Friday, January 23, 2026

Ramp removal at the I-405/SR 522 Interchange will be “Olympic” feat over four weekends

By Lauren Penning

Feb. 6 may already be on your calendar to watch the opening ceremony of the 2026 Olympics, but it should also be on your calendar for another big event in Bothell. That weekend, crews will begin removing ramps at the I-405/SR 522 Interchange. This starts four weekends of closures scheduled throughout February.

The ramp removal will make room to widen I-405 as part of the I-405/Brickyard to SR 527 Improvement Project.

While you’re watching curling or figure skating, our contractor crews will be working hour by hour to remove these ramps. This is careful and complex work. To do it safely, we must fully close roads during removal. Here is the current schedule:

  • Feb. 6-7: partial weekend closure of westbound SR 522 at I-405
  • Feb. 13-16: weekend-long full closure of eastbound and westbound SR 522 at I-405
  • Feb. 20-23: weekend-long full closure of northbound and southbound I-405 through Bothell
  • Feb. 27 – March 2: weekend-long full closure of northbound and southbound I-405 through Bothell

Yes, the second weekend of SR 522 closures is during President’s Day weekend. It may also affect your Valentine’s Day plans for Saturday, Feb. 14. This is your notice to plan ahead, use alternate routes or allow extra travel time.

Why do we need to remove the ramps?

We need this space to build a new northbound I-405 bridge through the interchange. Some of the existing ramps we’re removing sit right where the new bridge and ramps need to go. This work will allow us to add one new express toll lane (ETL) in each direction and build direct access ramps to the ETLs.

Completing the dual express toll lanes and direct access ramps in this area will:

  • Improve speed and reliability for Bus Rapid Transit and HOV users.
  • Give drivers an additional choice when they need it.
  • Benefit all lanes by helping us better manage the system.
Photo of the I-405/SR 522 Interchange with ramps to be removed highlighted in orange.
Looking north at the I-405/SR 522 Interchange. We will remove the ramps highlighted in orange to create space for expanding the center of I-405.

Why do we need full weekend closures of roadways?

One of these existing ramps spans both I-405 and SR 522. Bridge columns are also close and in between the northbound and southbound lanes. For public safety, we must close roadways during removal. We also have to protect the bridge deck underneath. This means as we work, crews will strategically remove pieces of the bridge deck and carry them away so we don’t add extra weight or impact the roadway below. The complexity of removing sections means the removal will take time so we have sequenced work over four weekends.

Image of the I-405/SR 522 Interchange from above. The orange section shows the portion of ramp to be removed during the first weekend, the blue section shows the portion of ramp to be removed during the second weekend, the green section shows the portion of the ramp to be removed during the third weekend and the purple section shows the portion of the ramp to be removed during the fourth weekend.
Here is a view of the sections of ramp that will be removed each weekend. Crews will use specialized heavy equipment and follow a detailed schedule to complete the work safely.

What about traffic impacts?

These weekends will be difficult for travel. Detour routes can’t smoothly handle the normal amount of traffic from SR 522 or I-405.

At the same time, northbound I-5 through Seattle remains reduced to two lanes with the express lanes running northbound for Revive I-5 work. This limits northbound travel options across the region.

Please plan ahead and expect longer travel times or consider staying local and enjoying the Olympic events from home. You can find real-time travel information on the WSDOT mobile app, the WSDOT Travel Center Map or by signing up for WSDOT's email updates.

How are we keeping traffic moving?

We will apply lessons learned from previous closures to help keep traffic moving as much as possible. That includes a significant temporary change to traffic during the two weekend closures of I-405. We will temporarily reconfigure the northbound I-405 ramps at SR 522 to move as much traffic as possible through the northbound I-405 detour. Drivers should expect changes to the northbound I-405 off-ramp to eastbound and westbound SR 522 during this time as we prioritize traffic traveling north.

