It’s Memorial Day Weekend and you know what that means: A kick off to summer fun in the sun, backyard barbeque, and an increase in drivers on the road. Don’t worry, we have all the tools for you to avoid (or at least, not be surprised by!) heavy travel times over the weekend. Travel is expected to increase on typical holiday travel routes, including Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass, U.S. 2 over Stevens Pass, Interstate 5 through Thurston and Pierce counties and I-5 between Bellingham and the U.S./Canada border.
To help ease traffic congestion, WSDOT and its contractors will suspend most state highway construction work at noon Friday, May 23, until Tuesday, May 27. There is also good news for Lake Washington boaters: the State Route 520 Floating Bridge and Landings Project contractor will open the east navigation channel underneath the existing SR 520 Bridge for holiday boat traffic from 9 a.m. Friday, May 23, to 7 a.m. Tuesday, May 27.
Tolls increase July 1 on the SR 520 and Tacoma Narrows bridges
New toll rates for the State Route 520 and Tacoma Narrows bridges will go into effect July 1. The new rates were set and approved by the Washington State Transportation Commission to ensure both bridges generate enough revenue to cover costs as required by law including debt payments, operational costs and maintenance. The good news: with a Good To Go! account you will continue to pay the lowest toll rate on both bridges. Check out the new toll rates for SR 520 and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.