Expect busy highways, ferries throughout Labor Day weekend journey

Expect busy highways, ferries throughout Labor Day weekend journey

Published 2:21 pm Friday, September 4, 2026

Travelers ought to count on visitors delays over the busy Labor Day weekend.

Labor Day weekend journey will deliver extra congestion to state highways and waterways. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will pause most freeway development this weekend to ease congestion, however they mentioned delays are nonetheless doubtless in standard areas attributable to crashes and wildfires.

“We urge you to plan ahead, stay alert and give yourselves extra time to get where you’re going,” in accordance with WSDOT.

WSDOT predicts most of the key state highways most liable to congestion, together with US 2 between Skykomish and Stevens Pass, I-90 between North Bend and Cle Elum, I-5 between Lacey and Tacoma and I-5 between Bellingham and the Canadian border, might be busiest from 9 a.m. to early afternoon. WSDOT has travel charts predicting heavy traffic times on its website of these segments.

The Revive I-5 venture over Ship Canal Bridge will stay in place and scale back the bridge to 2 lanes.The Harvard Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-5 is closed till mid-October. The categorical lanes are solely working on the northbound aspect.

Washington State Ferries count on roughly 400,000 folks to board the ferries this weekend to cap the busiest summer season for the ferries since 2019. Saturday, Sept. 5 is predicted to be the busiest day. WSDOT recommends folks boarding a vessel in a car to make use of the the WSDOT cell app or go to the WSF web site earlier than heading to the terminal for the WSDOT cell app or go to the WSF web site earlier than heading to the terminal.

“Prepare for long lines and extended wait times,” WSDOT mentioned. “To reduce or eliminate waiting, riders should consider taking early-morning or late-night sailings or using transit to walk or bike onto the ferry if possible.”

WSDOT urges drivers to forestall roadside fires by not throwing lit cigarettes out the window, not permitting towing chains to pull and produce sparks, or parking on dry grass with sizzling exhaust programs. They mentioned to alert authorities of brush fires with no emergency crews round by calling 911.

“Fire danger remains high across the state. If traveling near active wildfires, stay alert and up to date on closures as winds can shift quickly,” in accordance with WSDOT.