Ready? Set? Go! 2021 Summer Travel Season is ON!

The 4th of July weekend is expected to be a busy one on Washington roads especially with a three day weekend on the way. The State Department of Transportation is urging everyone to plan ahead and expect delays during peak travel times. If you are traveling out of the valley stat officials say check out the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Fourth of July weekend traffic volume charts that will help determine best times to travel on key routes. Find information at wsdot.com

Due to the closure of the US-Canadian border to non-essential travel, there will not be travel charts for the border crossing. Drivers are also urged to keep at least of quarter tank of gas throughout the trip. The state Department of Commerce says there is no fuel shortage like seen on the East Coast this spring, but with many people still driving rather than flying, there could be local delays in fuel deliveries during heavy travel weekends this summer. Downloading the GasBuddy ap that identifies nearby gas stations may be helpful if traveling in a different part of the state.

A press release says;

"By following these steps, travelers can “know before they go” and plan ahead, whether they’re just traveling across town or across the state:

Get informed about WSDOT's online tools, including the WSDOT mobile app, traffic cameras and email alerts.
Visit online traveler information for traffic, weather and ferry schedules.
Follow WSDOT's social media accounts, such as Twitter and Facebook.
Pre-program your vehicle radio to 530 AM and 1610 AM for highway advisory radio alerts.
Call 5-1-1 for updated road conditions.
Have a backup outdoor location if your first choice is full and never park along road shoulders, as this is unsafe for everyone on the roadway.
Allow extra time for travel to avoid rushing or distraction.
Carry extra food and water as well as extra masks and hand sanitizer as an added precaution for emergencies or unexpected stops.

Highway construction paused

Most state highway construction work is suspended through the holiday weekend – including Monday, July 5 – to ease congestion. However, please stay alert for new lane shifts or work zone staging areas that may remain in place. And please give any emergency repair crews plenty of space to work safely.

Snoqualmie Pass

No lane closures or other construction is planned on Interstate 90 from Friday, July 2, until to Tuesday, July 6. However, the usual holiday increase in traffic volumes means travelers should expect delays, especially eastbound on Friday, July 2, and westbound Monday, July 5 (see charts for more detail). Receive text message alerts about significant delays by texting the number 468311 with the words "WSDOT Snoqualmie."