We will also station uniformed police officers on detour routes to help manage traffic and access to local streets. The southbound I-405 detour will be challenging as many Bothell residents live along the main southbound detour route. We will post signs reminding drivers not to block driveways to help.

Even with these measures, we know this work will be disruptive, but we need to complete this work now to keep the project moving forward. The work itself will be as impressive as it is rare. We rarely remove major highway structures – it’s like our version of the Olympics – and we will share video highlights of this work as it progresses. Once complete, we can continue working at the interchange without major traffic disruptions in the near future.

Change means progress for the I-405/SR 167 corridor

We also know people are still adjusting to the changes made on Nov. 24, 2025. On that date, we added two new intersections with traffic signals on SR 522 and changed how drivers reach Bothell and Woodinville from northbound I-405. These signals were the first step in opening the interchange for expansion.

Some people have asked why we added traffic signals instead of a roundabout, or why we needed to make changes at all.

First, there is not enough space for a roundabout at this location due to the close proximity of the ramps at the interchange including the future direct access ramps to the ETLs. Also, freeway columns block sight lines needed for safe roundabout use. The Sammamish River and a pedestrian trail also limit space.

Second, this project supports a long-term plan for a more connected corridor for drivers, transit users, pedestrians, and cyclists. Thanks to local and regional partner support, this project brings us one step closer to delivering the vision of the I-405 Master Plan in this area.

While traffic signals alone are not an improvement, they are necessary to make larger improvements possible. We also looked for ways to reduce traffic delays. For example, we added a lane to the heavily traveled northbound I-405 ramp towards Woodinville.

We appreciate everyone’s patience while we work to deliver the long-term improvements to this 4.5-mile stretch of I-405. We are on track to deliver these improvements in 2028.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

How neighbors are helping us choose the best plan for Judkins Park

By: April Delchamps

Photograph of a child sifting through sand with a screen.

There is nothing more relaxing than a day at the beach, playing in the sand or looking for shells. Think about using a screen at the beach to find shells. The screen filters out sand and keeps the beach treasures like shells, sea glass or agates. That is how we are looking at different ideas for rethinking the Interstate 90 ramps at Rainier Avenue South. We are filtering out what will not work and keeping the ideas that best serve the community.   

Studying ways to change the I-90 ramps

Our goals are:

  • Improve safe travel for all, especially pedestrians and cyclists at the ends of the ramps.
  • Increase community connectivity and access to the Judkins Park Link light rail station for those who ride transit, walk, bike and roll.
: A map of Judkins Park area and the existing on-ramps and on-ramps, indicated by orange dots. There are five ramps in total. The Judkins Park Light Rail station is labeled.
Map of the Judkins Park area with the I-90 ramps endpoints shown as orange dots. 

To learn more, check out the webpage: I-90 Judkins Park Station – Reconnecting Communities | WSDOT

Our study follows a clear seven step process to find the best solutions for reconnecting the community. Check out our September 2025 blog post to learn more about the process.

Using a filter to find the best ideas

Just like a screen at the beach, we use a filter to sort through different ideas for the I-90 ramps. As we screen the improvement ideas, those that will not work fall through. Good ideas stay on top. We keep the designs (also called concepts or alternatives) that best match what the community wants and needs.

We use two rounds of screening, Level 1 and Level 2, to pick the best design. We call this the "preferred alternative." Each round assesses how well each design meets the needs of the community. We use specific criteria to compare ideas and find the best one.

Criteria

The criteria are based on the study goals.

In this study, there were six criteria for the Level 1 screening.

For Level 2 screening, community members and agency representatives, collectively called the Advisory Group, worked with our team to add a seventh criterion. These seven criteria help us compare the four alternatives for the I-90 ramps at Rainier Avenue South. The Advisory Group also helped develop different weighting schemes to reflect community priorities.

Learn more about these community members and agency representatives, called the Advisory Group, and their meetings on our webpage: I-90 Judkins Park Station – Reconnecting Communities | WSDOT.

Curious about what needs each criterion addresses and how we measure it?

