 April 18, 2025
 National Work Zone Awareness Week is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones. The goal is to raise awareness for people traveling through our work zones to take extra caution to keep our crews safe.
At WSDOT, we honor Work zone awareness for the entire month, the NWZAW is April 21-25. By raising awareness, we aim to protect workers, first responders and travelers on Washington’s roadways.
- In 2024, Washington state had 1,607 work zone-related crashes recorded on state highways.
- 596 people were injured in 2024 due to work zone-related crashes. That is increased from 572 people injured the year prior.
- The most significant increase was in serious injury crashes, which rose by 36 percent from 2023 to 2024.
- 96 percent of the people injured or killed in work zone collisions are drivers and their passengers.
- The top three causes of work zone crashes are following too closely, speeding and distracted/inattentive driving.
We ask all drivers in work zones to:
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Slow Down – drive the posted speeds, they’re there for your safety.
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Be Kind – our workers are helping to keep you safe and improve the roadways.
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Pay Attention – both to workers directing you and to surrounding traffic.
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Stay Calm – expect delays, leave early or take an alternate route if possible; no meeting or appointment is worth risking someone’s life.
Join us on Wednesday, April 23 for #GoOrangeDay. Wear your favorite orange outfit and send us a pic!
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Work this week in one of the prettiest work zones in the world included trimming trees, pothole repairs, sweeping and avalanche control. The mission didn't shake much loose, with no snow reaching the roadway. However, with snow in the forecast, the crew plans to keep the route closed over the weekend and check in on Monday to clean up. We are looking at reopening next week if conditions hold.
When reopening day arrives, please remember that you are still driving through a mountain pass in early spring in the Pacific Northwest. Remember that even when the road is open, most National Park Service and United States Forest Service facilities remain closed.
Read more about the SR 20 North Cascades Highway 2025 Spring Clearing here.
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We've got a big fish passage project coming to I-5 between Bellingham and Burlington, with construction starting soon! Join us at the Bellingham Farmers Market tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to learn more! https://bellinghamfarmers.org
We often have special events and roadwork taking place in the Northend, including construction projects, maintenance and repairs. We always try to minimize any effects to travel, but sometimes it is necessary to close a lane to do the work or create a safe work zone for our crews.
While we aren't doing a lot of roadwork this week, our crews will still be out monitoring and keeping the roads safe. If you spot them, slow down and give them space to work! A huge thanks to our crews for all their hard work through the holidays.
Want more information? Visit our real time travel center, where these projects and repairs can be found on our travel map, and download our app to receive alerts directly to your smartphone.
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Monday, April 21 to Friday, May 9
Sunday, April 20
Monday, April 21
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From 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., maintenance crews will close the left lane of northbound Interstate 5 in Mount Vernon between State Route 538/College Way (milepost 227) and George Hopper Road (milepost 229) for jersey barrier maintenance.
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From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., maintenance crews will close the right lane of southbound Interstate 5 in Bellingham between Slater Road (milepost 260) and Bakerview Road (milepost 258) for shoulder pulling work.
Tuesday, April 22
Friday, April 25
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