faster, safer, and more efficiently.

“When you’re in the height of a winter storm, having this ready to go really does slim down that response time,” Werner said. “It helps WSDOT be more responsive to avalanche control operations and ultimately make this a safer experience for our crews. It’s safer for drivers and allows us, hopefully, to reopen the roadway faster.”

This remote equipment has been in use in the private sector for years, in areas like ski resorts around the country.

WSDOT has been asking for the funding to improve the technology for years, and it got the money from the legislature last session.

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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It’s been the honor system since the HOT lane opened in 2008. Only solo drivers who wanted to pay to get in the HOV lane needed a pass. That’s all changing. Starting Monday, cars meeting the HOV requirement must have a pass, too.

“Carpoolers who want to use the express toll lane or continue to use it, they must have a Good To Go! account and a Flex Pass set to HOV mode,” Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Toll Division Director Ed Barry said.

Motorcycles must also have a pass to use the lanes for free. This is to standardize the system with the existing toll system on I-405.

And that’s the primary goal, to make tolling the same everywhere.

“We will now be able to offer pay-by-mail, meaning drivers without a Good To Go! account can use the lane now legally, and we’ll send them a bill after that trip,” Barry said.

Cheating has been a huge problem on the 167 HOT lane since the beginning. Drivers have been using that lane illegally for years, since no pass was needed to claim HOV status. This new system should help end that.

“We know people are using that lane improperly, and by updating our equipment and offering this pay by mail, we are now giving folks that option to use that lane legally,” Barry said.

Segmented tolling on SR 167

But it’s not just the passes that are changing. Segmented tolling goes into effect, too.

“We’ll have destination pricing on 167 like we do on 405, where you’ll only pay the distance that you travel,” Barry said. “You’ll lock in that rate when you enter that lane. And to facilitate that, we’ll be re-striping the road, marking those designated access points.”

It is illegal to cross the double white line. That is one of the most dangerous things to do with this new system.

This new tolling system also includes the section of northbound State Route 167 damaged by that bridge strike last month. There was a concern that it would delay the transition. But Barry said the best move was to open anyway, but simply not transition the section from Sumner to Pacific.

“The solution for our project is to not open that southern end of the northbound HOV lane that we were planning to convert to express toll lanes,” Barry said. “We’re going to delay at least that piece until after the bridge is repaired.”

The first access point to the express toll lane will be just north of Ellingson.

WSDOT is offering free flex passes and motorcycle passes while supplies last. A flex pass is $15, plus tax. A motorcycle pass is $5, plus tax.

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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Workers replaced five expansion joints and installed 94 new drains during that month-long project earlier this year. They also resurfaced about 900 feet of the bridge deck.

Contractors are back this weekend for the first of six weekend projects in the southbound direction of I-5 across the Ship Canal Bridge. Tom Pearce, communications specialist for the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), said the focus will remain on the drainage system.

“We need weekend-long closures to do this work, because we have to get in there and saw cut out the old drain,” Pearce said. “We’ve got to put in the new, and we’ve got to pour the concrete. We need a couple of lanes just so we have a good, safe work zone for the workers.”

The lane reductions will begin in Seattle’s University District and extend south to the SR 520 interchange.

Those lane reductions will usually start about 10 p.m. on Friday nights, but there is a Husky game in Montlake this Friday. Pearce said the work won’t start until after the game.

“Our contractor is going to start work a little bit later on Friday night, an hour or maybe two later than they normally would on a Friday night, just to allow the traffic to clear Husky Stadium,” he said.

Traffic to and from the Seattle Mariners’ playoff game shouldn’t be impacted. The two lanes will remain closed through early Monday morning.

There are three weekend construction projects this month

Various projects are scheduled to take place in November, December, and January. There are no Hawks or Husky games on those weekends.

This work will also impact the I-5 express lanes.

“We’re also going to have the express lanes open southbound, 24 hours a day during this work,” Pearce said. “That’s going to provide a good alternative for people who are headed south of downtown.”

Those express lanes will not be available northbound for the duration of work.

The contractor who did the work in July and August is back for this series of closures, which should make things more efficient for these closures.

“Anytime you do road work, you’re going to learn things that you can apply to future work,” Pearce said. “Our contractor did pick up some things that are going to help them work more efficiently as they replace the drains.”

And for future planning, what we experienced this year and will experience with these southbound I-5 closures is just the tip of the iceberg.