Here's a breakdown:

  • Improve active transportation access: To make it easier for drivers and those who walk, bike, roll and access transit to see and predict the movement of each other. This is measured based on how visible and predictable pedestrian and bike crossings are for drivers.
  • Reduce exposure: To minimize (or eliminate) the time and space in which those who walk, bike, roll and access transit must interact with vehicles. This is measured based on physical and time separation between vehicles and pedestrians or bikes.
  • Reduce vehicle operating speeds: To slow down motor vehicle speeds to enhance safety for people who bike, walk, roll and access transit. This is measured based on expected reduction in vehicle speeds.
  • Optimize spacing of Rainer Avenue South crossings: To add more opportunities to cross Rainier Avenue South, with protected marked crossings in locations that support pedestrian and bicycle travel needs. This is measured based on how well crossings match pedestrian and/or cyclist travel patterns.
  • Enhance parks, green space and frontage: To minimize impacts and make it easier to reach parks and green spaces from sidewalks and bike paths on Rainier Avenue South. This is measured based on potential to increase or decrease park, green space and/or frontage.
  • Minimize off-ramp queue length: To ensure improvements to the ramps do not create hazards on I-90. This is measured based on the level of impact to I-90 caused by ramp traffic backing up.
  • Minimize transit speed and reliability impacts: To ensure better bus service and travel times on Rainier Avenue South so that riding transit is convenient and reliable. This is measured based on the level of travel time impacts on transit routes.

How the community has weighed what matters most

Not all rules are equally important. Some matter more than others. For example: Is safety more important than traffic flow? Should we focus more on pedestrians and people who bike or on keeping buses on time? The Advisory Group worked through these tough questions together and prioritized what matters most to them.

We asked Advisory Group Members to give each criteria a "weight," by assigning points based on what matters most to them. Think of it like grading in school—if a test is worth more points than homework, it counts more toward your final grade.

The group did not all agree on everything, and that is okay! Their input created two different weighting schemes by combining similar responses. Our project team, including engineers, planners and environmental experts, also weighted the criteria, independently.

This created three weighting schemes described and illustrated in the table below. The three columns show the different weighting systems that will be used to evaluate the alternatives.

Active
transportation*

Balanced
multimodal*

Project
Team

Access

21.4%

17.0%

23.2%

Exposure

22.7%

15.8%

17.9%

Speeds

17.7%

13.3%

23.2%

Crossings

14.6%

10.4%

14.3%

Green space

8.5%

14.5%

3.6%

Queue length

6.6%

12.5%

7.1%

Transit impacts

8.5%

16.5%

10.7%

* Indicates criteria schemes that were decided by the Advisory Group.

Why we are using three different criteria weighting schemes

Finding the best alternative is not just about how well each performs. It is also about which criteria matter most. We use different criteria schemes to respect different community values: two reflect the input from Advisory Group members, and one reflects the judgments of the Project Team’s subject matter expertise based on experience on similar transportation projects. By testing all four alternatives against all three criteria schemes, we get a complete picture of how well each alternative serves the neighborhood under different value frameworks.

The engineers are evaluating the four alternatives using the three criteria schemes. We are in the final screening phase, shaking the screen to see which alternatives rise to the top. We will share the draft results in early 2026.

What is happening now

Decorative photo of colorful beach rocks and pebbles.
Colorful beach stones and pebbles of varying sizes.

The engineers are evaluating the four alternatives using the three criteria schemes. We are in the final screening phase, shaking the screen to see which alternatives rise to the top. We will share the draft results in early 2026.

Learn more about all four alternatives on our December blog post: Judkins Park and I-90 – choosing the best alternative for the ramps. 

After a preferred alternative is chosen

Right now, we have money to study alternatives, pick the best one and complete early design. After we choose, we will know how much it costs to complete the design and build it. We will need to seek funding to finish the design and pay for construction. This means we do not know yet when construction will start. We will continue to keep the community updated.

