Date:  Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Contact: Alice Fiman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 705-7080

OLYMPIA – Preliminary data from WSDOT’s Transportation Data Office revealed more drivers hit the roadways for Independence Day weekend 2009, with just one minor exception. WSDOT’s traffic counts show a slight decrease in travel from the Bellingham area north to the Canadian border.

WSDOT’s initial traffic counts show increase of nearly 15 percent in holiday traffic on I-90 Snoqualmie Pass compared to 2008, while on US 2 over Stevens Pass there was a 12 percent increase. On I-5 near Olympia, there was only a 6 percent increase. Further north, on I-5 from Bellingham to the Canadian border, there was a 1 percent decrease from 2008.

While most traffic counts increased, there were no major delays in the mountains most of the weekend. A collision Friday on Snoqualmie Pass slowed drivers in the early evening, but Sunday’s commute back into Western Washington showed only minor delays.

Thursday and Friday traffic on I-5 showed typical commute wait times. I-5 drivers in the Olympia area heading north experienced delays Sunday afternoon, while those heading south slowed due to a collision near Centralia.

WSDOT provides travel information for areas known to be three-day weekend travel routes so drivers can make the best decisions for their travel plans.

This is just one of the tools WSDOT offers on its Web site to give drivers the opportunity to know before they go and know on the road. You can find these travel tools at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic.

The Fourth of July fell on a Friday in 2008. The numbers below show the 2009 Fourth of July weekend travel roundup from across the state in comparison to 2008:

I-90 Snoqualmie Pass

• 183,000 vehicles traveled both directions over Snoqualmie Pass between Thursday and Sunday, an increase of 15 percent (20,000 vehicles).
• 4,800 more vehicles Thursday
• 19,000 more vehicles Friday
• 4,100 more vehicles Saturday
• 4,800 more vehicles Sunday

US 2, Stevens Pass

• 31,400 vehicles traveled both directions over US 2 from Thursday through Sunday, an increase of 12 percent (3,900 vehicles)
• 1,500 more vehicles traveled Thursday
• 1,000 more vehicles traveled Friday
• 400 more vehicles traveled on Saturday
• 1,000 more vehicles traveled on Sunday

I-5 Thurston/Lewis counties

• 269,400 traveled both directions of I-5 south of Olympia into Lewis County between Thursday and Sunday, an increase of 6 percent (9,800 vehicles).
• Comparison data from Thursday is unavailable due to a 2008 equipment failure
• 3,400 more traveled Friday
• 5,600 more vehicles Saturday
• 800 more vehicles Sunday

I-5, Bellingham to US/Canada Border

• 121,700 vehicles traveled both directions on I-5 from Bellingham to the Canadian border between Thursday and Sunday, a decrease of 1 percent (700 vehicles).
• 2,900 more vehicles traveled on Thursday.
• 1,100 fewer traveled Friday
• 1,200 fewer traveled Saturday
• 1,400 fewer traveled Sunday

WSDOT’s Transportation Data office publishes an Annual Traffic Report. The report summarizes traffic data for the state highway system. The report includes Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) figures and truck percentages. Having reliable and current traffic volume information, vehicle type information, and travel statistics helps WSDOT make key decisions about expenditures for planning, design, construction and maintenance. For more information about WSDOT’s annual Traffic Report, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/annualtrafficreport.htm

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