Northbound I-5 across the Ship Canal Bridge will be reduced to just two lanes for two four-month projects next year, only taking a break for the World Cup in June.

In 2027, southbound I-5 across the bridge will be reduced to two lanes for eight months straight.

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 new on/off ramps from I-5 at State Route 529 (SR 529) in Marysville opened Friday. This project has been in the works for a decade and promises game-changing congestion relief.

The drive between Everett and Marysville is one of the most congested in the state. You can expect bumper-to-bumper traffic there at any time of day or night. This new interchange allows northbound I-5 drivers to access the east side of Marysville directly, eliminating the possibility of being stuck behind a train.

Huge news for @snocounty The new I5/529 ramps are open in Marysville!!! Here’s a look at the new NB 5 off ramp to State St. Hopefully this will give us some congestion relief. @wsdot @wsdot_traffic @WA_Marysville @KIRONewsradio @Mynorthwest pic.twitter.com/oYEJ6gJhT0

— Chris Sullivan (@NEWSGUYSULLY) October 3, 2025

Major traffic relief arrives for Snohomish County commuters

The current Marysville exit at SR 528 routinely gets backed up by trains that run across 4th Street. Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) spokesperson Tom Pearce described the issue during an interview earlier this year.

“About a thousand feet off the off-ramp, there’s a railroad crossing, and it’s fairly heavily used,” he said. “Any time a train goes through there, the road is stopped, and we get backed up onto I-5. With the new ramp, people are going to be able to get into downtown Marysville and avoid that rail crossing.”

You can access north and southbound SR 529 from the new off-ramp. Traffic is controlled by a new roundabout, which has been in use for several months. WSDOT also opened a new northbound HOV lane earlier this year to help with the congestion. These new ramps will complete the job.

“The work has been a real pain for all the people that commute up there,” Pearce said. “We do appreciate that. We’re going to have a real improvement for them once we get these ramps open.”

Construction has been underway since 2023. The price tag for this project is listed at $123 million.

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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It was only 159 games ago when we went to catch a Mariners game at T-Mobile on the same day as the truck rally next door at Lumen Field. It was brutal getting around, and I ended up paying $95 for parking.

Now imagine going to a playoff Mariners game when the Seahawks and Sounders are playing next door. What is parking going to cost this weekend? How is the city going to manage all that traffic?

I had a chance to speak with the interim director of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Adiam Emery, about the preparations.

“It will be congested,” she said. “It will be constrained. You’re absolutely right. Coming in and getting out, those are the demands that we have to balance.”

That’s the first part of the equation. Just accept the fact that it is going to be very slow getting to the games. That should take off a little stress. It is what it is, right?

Explore Seattle before the Mariners game

Emery suggested taking some extra time to explore before game time.

“Take advantage of coming to Seattle, to downtown Seattle ahead of time, explore the restaurants and so forth, and build yourself some time as you’re doing some touristy activity in downtown,” she said.

Try to time your trip to hit the least busy time. For example, if you are going to the Mariners game Sunday evening, try to make it to T-Mobile around halftime of the Hawks game, which kicks off around 1 p.m.

Use transit to get to the stadium

Emery’s advice is to use transit.

“We are promoting and we’re advising people to take transit,” she said. “Transit makes it accessible for all. We are a very rich resource in transit, especially towards the stadiums.”

But light rail does come with its own challenges. Parking at the park and rides will fill up early. It will be hard to find spots. Maybe this is the first time you try special Sounder service to the games.

If you are driving, Emery said SDOT is up to the challenge. It has great plans in place to handle these large crowds.

“We have a 24/7 operation center,” she said. “We have a mechanism of adjusting signal timing remotely from that center. We work hand in hand for event management with SPD and SFD, and the stadiums.”

And this isn’t their first rodeo together.

“It’s an oiled machine process that we’ve been in partnership doing this thing for such a long time,” Emery said. “It’s just like an every other day kind of thing.”

Buy your parking spot ahead of time

The hardest part of a weekend like this is the timing. One group of fans will be leaving their game while fans of the other are arriving. That tidal shift can be difficult, but it’s not the first time the city has dealt with this either.

If you need parking, I suggest using an app to buy your spot ahead of time so you don’t get gouged, like I did.

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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According to the police report, the 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 70-year-old driver was cited for negligent driving in the second degree and issued a $564 ticket.

WSDOT has not estimated how much it will cost to fix the bridge. Only one lane of the highway is open because of the damage.

