SEATTLE — Do you plan to visit family or take a vacation before the summer ends this Labor Day weekend? Here are the best and worst times to hit the road in western Washington, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), as traffic is expected to be higher than usual.
WSDOT shared travel charts earlier this week for Interstate 5 between Lacey and Tacoma, I-90 between Northbend and Cle Elum and US 2 between Stevens Pass and Skykomis
WSDOT traffic analysts look at previous Labor Day weekend traffic trends as the base for the traffic charts.
WSDOT said as the graphs turn green to yellow, drivers can expect some congestion, but once red, the roadway is at capacity, meaning any small incident could cause a significant backup. The black line across each graph is the average amount of traffic on that particular day.
WSDOT is asking travelers to plan ahead to save time and frustration.
I-5 between Lacey and Tacoma
Those traveling on I-5 should expect heavy traffic congestion throughout the entire Labor Day weekend.
I-5 will begin to see heavy congestion as early as 6 a.m. Thursday. You can expect heavy congestion Thursday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., Friday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Sunday between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and Tuesday between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The heaviest traffic congestion is expected southbound Thursday and Friday between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. and northbound Tuesday between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.
I-5 Labor Day traffic charts
I-90 between Northbend and Cle Elum
If you're traveling on I-90 between Northbend and Cle Elum, you can expect heavy congestion eastbound Friday and Saturday and westbound Sunday and Monday.
The heaviest traffic congestion is expected eastbound Friday between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., eastbound Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., westbound Sunday between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., and westbound Monday between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
I-90 Labor Day traffic charts
I-5 between Bellingham and U.S.-Canada border
Those traveling between Bellingham and the U.S.-Canadian border on I-5 can expect the heaviest congestion beginning at 11 a.m. Friday northbound and 8 a.m. Friday southbound.
The heaviest traffic congestion is expected northbound Friday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sunday between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., and southbound Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
I-5 Bellingham to U.S.-Canadian border traffic charts
US 2 between Stevens Pass and Skykomish
Those traveling between Stevens Pass and Skykomish on US 2 can expect the heaviest congestion beginning at noon Friday eastbound and 9 a.m. Monday westbound.
The heaviest traffic congestion is expected eastbound Friday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., eastbound Saturday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and westbound Monday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
WSDOT is asking travelers to plan ahead to save time and frustration.