Learn more and stay informed

We are committed to transparency throughout this process. Your voice matters in this project. Thanks for helping to make this community driven.

Study webpage

Contact Info

Amber Stanley - Community Engagement Lead

Phone: 206-817-8833

Email: amber.stanley@wsdot.wa.gov

Friday, January 16, 2026

Managing the Flow: A Revive I-5 Update

By: RB McKeon

Update: 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026

Revive I-5: Week one in review (follow-up update)

On Friday, Jan. 16, we shared some early observations just a few days into Revive I-5 construction on the Ship Canal Bridge. We’ve now had the opportunity to review a full week of traffic data and operational information. Here’s what we’re seeing after the first full week of lane reductions.

Early in the week, Monday, Jan 12, saw the heaviest delays as people encountered the new lane reduction pattern for the first time. As the week progressed, traffic conditions began to stabilize as drivers adjusted routes, schedules and travel choices. This is similar to what we observed during the 2025 Revive I-5 work.

Traffic patterns Jan 12-16 and the weekend of Jan. 17-18:

  • Regional shifts: Drivers redistributed to alternate routes like SR 99, I-405, SR 520 and I-90 as the system absorbed reduced northbound capacity on I-5.
  • Improving throughput: Despite two lane reduction on northbound I-5, the total number of vehicles moving across the Ship Canal Bridge increased from Monday to Friday in both directions.
  • Travel times trending better: Southbound travel times that were notably above normal early in the week improved by Friday. Northbound travel remains most congested in afternoon peaks.
  • Weekend looked more typical: Weekend travel volumes and travel times were nearer to typical weekend conditions than weekday commute peaks.

These patterns follow the expected adjustment curve we first saw in the summer 2025 Revive I-5 work, where travel behavior evolved as people settled into the new configuration of lanes and closures.

Express Lanes: Continued role after week one

As noted previously, the I-5 express lanes are operating northbound, 24 hours a day during this phase. This isn’t a like-for-like replacement of the capacity lost on the mainline. It’s an operational tool to help keep the system balanced when room for error is limited.

With the northbound mainline reduced from four lanes to two, even a single collision or disabled vehicle can quickly cause severe congestion. Keeping the express lanes available northbound gives traffic operators flexibility to respond to incidents and helps prevent a full shutdown of the corridor.

We understand it can be frustrating to see express lanes that don’t appear to be full, especially for southbound travelers. That visual contrast is real. During construction, however, the value of the express lanes is measured by how they absorb surges, incidents and breakdowns over the course of the day, not how they look at a single moment.

As weekday travel returned after the weekend, use of the express lanes increased and they helped maintain northbound throughput which is evidence of people incorporating the lanes into their travel patterns despite the unfamiliar configuration.

This express lane operation is temporary and tied to construction phases. When work shifts to the southbound lanes in 2027, express lane operations are expected to shift southbound for the same reason: to help restore capacity where it has been reduced.

Partner coordination during week one

Week one also included a Seahawks playoff game at Lumen on Saturday, Jan. 17, adding additional travel demand in and out of downtown Seattle. WSDOT worked closely with the City of Seattle, King County Metro, Sound Transit, and regional traffic operations teams to support game-day travel and provide reliable travel options, especially transit, which helped move large numbers of people while taking pressure off the highway system.

Looking ahead

Revive I-5 is long-term preservation work on a critical structure that carries hundreds of thousands of trips every day. While the early days of construction are often the most disruptive, the region saw measurable improvements over the first week as travel patterns shifted and drivers adjusted.

After completing the refreshed striping at the 45th/50th Street shoofly, our crews are ready to begin milling the bridge this week. This process allows us to remove the top layer of the bridge deck to prepare the surface for repairs. Using a large milling machine with a rotating drum covered in cutting teeth, the machine grinds off a precise depth of material, in this case, one inch to expose the underlying condition. This also helps create a clean and even surface and expose areas that need additional repairs.

