Take the Long Way Home To Avoid Delays

Travelers could save themselves a couple hours of delay on US 12 this summer with a few minutes of trip planning.

Work crews for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are gearing up to stabilize slopes and repave worn-out sections of US 12 between Morton and Yakima.

Starting August 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, traffic will have to stop and wait for pilot vehicles to lead them through up to four different work zones along 57 miles of US 12.

For many, the scenic route along state routes 123 and 410 will be a pleasant way to avoid a lengthy delay. Though it adds 20 miles to the trip, this national scenic byway route winds through Mt. Rainier National Park and its scenic viewpoints are a bit more enjoyable than the stop sign of a flagger and the bumper of a vehicle ahead of you in the backup.

Large commercial vehicles are prohibited in Mt. Rainier National Park. Truck drivers may choose to wait through the work zone delays, take I-90 across the Cascades, or use State Route 14 or Interstate 84 through the Columbia River Gorge to US 97 and Interstate 82.

Businesses along US 12 are open during construction. Drivers should allow more travel time to get to their US 12 destinations.

Crews are working this summer to smooth pavement on US 12 between Morton and Randle, remove old pavement and repave the highway over White Pass, and stabilize rock slopes just west of the pass. Construction on all three projects is scheduled for completion in October.

Crews on all three projects will stop working by noon on Friday, Sept. 2, and start again on Tuesday, Sept. 6, to keep US 12 open Labor Day weekend.

Know before you go!