WA has over 90 road construction projects this summer. Use our guide to avoid traffic
Road construction is a reality of much of everyday life for drivers. But this summer, Washington drivers should certainly expect to encounter road work while on the way to any event, according to the state’s Department of Transportation.
With 93 projects in active development in the coming months across the state, travelers should be aware of where and when road projects are underway.
McClatchy’s Northwest service team put together a list of resources to help you navigate the summer 2024 construction season.
Where is WA road construction happening?
The Department of Transportation has released a detailed map of the 93 construction projects currently planned across Washington.
As far as regions go, here are the total number of projects occurring at different areas of the state, ordered from most number of projects to least:
- Southwest Region: 15
- Olympic Region: 21
- Northwest Region: 26
- North Central Region: 6
- South Central Region: 6
- Eastern Region: 7
In addition, some larger-scale programs have several projects in motion:
- I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program (Northwest Region): 5
- Puget Sound Gateway Program (Northwest region): 4
- SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program: 3
You can also look up maintenance in real time with the department’s online interactive construction map. The map shows users when and where maintenance is occurring and whether maintenance will significantly impact traffic flow or not.
Events impacting traffic through September
In late June, WSDOT laid out some notable events that might impact traffic in the coming months that will also impact traffic. If you’re thinking of traveling on a major route one of the listed days, plan ahead for extra time. Here’s a list of concerts, festivals and sports games that have recurring events throughout the summer, as well as links to full schedules:
Sports
Storm – Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
Mariners – T-Mobile Park, Seattle
Seahawks – Lumen Field, Seattle
Seawolves – Starfire Sports, Tukwila
Reign – Lumen Field
Sounders – Lumen Field
University of Washington Football – Husky Stadium, Seattle
Washington State University Football – Martin Stadium, Pullman
Concert and entertainment venues
Tacoma Dome – Tacoma
RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater – Ridgefield
White River Amphitheatre – Auburn
Gorge Amphitheatre – Grant County
WAMU Theater – Seattle
Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle
Lumen Field – Seattle
T-Mobile Park – Seattle
Spokane Arena – Spokane
Angel of the Winds Arena – Everrett
Festivals and events
Bite of Seattle (July 19-21) – Seattle Center
Midsummer Renaissance Faire (July 20-21 and 27-28, Aug. 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18) – Snohomish
Tri-City Water Follies (July 26-28) – Columbia River
Torchlight Parade (July 27) – Downtown Seattle
Watershed Festival (Aug. 1-4) – Grant County
Seafair Weekend (Aug. 2-4) – Genesee Park and Lake Washington
Outlaw Music Festival (Aug. 10) – Grant County
Bass Canyon Festival (Aug. 16-18) – Grant County
Evergreen State Fair (Aug. 22-27 and Aug. 29- Sept. 2) – Evergreen State Fair Park, Monroe
Puyallup Fair (Aug. 30- Sept. 22) – Washington State Fairground, Puyallup
PAX West (Aug. 30- Sept. 2) – Seattle Convention Center
Bumbershoot (Aug. 31- Sept. 1) – Seattle Center
WWE Smackdown (Sept. 13) – Climate Pledge Arena
Information on road construction and closures
Although the McClatchy Northwest service team will keep this resource as updated as possible, there are multiple other online resources to keep track of Washington road delays and closures. Here are social media accounts, phone numbers and roadside assistance options for Washington drivers:
Washington State Department Of Transportation - Reports traffic information across Washington
Phone: 360-705-7000
WSDOT Traffic - Traffic information in King and Snohomish Counties. Monitored 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: 206-440-4000
WSDOT Tacoma - Traffic information for Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, Jefferson, Mason, Grays, Harbor and Clallam Counties. Monitored 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Phone: 360-357-2600
WSDOT SW- Traffic information for Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Lewis, Pacific and Skamania Counties. Monitored 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Phone: 360-905-2000
WSDOT East - Traffic information east of the Cascade Mountains. Monitored 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Phone: 509-324-6000
WSDOT North - Traffic information for Whatcom, Skagit and Island Counties. Monitored 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Phone: 206-440-4000
SR 520 - Reports traffic information and construction updates for State Route 520.
Snoqualmie Pass - Reports weather, travel and construction updates for Interstate 90 through Snoqualmie Pass.
Fleet Operations Roadside Assistance - Provides WSDOT roadside assistance
Available from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Roadside assistance number: 800-542-6840
Radio station updates
The transportation department says to tune your vehicle’s radio to 530 AM and 1610 AM to receive highway advisory alerts. Take note of signs in your area that may recommend additional stations offering updates.
Email alerts
To stay up-to-date on traffic conditions and construction updates, sign up for WSDOT’s email alerts on the department’s website.
This story was originally published July 16, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "WA has over 90 road construction projects this summer. Use our guide to avoid traffic."