SR 167 bridge repairs will take months, WSDOT says

Bridge repairs on SR 167 will take months, not weeks, WSDOT stated on X Thursday.

UPDATE 3: Here’s what we know & what we’re doing on NB SR 167 bridge at 3rd Ave:
The girder must be replaced.
Lanes on NB SR 167 will remain reduced.
This will take months, not weeks.
We’re developing the repair plan now & will share updated timelines as soon as we can. https://t.co/w2WNA5Dx3v pic.twitter.com/lLrN7ByPsG

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) September 25, 2025

The girder has to be replaced, the agency confirmed. Therefore, lanes on SR 167 will remain reduced.

“We’re developing the repair plan now & will share updated timelines as soon as we can,” WSDOT wrote.

Traffic on 3rd Avenue in Pacific is down to just a single lane on the northbound side after the bridge was struck by an over-height truck Tuesday.

“The damage is significant enough that we’ll be in some form of reduced traffic configuration for some time,” RB McKeon, a communications manager for WSDOT, said.

WSDOT said the SR 167 strike involved an over-height load, though it’s unclear whether the load was improperly secured. Officials are urging drivers to check clearance requirements before traveling.

SR 167 was part of detour route for White River Bridge

The affected stretch of SR 167 is part of the detour route for the White River Bridge on State Route 410, which is also closed due to a separate bridge strike in August.

“I know this is very frustrating. We empathize with that,” McKeon said. “And that is one of the reasons that we’re out there working around the clock, sort of trying to get bridges back open and restored.”

The White River bridge has a projected reopening between Oct. 31 and Nov. 14.

There is no estimation on when 167 will be fully reopened.

UPDATE: Two northbound left lanes of SR 167 will remain CLOSED until further notice in Pacific / Algona at 3rd Avenue (milepost 11).

This is due to a bridge strike earlier today that damaged the structure.

Expect delays and seek alt. routes if possible. https://t.co/xQRC5JpXQ7 pic.twitter.com/94fhzH56Ym

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) September 24, 2025

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest; Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio

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 $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicles and $4,000 credit for used electric vehicles (EV) ends Sept. 30. Steven Hershkowitz is the managing director for clean transportation for the Washington Department of Commerce. He expects the loss of this incentive will hurt EV sales in the short term.

“There is going to be a bit of a drag on the growth rate that we have seen,” Hershkowitz said. “We’ve already seen the market growth slow down in 2024 and into 2025.

Washington got rid of its tax exemption for EVs earlier this year. The legislature and Governor Ferguson are deciding to use those dollars elsewhere, but Herskowitz said the state’s commitment to electric vehicles and clean energy isn’t going away.

“The commitment is still there, and the prioritization is still there,” Herskowitz said. “These consumer-facing incentives that were quite popular are not, unfortunately, but there’s progress being made in terms of making sure that, hopefully, we can get the incentives back at some point.”

Climate Commitment Act to fund clean energy projects

The state will continue to use funds from the Climate Commitment Act to push clean energy and expand EV charging around the state.

Herskowitz believes electric vehicles are the future, and the demand will eventually return.

“The automakers know that this is where it’s going,” he said. “The global competition is further ahead in many major markets now internationally for EVs, and so this is where we’re going. It’s just about the pace at which we get there.”

The pace also includes finding ways to improve the pricing for electric vehicles.

The average price for a new EV is over $55,000. The average price for a new gas car is $49,000. You can certainly find new EVs for much less. Some only run about $30,000.

Now might be the time to get in, if you want to take advantage of the tax credit.

“It’s a good opportunity for people who have been considering getting an electric vehicle to really bring that consideration up to a higher level, perhaps go into dealerships, test drive, see what the prices are,” Herskowitz said. “This could be a good opportunity to get deals depending on which model you’re looking at.”

But expect a lot of company. You won’t be the only person trying to squeeze in before the deadline.

To take advantage of the tax credit, you only need to have ordered an EV by the deadline. You can take delivery later and still get it.

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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I knew I was in trouble when I got a text from KIRO host Gee Scott Sunday afternoon that read, “call ya boy.”

Gee was stuck in the brutal southbound I-5 drive through Kent this weekend. WSDOT had closed all lanes for concrete panel replacement. He called the backup “disrespectful,” and he was right.

So many people hit up the text line to report hours-long delays getting through the construction. So what did WSDOT accomplish for all of this pain?

