WSDOT

Directions Website

WSDOT WSDOT is a multimodal transportation agency in one of the fastest growing areas of the country.

10/20/2026

EXPECT DELAYS! Our favorite 76-year-old bridge needs a joint replacement. The westbound SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Gig Harbor will undergo around-the-clock lane reductions from Oct. 24 to Nov. 8 so we can perform the surgery.

Here’s what to expect:
-WB SR 16 reduced from four lanes to two across the bridge
-The HOV lane open to ALL vehicles
-Congestion on WB SR 16 in Tacoma approaching the bridge and side streets
-Delays of an hour or more from Tacoma to Gig Harbor during afternoon commute hours

We know this will be tough. We take this bridge too. But this work simply has to get done. The expansion joint is deteriorating, and we need to do a partial replacement NOW. And, due to the nature of the work, it has to be done during daylight hours.

The good news is we have a project in design to fully replace the joints, with construction planned in 2027. Until then, expect more emergency repairs like this one on good ol’ Sturdy Gertie.

Read more in our blog: https://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/aging-bridge-joints-sturdy-gertie-in.html

10/16/2026

A ghoul who is going to be ok 😌 Our maintenance crews brought along the new hire for some striping work on SR 20 between Usk and Newport this week. I’ve heard of a skeleton crew, but this is ridiculous…

Hey, it was their idea. (We found it pretty humerus.)

10/16/2026

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗥 𝟳𝟬𝟲 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟲; 𝗻𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗶𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲.

SR706 outside of the park will be fully CLOSED overnight from 9 pm this Friday 10/16 until 6 am Saturday 10/17, for road repairs to replace a failing culvert. The closure will be from Kernahan Road East to the Nisqually Entrance.

During the closure, there will be NO ACCESS to the Nisqually Entrance, the main park entrance in the southwest corner of the park near Ashford, WA. To reach Paradise during the closure, plan to enter the park through the Stevens Canyon Entrance via SR123 on the east side of the park.

WSDOT News Release: https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/news/2026/overnight-closure-sr-706-near-mount-rainier-national-park-friday-oct-16

10/15/2026

Months of training. Peak physical conditioning. A highly unconventional approach to winter preparedness. Introducing the first annual CONE-holding competition.

Recently, some of our northwest region maintenance crews got together for their annual snow and ice meeting to prepare for the winter ahead. Naturally, we decided to put their strength and endurance to the test with our own version of Oktoberfest’s traditional stein-holding competition. A time-honored German tradition, reengineered with a little help from our extensive traffic cone inventory.

But there was plenty of actual winter preparation happening, too. From reviewing snowplow operations and safety procedures to getting familiar with equipment, our crews have a lot to tackle before the first snowflake falls.

And here’s something you might not know: Snowplows aren’t one-size-fits-all! Different trucks have different plows, controls and material spreaders, and operators need to know how to handle them in all kinds of conditions. But knowing the equipment is only half the battle. Crews also have to learn their routes, including where snow can safely be pushed.

Of course, winter is just one part of the job. These are the same folks patching potholes, clearing drainage systems, maintaining roadsides and responding to roadway hazards throughout the rest of the year. And while they’re keeping our highways in working order this fall, they’re also getting equipment ready, stocking up on winter materials and preparing for whatever Mother Nature has in store.

Whether they’re working along the highway today or clearing snow this winter, help keep our crews safe by slowing down, staying alert and giving them plenty of room to work.

10/13/2026

Forget ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night. We’ve got four letters that’ll send a shiver down any driver’s spine: B-U-S-Y.

That’s right, another weekend of closures is creeping up on us.

Inspired by true (upcoming) events. Rated B for BUSY. Coming to a freeway near you Oct. 16–18:

NB I-405 CLOSED in Bellevue
- Closed between SE 8th St to NE 4th St. from 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 to 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19. The following ramps will also close at this time: SE 8th St. on-ramp to NB I-405 and NB I-405 off-ramp to NE 4th St/NE 8th St. (Exit 13 A/B). Crews will pave, install concrete panels and set an overhead sign structure.

NB I-5 CONTINUED LANE CLOSURES across Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle
- Reduced to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge until the end of 2026. The express lanes will remain open NB-only 24/7.