We will continue monitoring traffic conditions closely and making operational adjustments where possible as work progresses. Travelers can help by planning ahead, checking real-time conditions before heading out, and considering transit, carpools, or trying one of the many available alternate routes.


Original blog:

Seahawks game on Saturday and weekend construction

It’s game week in Seattle, and with a Seahawks home game this Saturday, Jan. 17, a lot of people are focused on one thing: How do I get to kickoff without missing the action, and how do I get back home? With Revive I-5 construction already affecting travel around the Ship Canal Bridge, game-day traffic adds another layer to an already busy weekend.

If you’re heading downtown to cheer on the Hawks, transit is strongly encouraged and continues to be the easiest and most reliable way to get to and from the stadium during construction. Transit avoids the most constrained parts of the highway system and helps keep traffic moving for everyone.

In addition to the lane reductions on northbound I-5, this weekend, there is also work planned on northbound I-405 in Bellevue this weekend, which means we have construction on one of the routes people may opt to use instead of I-5.

Up to two lanes of northbound I-405 will be closed from Southeast Eighth Street to Northeast Fourth/Eighth Street from 11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, to 4:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, with additional nightly lane closures north of I-90.

The following on-/off-ramps will be closed:

  • Southeast Eighth Street on-ramp to northbound I-405
  • Northbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast Fourth/Eighth Street (Exit 13 A/B)

Signed detour routes will be in place for the ramp closures.

Game-day tip: plan ahead, check conditions before you go, and consider transit to get to kickoff and home again with less stress.

We’re Reviving I-5

If you’ve been traveling through Seattle this week, you’ve likely felt the impacts of Revive I-5 in real time. Lane reductions, slower speeds and longer travel times in and around the Ship Canal Bridge have changed daily routines for thousands of people. We know this hasn’t been easy.

The impacts are real. The delays have been long. Commutes have changed. That disruption is felt differently by every driver, and we don’t take that lightly. At the same time, we know from doing this work before that traffic patterns evolve. As people adjust routes, schedules, and expectations, the system does find a new rhythm even if it takes time.

We want to share some updates on what crews worked on, what the early traffic data is showing and what’s coming up next so people can plan with the best information available.

What happened over the full closure weekend

Over the weekend of Jan. 10–11, WSDOT’s contractor, Atkinson Construction, completed the work needed to set up the long-term work zone for the Revive I-5: Ship Canal Bridge Preservation project. This required a full closure of all northbound I-5 lanes across the bridge.

Crews place barrier that will create a safe workzone during the construction on Revive I-5.

During that weekend, traffic patterns shifted across the entire region:

  • Saturday traffic volumes were higher than a typical weekend, while Sunday volumes were lower, reflecting normal weekend travel behavior.
  • Alternate routes including SR 99, I-405, SR 520, and I-90 all saw increased use as drivers adjusted.
  • During the full closure weekend, the northbound express lanes were utilized and carried a share of northbound traffic while the mainline lanes were closed.
  • A Sunday afternoon collision in the northbound express lanes briefly reduced volumes, underscoring how sensitive the system can be when capacity is constrained.

What crews accomplished behind the scenes

While drivers were adjusting to closures and detours, crews were laying the groundwork for long-term preservation work.

Over the weekend, crews:

  • Pinned traffic barriers to lock in the long-term work zone
  • Paved a new through lane and restriped traffic across the bridge
Diagram looking at I-5 from an ariel perspective showing the workzone in orange on the left side and the two open northbound lanes on the mainline in green with a shorter exit area and the NE 45th and 50th Street off-ramps.
Lane diagram of traffic shift at NE 45th/50th Street off-ramp

Since traffic reopened with lane reductions, crews have continued critical preparatory work, including:

  • Installing debris shields to protect vehicles traveling near active work
  • Sealing expansion joints to prevent water intrusion ahead of hydro-demolition
  • Chipping the bridge deck to assess underlying concrete conditions
  • Moving specialized equipment into place for upcoming phases

This early work may not always be visible, but it’s essential to preserving the bridge deck and extending the life of a structure that carries hundreds of thousands of trips every day.