Contractors were able to replace 60 failing concrete panels and improve the road.

It got me thinking. We see the big projects like this, Revive I-5, I-90, and State Route 18 (SR 18), but that doesn’t cover all the orange cones we saw this summer. What did WSDOT get done for all those delays?

Here’s a quick list of some of the things WSDOT was able to tackle between June, July, and August: Nearly 2 million square feet of pavement repairs. More than 18,000 feet of guardrail replaced. Over 10,000 acres of brush and grass were mowed or cleared. Nearly 1,200 hazardous or dead trees were removed along roads. Around 335 tons of trash were collected. More than 327,000 square feet of graffiti was removed.

WSDOT replaces over 3,000 miles of toilet paper

Also, 40,000 hours were spent cleaning rest areas. And while this didn’t likely cause any road delays, maintenance workers replaced more than 3,000 miles of toilet paper at those rest areas. That’s wiping from Seattle to New York.

That’s 1,500 maintenance workers. Only 3 months. Not a bad list of accomplishments.

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 new SR 509 expressway opened in late June. It is the first mile of the new expressway, connecting I-5 to 24th Avenue South in SeaTac. Eventually, the expressway will go all the way to 188th Street, connecting with where SR 509 ends today, near the southwest corner of the airport.

About 17,000 vehicles a day use the new road every weekday.

“Definitely people are using it,” Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) spokesperson Lauren McLaughlin said. “They’re checking it out. We’ve heard from some people that it’s a nice little quick jump right off I-5 to their house or to their community. So there’s definitely some fans of it.”

But will that change on Monday? That’s when tolling on this road begins.

“As with any toll facility, there’s always some people who are excited to use it but aren’t going to use it when it’s tolled,” McLaughlin said.

Toll pricing on the SR 509 expressway

The tolls will run from $1.20 to $2.40, with a Good to Go pass, depending on the time of day and the direction of travel. This is somewhat unique for the state’s tolled facilities. The max $2.40 toll will only be charged northbound during the morning commute and only charged southbound in the afternoon commute. That matches the expected usage on the road.

There is no HOV availability on this new toll road. Everyone will pay the toll. The price also goes up depending on how many axles you have. You will pay more if you’re driving a big rig or towing a trailer. You will need a sticker pass to use the corridor. If you don’t, you will be charged an extra $2.

McLaughlin said WSDOT is offering a limited number of free passes.

“We do have a limited supply, and it’s one per household,” she said. “If you have multiple cars, you have to pick your favorite one, or purchase others, but you do get one for free.”

A sticker pass costs $5, plus tax. You can pick one up at many local stores, but you shouldn’t wait to open an account.

“People always kind of wait till that last minute to open an account or buy a pass,” McLaughlin said. “It will be a little busy at our customer service center in that first week or so. If you have time to prepare now, I’d encourage you to do it, but also be a little patient, as everyone rushes to get that taken care of on the first day.”

I drove the new expressway several times yesterday, and it is a little odd. There is no access to SR 509 from southbound I-5, and there is no access to northbound I-5 from SR 509. Keep that in mind if you plan on using it.

Tolling begins in time for the morning commute on Monday. The rest of the expressway is expected to open in 2028.

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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I had the pleasure of working the afternoon traffic desk Thursday when former KIRO Newsradio producer and good friend Nicole Thompson texted me a picture. It was a shot of the new toll signs on southbound SR 167 between Renton and Auburn. The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Good To Go! are testing the new multiple destination signs as the new tolling system and equipment are preparing to roll out later this year.

Where the prices for those three trips would be was the word “sntchh,” to be read as snitch. Thompson asked if this was intentional or if the signs had been hacked. It’s not like we haven’t seen the Department of Transportation (DOT) signs all over the world hacked with funny or even not-so-funny messages.

I reached out to WSDOT, and yes, its workers have a sense of humor.

“Nothing wrong with a little bit of fun sometimes,” Good To Go’s! X post read, with a winking emoji.

It turns out that WSDOT has been posting various words on its signs for about a month. Adam, a regular listener to KIRO Newsradio, wrote me, “I have seen that for days on those signs.”

Even the anchor of “Seattle’s Morning News,” my good friend and co-worker Charlie Harger, told me he has seen the messages for a while. Not sure why he didn’t tell me before.