EB I-90 LANE REDUCTIONS in Snoqualmie
- Two right lanes of EB I-90 closed from east of SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkways to SE N Bend Way, 6 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. Maintenance crews will use this closure make bridge deck repairs.

You know that friend who looks over at you right before the jump scare in a horror movie? Yeah, that’s us. Except instead of ruining the movie, we’re giving you a heads-up about weekend closures. Check the travel maps, know your route before you go and give yourself extra time to get to that pumpkin patch.

10/07/2026

Beware the Ides of Larch…. If you plan on making the annual larch march, keep in mind:

- Weekends are BUSY, even in the early morning hours. If designated trailhead parking is full, we highly recommend finding another hike.
- If you must park along the highway, make sure you’re fully within the fog lines (white lines) and not in violation of any No Parking signs.
- Park parallel to the direction of traffic
- Keep an eye out for pedestrians walking near the road. Pedestrians: SR 20 and US 2 are highways carrying high-speed traffic. Be alert!
- Watch out for cars pulling on and off the highway
- Do NOT block the trailhead and make sure you leave room for first responders to get through in case someone on the trail has an emergency

Larches are iconic here in the PNW, so it’s no wonder they draw crowds every fall. But if you’re chasing those Instagram moments, be prepared for a bitter dose of reality. Stay safe and respect our natural areas! 🍁

FALL BALL IS BACK Y’ALL. And what better way to celebrate than with a steaming hot kupp of closures? We’ve got a full cl...
10/07/2026

FALL BALL IS BACK Y’ALL. And what better way to celebrate than with a steaming hot kupp of closures? We’ve got a full closure of southbound I-405 in Bothell, ongoing northbound I-5 lane reductions and an overnight closure of the I-5 express lanes in Seattle. Add Seahawks and Huskies football games to the mix, and you’ll definitely want a game plan before heading out.

-BOTHELL: SB I-405 will CLOSE from 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 to 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12 between SR 527 and SR 522. The following ramps will also close at this time: SR 527 on-ramp to SB I-405, NE 195th on-/off-ramps to I-405 and SR 522 off-ramp to SB I-405. Crews will use this closure to work on drainage, pavement reconstruction and bridge repair.

-SEATTLE: NB I-5 express lanes will CLOSE overnight from 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 to 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 to complete drainage work underneath the Ship Canal Bridge. The two right lanes of NB I-5 and the SB express lanes across the bridge also remain closed around-the-clock.

Before you grab your Paint Map pitchforks, we know there’s more happening this weekend than football. But if you couldn’t already tell, this isn’t a traditional Paint Map, so we didn’t pack this one with all the usual drawings. Consider this our little fall-football-freeway crossover episode.

You know the drill. Plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to get where you're going. GO HAWKS and GO DAWGS!

"What did you even do this summer?" Let's talk numbers. From June 1 to Aug. 31, our highway maintenance crews logged 53,...
10/01/2026

"What did you even do this summer?" Let's talk numbers.

From June 1 to Aug. 31, our highway maintenance crews logged 53,815 unique work entries. That includes 1.6 million square feet of pavement repairs; 5,301 lane miles of fresh striping; 318 tons of trash removed; and 92 million sheets of toilet paper replaced in our rest areas. Just to name a few.

From patching potholes and repairing traffic signals to clearing debris, maintaining rest areas and responding to wildfires, floods and even a truckload of spilled corn, our maintenance crews kept busy. See the full list of work complete in our blog: https://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2026/10/orange-barrels-and-92-million-sheets-of.html

09/30/2026

Now that’s what I call a COMPLETE street. 😮‍💨 No, seriously. That really is what we call a glow up with ALL modes of transportation in mind — whether that’s driving, walking, cycling, transit, or using a mobility aid.

Introducing recently new and improved 5-mile stretch of US 395 just north of Chewelah in Stevens County. Not only did the road get a healthy dose of Hot Mix Asphalt, it also got the Complete Streets treatment. That means wider sidewalks, marked bike lanes, accessible pedestrian crossings, better intersection markings, and other features that help slow traffic and shorten crossing distances.

This marks our first ever Complete Streets project to be finished in Washington, and there’s more to come! Stay tuned for more glow ups designed with everyone in mind.

Address

310 Maple Park SE
Olympia, WA
98501

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when WSDOT posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category