What we’re seeing now that weekday travel has returned

As weekday commuting resumed on Monday, what we have seen in these first few days are traffic patterns resembling what we saw during summer 2025, the first time this corridor experienced sustained Revive I-5 lane reductions.

So far, we’re seeing:

  • Earlier commute start times
  • Morning backups on southbound I-5, sometimes stretching north toward the King/Snohomish County line
  • Increased use of SR 99 and I-405 as alternate north–south routes
  • Continued pressure on SR 520 and I-90 as part of the regional adjustment

These changes are expected. During summer 2025, it took several weeks for traffic patterns to settle as people adjusted routes, schedules, and travel choices. What we’re seeing now follows that same pattern.

It’s also important to note that some alternate routes include tolls, and WSDOT continues to collect tolls on toll roads where tolling is in place.

Why the express lanes operate northbound only

One of the most common questions we’re hearing is why are the I-5 express lanes operating northbound 24 hours a day during this phase of Revive I-5?

During construction, several factors guide how the express lanes operate, including safety, traffic flow, and overall system reliability. With northbound I-5 reduced from five lanes to two across the Ship Canal Bridge, even a single collision or disabled vehicle can significantly disrupt traffic. Keeping the express lanes operating northbound helps reduce the risk of a full northbound shutdown and gives traffic operators greater flexibility to respond to incidents as they occur.

We understand how frustrating this is for people traveling southbound especially when you’re sitting in traffic and see express lanes that may appear lightly used at a given moment. That frustration is real. While the lanes may not always look full, they are being managed as a system-balancing tool, available to absorb surges, incidents, or breakdowns in the northbound lanes as conditions change throughout the day. Their value isn’t measured only by how full they look at one point in time, but by the reliability they provide to the entire corridor over the course of the day.

As weekday travel has returned, the express lanes have continued to play a key role in absorbing peak-period demand and providing flexibility when conditions change throughout the day. They are being managed as part of a regional transportation system, helping balance traffic across I-5, I-405, SR 99, and east-west routes.

Northbound and southbound traffic and the express lanes with traffic northbound set against the Seattle skyline at dusk.
View from WSDOT’s traffic camera at NE 45th Street on Wednesday, Jan. 14

It’s also important to note that this express lane operation is tied to specific construction phases and is not a permanent change. Express lane operations are aligned with where capacity has been reduced. When construction shifts to the southbound lanes in 2027, the express lanes are expected to operate southbound for the same reason; to help return capacity where it has been reduced due to construction.

Changing the direction of the express lanes is not as simple as flipping a switch. Each change requires closing the lanes, clearing vehicles, resetting gates and signs, and completing safety checks before reopening in the opposite direction. If an issue is identified during that process, the changeover can be delayed, which can add congestion and create additional challenges.

Traffic patterns also differ by direction. Southbound congestion often builds quickly but typically recovers. Northbound congestion tends to build more gradually, but once it forms, it can persist longer and affect more travelers over the course of the day. Operating the express lanes northbound during this phase helps limit those longer-lasting impacts and maintain balance across the corridor.

Staying informed

We encourage everyone to:

We’ll continue to monitor traffic daily and share updates weekly as this work continues. Thank you for adjusting, planning ahead and helping keep everyone moving safely while this critical preservation work gets done.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Holding back the tide: How the SR 105 Graveyard Spit project protects a community and its coastline

 By: Celeste Dimichina and Chelsey Martin

Every winter, storms hit the coast near North Cove. Residents watch nervously as waves creep closer to the only road that connects them to the rest of Pacific County. State Route 105 is more than pavement — it’s a lifeline. It links the Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation and Tokeland to Grayland, North Cove, cranberry farms, and popular places tourists visit. It’s how kids get to school, how goods reach businesses and how emergency crews respond when every second counts.