Hopefully, the funny messages are sinking in. The new tolling system is set to go active this fall. Drivers who want to use that HOT lane for free as an HOV will have to purchase a flex pass, or they will be charged a toll for being in the lane. The signs will display prices for different destinations. You pay the price for your destination that you see when you enter the toll lane. You are only charged one price.

If you see any funny DOT signs, be sure to let me know. Well played, WSDOT. Well played.

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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WSDOT has announced six upcoming weekends of construction. The Ship Canal Bridge will be reduced to just two lanes from Friday night to Monday morning during these weekends.

Only one weekend features a University of Washington (UW) or Seahawks game in Seattle. That’s the first weekend, scheduled for Oct. 10-13, when the Huskies play Rutgers.

There are three weekends in October and one each in November, December, and January.

“We learned a lot from completing the northbound drainage work this summer that we will apply to our work on the southbound side of the bridge,” Northwest Region Administrator Brian Nielsen said in a press release. “Completing drainage work at this phase of the project will keep us on schedule, ensuring we can preserve this vital transportation link well into the future.”

The express lanes will remain open southbound during these weekend closures.

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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After 20 years of planning and years of delays, the Real ID Act took effect May 7. It requires domestic airline passengers to have an ID that is accepted by the federal government. The normal Washington driver’s license did not qualify because the state does not require proof of citizenship to get one.

For the months leading up to the deadline, you could not find an appointment at the Department of Licensing (DOL), and wait times for walk-ins were in the three to four-hour range for people trying to get the compliant enhanced IDs.

Over 500,000 people got enhanced driver’s licenses

At the start of 2025, only 26% of Washington driver’s licenses were enhanced. That number has grown by 6% this year, making 32% of licenses Real ID compliant. That’s more than 500,000 people who updated their licenses this year.

April was the busiest month with over 90,000 new enhanced licenses. May had just under 90,000. The demand has fallen off each month since the deadline. August was the lightest month since March.

The DOL said people are no longer having trouble finding appointments.

I checked with TSA as well. The extra screening for non-compliant IDs is going well. There has been no rash of people missing flights because of extra screening time.

In fact, 90% of people going through the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) have a compliant ID, whether an enhanced license, passport, or other government ID. The national average is also 90%.

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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It has taken 20 months, but the state is finally going to replace the expansion joint on eastbound I-90 at the East Channel Bridge.

It failed in January of last year, and for several weeks, eastbound I-90 had to be reduced to just three lanes. The freeway was re-striped with four smaller lanes and a reduced speed limit, and it has remained that way until now.

Repairs begin Thursday night on I-90 east

The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) begins repairs Thursday night, and eastbound I-90 will be reduced to just three lanes between Island Crest Way and Bellevue Way for at least 16 straight days.

“We did see significant backups when it was down to three lanes in January and February 2024, and with the upcoming project, we are going to have a similar lane configuration on eastbound I-90, so we are anticipating backups in that regard,” WSDOT spokesperson James Poling said.

The morning commute experienced 15-to-20-minute delays on eastbound I-90 in this configuration last year. The afternoon commute was even worse.

Making the impact more severe for Mercer Island residents this time, you will only have one entry point to eastbound I-90 for the first week of construction.

“The East Mercer Way on-ramp to eastbound I-90 will be closed the first six to eight days of the project, in part because the expansion joint goes over the lane for the on-ramp,” Poling said.

That means you will only be able to access eastbound I-90 from Island Crest Way during that time. The eastbound HOV on-ramp from 80th will also be closed.

“We looked at every scenario possible to keep that open,” Poling said. “There is not a safe way to install that expansion joint without closing the ramp.”

Drivers should plan on lengthy delays

Eastbound I-90 drivers should plan on lengthy delays, and Poling has this simple reminder for people trying to find a faster route.

“Cutting through Mercer Island to avoid I-90 congestion is not a viable option and only causes further issues,” he said. “It will not be a faster way.”

Don’t trust your GPS on this one. Mercer Island is not going to be pretty.

You might be wondering why it has taken so long to get to this project. I asked Poling about the timeline.

“The ordering, the assembly, the shipping, the everything that comes with the part, 2024 was never an option,” Poling said. “It takes six months minimum to assemble the expansion joint.”

WSDOT wanted to fix the joint in July or August, but the project ran up against the Revive I-5 work on the Ship Canal Bridge. So it was moved.

The Mariners and Seahawks have games during this 16-day window. Expect that to add to the congestion mix.

This is eastbound I-90 only. Westbound is not impacted by this.

