Memorial Day weekend travel: WSDOT urges early planning for busy highways and ferry routes [Video]

WASHINGTON – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is urging travelers to plan ahead for Memorial Day weekend due to expected highway and ferry congestion.

WSDOT has released Memorial Day weekend travel charts outlining the best and worst times to travel on key routes, including Interstate 5, U.S. Highway 2, Interstate 90, and the I-5/Canada border crossing.

To ease congestion, most state highway construction will pause from Friday through Tuesday, May 23–27. However, some temporary lane shifts, closures or adjusted bike lanes may remain in place.

Holiday weekends typically bring increased traffic and delays on state highways, ferries, airports and pedestrian trails. WSDOT advises travelers to be patient, stay alert and expect delays. Additional slowdowns may occur as crews respond to crashes or perform emergency repairs.

Ferry routes are also expected to be busy, and reservations are strongly encouraged for routes that offer them. WSDOT said vehicle passengers should …