 May 22, 2025
 The days are longer, the temperatures are rising and WSDOT's Paint Map is back to help guide you through the summer construction season.
As we approach the unofficial start of summer, construction projects will take the weekend off on state highways to help reduce congestion during this busy travel time. But you can still expect heavy traffic as people hit the road for concerts and sporting events, long weekends or staycations.
 Holiday weekends often mean increased traffic and delays along state highways, waterways, airports and pedestrian trails. Travelers should be patient, expect delays and stay alert. Delays may also occur as crews respond to crashes or conduct emergency repairs.
Use our , including the , and , and visit for traffic, weather, ferry schedules and a .
Fortunately, we have tools to help you make the most of your travel plans whenever and wherever they take you. Check our , our and sign up for so you can "know before you go."
 A major upgrade along I-5 between Stanwood and Arlington begins this week, the implementation of Smart Work Zones in the I-5 Secret Creek fish passage project area, to keep you safer and your journey a little smoother.
So, what's the scoop?
Our new system features three Portable Changeable Message Signs paired with a radar speed trailer on both Northbound and Southbound I-5 between mileposts 211 and 212. These high-tech signs will give you real-time updates, including:
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Slow/stopped traffic: No more sudden surprises—get a heads-up when congestion is ahead.
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Work Zone Duration: Know exactly when you’ll be back to full-speed cruising.
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Length of Backups: Get the 411 on lane congestion so you can adjust your pace accordingly.
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Worker Alerts: A reminder that real people are working hard just a few feet away—let’s keep them safe!
Additionally, this technology communicates with travel apps, like Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps, to provide you with the most up-to-date information.
This Queue Warning System isn’t just fancy tech—it’s backed by real results. A study from the U.S. Department of Transportation found that these systems reduce the risk of rear-end crashes by 18 to 45% near work zones. The best part? Decades of use have proven they keep both workers and motorists safer.
Let's keep it rolling (Safely!)
Our Smart Work Zone technology will create safer roads, fewer surprises, and a smoother drive. When you see these signs on the road, know that crews are working hard—so let’s return the favor by staying alert and driving safely.
 National Maritime Day kicks off a busy five days for us. We expect more than 300,000 riders today through Monday, May 26. People boarding a ferry in a vehicle for Memorial Day weekend should plan for long waits. To avoid the rush, we have several , like sailing early in the morning or late at night, when wait times are much shorter. There is plenty of walk-on capacity on all our sailings with minimal to no wait. Holiday sailings are marked on the for each route.
Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of our busy season. As announced earlier this month, more sailings will return to three routes just in time for our peak travel surge:
- Seattle/Bremerton will return to its two-boat schedule starting Sunday, June 15.
- Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth “Triangle” will resume a three-boat schedule daily beginning Monday, June 30.
- A second vessel will operate at Port Townsend/Coupeville every Friday through Monday from July 4 through the end of the route’s shoulder season Oct. 13.
Our updated has more details about service restoration and how we plan to respond if a boat becomes unavailable.
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Memorial Day weekend in Whatcom County wouldn’t be complete without the legendary Ski to Sea race. This beloved annual tradition—a thrilling seven-leg relay stretching from the snowy slopes of Mt. Baker Ski Area to the shores of Marine Park in Bellingham—returns on Sunday, May 25.
Teams of eight will compete in cross country skiing, downhill skiing/snowboarding, running, road biking, canoeing, cyclocross biking and sea kayaking, and a couple of those legs could affect your travel plans.
SR 542/Mount Baker Highway will be closed east Silver Lake Road in Maple Falls from 7:15 to 11 a.m. Sunday. You also could see riders crossing SR 547/Kendall Road and SR 544 in Everson, where law enforcement officers will control intersections.
- Please keep your eye out for competitors, follow instructions from officers and plan for delays around the race route with extra traffic in the area.
- Check our real-time travel map for updates: wsdot.com/travel/real-time/map
- Find more info about the Ski to Sea relay race here: skitosea.com
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Our emergency repair work along State Route 11/Chuckanut Drive between Bellingham and Bow is going well.
Within the closure area between the Oyster Dome trailhead and Chuckanut Manor just south of milepost 10, crews continue making steady progress. Specialty teams are scaling the slope, removing loose rock and preparing the area for drilling and stabilization. This week geotechnical engineers continued to assess the large overhanging rock block near the original slide.
After detailed analysis, they’ve determined it will need to be reinforced with dowels. Additional measurements are underway and will be used to guide the design and placement of the stabilization hardware.
On Thursday, May 21, work also began at a second site about three miles north near milepost 13, where a rockslide occurred in November 2024. Traffic is alternating through a single open lane from approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and may be briefly held in both directions for up to 15 minutes to allow crews to work safely.
As a reminder, businesses, trails and Larrabee State Park remain open during this time. This is a complex repair due to the size of the slide. Thank you for observing Road Closed signs and for your patience as crews hold traffic in the area.
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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.
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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Tuesday, May 27 to Friday, May 30
- From 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., nightly, contractor crews will close the left lane of southbound Interstate 5 near N. Lake Samish Drive (milepost 246) for I-5 Friday, Lake and Chuckanut fish passage construction.
Wednesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 29
- From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., daily, maintenance crew will alternate traffic on State Route 544/Everson Goshen Road in Everson between Everson Road (milepost 7) and the Nooksack River Bridge (milepost 8) for road work. Crews will work from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 27.
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