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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Nightly lane and ramp closures will begin on and around I-5 at the Steilacoom-DuPont Road on Monday. They will last through next weekend, including several overnight hours when southbound I-5 will be down to just one lane.

The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is building a new freeway interchange there. You might remember that the freeway was almost entirely closed for a weekend in April when the girders were put up over I-5.

More girders to be added for Washington interchange

This weekend, the contractor is adding the rest of the girders, taking the overpass over the railroad tracks just west of the freeway.

“Previously, people in the area saw us put down the backbone, or the girders for the overpass, and now we’ve reached the point where we’re going to be extending the overpass by placing the girders over the Sound Transit line,” WSDOT spokesperson Doug Adamson said.

As you might imagine, moving these girders will not be easy.

“Will be bringing in 17 long pieces of steel and concrete, and they’re more than 150 feet long,” Adamson said. “It’s quite the process to get them there to the construction zone, and each one of them weighs about 170,000 pounds.”

The contractor will be moving these girders through DuPont, so drivers can expect some intermittent traffic holds early in the week during those overnight hours.

“This work will have substantial effects for people who use I-5, so expect a number of lane closures in the area,” Adamson said. “We’re going to have to route those girders in through town. We’ll have some ramp closures there at the Steilacoom-DuPont Road, so a large ‘pardon our dust’ as we reach this key staging construction.”

Planning your trip

You can find the current schedule here so you can plan your trips.

This is another spot where trains can impact backups on the freeway. The tracks are just west of the off-ramps. This new interchange will go over the tracks to eliminate that problem.

“When we open this early next year, we will have a new overpass which will remove that at-grade conflict and give people the ability to drive over there and not have to stop for the trains,” Adamson said.

This project not only includes this new overpass, but it will also extend the HOV lane from where it ends at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord main gate through DuPont.

Completion is expected next spring.

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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There are two projects that I am watching closely as they move to completion this fall.

I was reminiscing a few days ago about the first time I started talking about a fix to the daily grind on I-5 between Everett and Marysville. I live in Snohomish County. I get caught in that mess all the time. It doesn’t matter the time of day or the day of the week, I usually get caught up in something.

A quick archive search and I found my first article about the potential plans, from May of 2015. Ten years. That’s how long I have been talking about a project that took forever to get funded and forever to get started.

But sometime this fall, the project will finally finish.

New on and off-ramps at State Route 529 in Marysville

The northbound I-5 HOV lane opened a while ago, which has been nice, but we have been waiting on the biggie for a while. That’s the new on and off ramps at State Route 529 in Marysville. They should open this fall.

Tom Pearce, spokesperson for the Washington Department of Transportation, told me earlier this year that this new interchange should be a game-changer.

“The work has been a real pain for the people who commute up there,” he said. “We recognize that, and we do appreciate the fact that they put up with it. We’re going to have a real improvement for them up there once we get these ramps open.”

The biggest improvement is providing access to Marysville east of the railroad tracks. No longer will your drive be interrupted by trains. I hope to have a firm update on the opening sometime soon.

Timeline of I-90/State Route 18 project

The other project I’m really excited to see finished is the I-90/State Route 18 (SR 18) project.

Truck drivers and weekend warriors need this fixed in a hurry. And while the new diverging diamond opened earlier this summer, the improvement hasn’t happened yet. That’s because the widening of SR 18 isn’t finished.

The long lines on westbound I-90 still happen every weekend.

Something Brian Nielsen, WSDOT regional administrator, knows will continue to be an issue.

“The pinch point is just south of the interchange,” he said. “Until we finish that (widening) this fall, people should still expect to see congestion through the interchange.”

But once those two lanes in each direction open later this fall, it should be a much smoother trip through that corridor.

This is just a reminder that, at some point, construction projects do finish.

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 plan is to make and install five temporary braces along the damaged sections of the bridge. The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will install each brace as it is made. This will help disperse the load on the bridge and make it safe for travel.

WSDOT hopes to open one lane of alternating traffic in the middle of the bridge next month. Traffic will be controlled by a signal at either end.

Engineers are working on a long-term plan for a permanent fix. Two-lane traffic will not be restored until that fix is made. There is no timeline at this point.

Drivers faced with 38-mile detour for White River Bridge

Until the single lane opens, drivers will be faced with a 38-mile detour.

The 76-year-old bridge was damaged earlier this month when an over-height truck hit it.

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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