But the Pacific Ocean never rests. Each tide pulls more sand from the shore. Storms send walls of water crashing over the beach, spraying salt and foam across the dunes as waves reach for the road. What was once a wide beach has worn down to a narrow strip between land and sea. With each wave, the ocean pushes closer, threatening homes, businesses, and the road itself.

For people living along this coast, it’s not just about losing sand. It’s about protecting their only road and their way of life. If SR 105 washes out, the closest detour adds a 75-mile roundtrip drive, leaving this remote area even more isolated.

Graphic map shows shoreline erosion along State Route 105 near North Cove and Tokeland. Colored lines show how the shoreline moved inland over time from 1871 to 2020. The map marks lost sites, including a lighthouse, school, cemetery, and original road alignment, showing how erosion has reshaped the coast.
Historical shoreline map shows the slow erosion of the shoreline. Photo credit: North Willapa Bay Shoreline Erosion and Dune Restoration Graphics. 

A Nature-Based Solution to a Big Problem

For decades, strong storms have battered this coast. Some years storms have washed away more than 100 feet of shoreline. Since 1996, several projects have tried to protect the beach. Large rock and other hard barriers were installed, but the ocean always found a way through.

The latest effort, the SR 105 Graveyard Spit Dynamic Revetment and Dune Restoration, takes a different approach: nature protecting nature. Instead of hard barriers, crews place tons of small rocks to absorb the ocean’s energy. They also rebuilt dunes that can shift and roll with the wind and the waves. These “living shorelines” take in the ocean’s force, protecting the road and the community instead of fighting it.

Graphic shows the shoreline along State Route 105. Numbered dots along the highway mark completed projects and the years they were completed to help protect the coast and prevent ocean erosion from damaging the roadway.
Graphic shows the history of projects aimed at preserving the shoreline alongside SR 105 near Willapa Bay in Pacific County

So far, the results are promising. Wetlands and salt marshes are returning. In 2024, hope arrived with new life: the first Western Snowy Plover chicks were documented on Graveyard Spit. These small, speckled shorebirds, protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The restored dunes now give them a safer place to survive.

That same year, the project won the Environmental Excellence Award for promoting resiliency. It’s proof that protecting people and caring for nature can go hand in hand.

WSDOT’s 2024 Environmental Excellence Award. The award is made of light-colored wood with tree bark along the left edge and engraved text on the front.
Environmental Excellence Award 2024
adult Snowy Plover nestled in the sand between two chicks. The adult and chicks are mostly white with tan and black markings on their heads, backs, and wings.
Adult Snowy Plover and two chicks

People, Partnerships and Persistence

This project succeeds because of the people who care about this place. The Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe has been central, guiding decisions and watching over the wildlife.

Each year, WSDOT maintenance crews face harsh winter storms. They close the road and clear debris to keep travelers safe and moving. Scientists from Washington State Departments of Ecology and Fish and Wildlife, along with other agencies, study how the restored dunes handle the ocean and affect wildlife. They share what they learn to help other communities.

Funding from partners like National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the State of Washington makes this work possible. Their support ensures this is not just a short-term fix—it’s a lasting investment.

Looking Ahead

Construction will finish in 2026, then the focus will shift to long-term care. Over 50,000 tons of cobble rock will be stored nearby, ready to reinforce the revetment after major storms. A Site Area Management Plan, created with input from all project partners, will help the project adapt as the shoreline changes.

For this community, the Graveyard Spit project is about more than protecting a road—it’s about protecting a way of life. It’s a promise to safeguard the coast, honor the people who have cared for it for generations, and ensure that future residents can stand on this rugged shore and watch the waves crash—not in fear, but with pride in the preserved coastline.

A rocky beach with smooth stones and driftwood along the shore, waves rolling in from the ocean under a clear blue sky.
A quiet stretch of rocky coastline where the ocean meets the land—wind, waves, and driftwood shaping the shore under an endless blue sky.