UPDATED at 12:42 p.m.
Cayuse Pass reopened today after crews spent more than two months clearing snow, avalanches and debris from the scenic route through Mount Rainier National Park.
The 4,675-foot pass opened at noon. The route provides access to the east side of Mount Rainier and is a popular shortcut between Enumclaw and U.S. 12.
Crews close the pass during the winter months, however, because of the heavy snow fall.
The threat of winter driving has mostly subsided, which means it’s time to remove studded tires from your vehicle.
The deadline to have them off is Monday, the state Department of Transportation reported.
Studded tires are legal in Washington from Nov. 1 to March 31, unless DOT extends it. Drivers who don’t remove the studded tires by the deadline face a citation.
DOT reminds drivers who head to higher elevations to still prepare for winter driving and carry chains.
“While WSDOT road crews continue working, no one can guarantee ice- and snow-free roadways,” DOT reported.
The Washington State Department of Transportation is getting the word out about this spring’s closure of the northbound Downtown Tacoma exit (aka 133) with a new video that show drivers how to navigate the detour. The ramp will close around-the-clock for about three months in late April or early May as part of the latest phase of the Nalley Valley project. Here’s the helpful video:
For more info, here’s a Q&A on the detour.
And here’s a map from WSDOT.
UPDATE as of 3 p.m.
All lanes are now open.
ORIGINAL POST
The state Department of Transportation reports that state Route 162 is closed in both directions at South Prairie and Mundy Loss Road because of downed power lines and trees across the roadway.
The closure is between mileposts 17 and 19 in the Wilkeson area.
Local utility crews are trying to clear the power lines and remove the trees from the road, DOT said Sunday morning.
Local access is permitted at driver’s own risk, DOT said.
There is no estimated end to the closure. This story will …
If you’re headed to Grandmother’s house or any other place out of town for Thanksgiving, expect to hit some traffic, especially if you’re traveling Interstate 5 or the mountain passes.
The Washington State Department of Transportation is offering some handy tools to help drivers avoid peak times on major routes – or at least know what they are getting into.
These charts from WSDOT show likely traffic delays on I-5 between Tacoma and Olympia on Wednesday and Thursday, based on typical holiday travel patterns. The idea would be to avoid the peak times shown in red.
Read more »
UPDATE, 3:51 p.m.: The power has been restored to the Tahlequah dock. The Department of Transportation says a 30-minute advance arrival is recommended for vehicles.
EARLIER POST: The state Department of Transportation announced this afternoon that drivers should expect delays at the Tahlequah dock due to a power outage at the terminal.
This likely means delays in and out of the Point Defiance ferry terminal as well.
Updates will occur when more information becomes available. Check back here or visit DOT’s Ferry Alert Bulletins page for details.
The widening project on state Route 410 in Bonney Lake is complete and residents are invited to a ribbon cutting Wednesday morning.
The 1.5-mile project added one lane in each direction, added a raised median to separate east and westbound traffic between 214th and 234th avenues and installed a new traffic signal at the split intersection of 233rd and 234th avenues.
Construction on the $18.4 million project started in May, according to the state Department of Transportation.
A ribbon cutting will be held at 10 a.m. today on SR 410 at the vacant lot at 225th Avenue near Bowen Auto …
If you’re trying to get out of town for one last summer trip, your best bet to avoid congestion is to start very early or wait until evening. That’s according to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s traffic predictions for Labor Day weekend. WSDOT put together these handy charts to help plan a quick escape – or at least prepare yourself for traffic snarls.
Here’s the chart for Friday for the dreaded I-5 stretch between Tacoma and Olympia.
For more days and routes, including I-90, Stevens Pass and the Canadian border, check out WSDOT’s website.
Below is some more travel advice from the DOT: