Speeding vehicles go through our “office” each day and night

By Doug Adamson

Speeding vehicles go through our “office” each day and night - we could use your help as we build and maintain the highway.

Work zone collisions happen year-round on our state highways, often with life-altering consequences for maintenance crews, construction workers and contractors. When drivers are inattentive, the risks increase significantly.

Knowles truck was struck on I-5. The truck mounted attenuator or TMA is designed to absorb the impact of a collision.

Sheri Knowles, a 16-year veteran of our highway maintenance team, experienced this firsthand when her truck was hit last fall on southbound Interstate 5 near Port of Tacoma Road. Fortunately, she wasn’t in the truck at the time. After the collision occurred, she jumped into action and rendered aid until medics arrived.

Sheri is thankful for responsible drivers who pay attention, merge in advance and put down their phones. She knows that the two seconds you look down to your phone is when a collision can happen.

Knowles frequently works on I-5 in Pierce County. She’s well aware how quickly something can happen on the highway.

And it’s a trend that continues to occur.

Just before 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 our maintenance crew was working in the left lane on southbound Interstate 5 near South Tacoma Way when a driver smashed into the back of one of our early warning trucks. There was a mile of road work signs leading up to the truck. The driver of the vehicle was able to walk away, but our crew member was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Six nights later, another maintenance crew was working in the left lane SR 512 in Puyallup when a driver swerved to miss an early warning truck. That driver ended up colliding with another vehicle, only to veer back and hit the front end of our truck. The driver of the vehicle in this instance was taken into custody for a suspected DUI.

Truck mounted attenuators help lessen the impact of a collision.

It’s frustrating for us. We have to close lanes to fix the potholes, the guardrail, an overhead sign or improve the highway. Imagine having an office space just feet away from vehicles traveling at highway speeds. Tim Wasson is a 34-year veteran of our agency. There are days where his office is the work zone along I-5 in near DuPont and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He finds it discouraging to see reckless driving in active work zones where crews are building safety and capacity improvements to the interstate. “Everyone out there working has a family and wants to go home safety,” Wasson emphasizes.

Wasson points out traffic on the I-5 JBLM/DuPont work zone.

Most work zone crashes are preventable. According to the Washington State Patrol, the top three reasons for work zone collisions in 2024 were following too closely, excessive speeding and inattention/distracted driving.

New measure to improve safety in work zones

Fortunately, we are getting new tools that may help change driver behavior and keep crews safe in work zones. The phased rollout of the Work Zone Speed Camera Program in active construction, maintenance and crash zones will begin this year. This program, built in partnership with the Washington State Patrol and other safety-focused agencies, aims to prevent tragedies. It starts with one camera and will expand to six by this summer.

Recently, we helped facilitate the work zone speed camera program. Trailer-mounted cameras will rotate between construction, maintenance and emergency projects where speeding is a problem. Signs will warn drivers when a camera is in a work zone. When possible, radar speed feedback signs will also show drivers how fast they’re moving. The goal of the program is to save lives.

Jim Zusy is the Atkinson Construction area manager. Zusy’s team is busy building I-5 improvements in the JBLM/DuPont area. Zusy adds that every day they have hundreds of workers adjacent to high-speed traffic. He is thankful for the drivers who travel safely and follow the speed limit when passing through our work zones to make sure these workers go home to their families at the end of the day.

More work on SR 529 will require extended 24-hour-a-day closures in May

By Tom Pearce

SR 529 between Everett and Marysville is one of the oldest highways in the state. That means it has some old bridges, like at Steamboat Slough. These bridges open to allow marine traffic to pass.

With the arrival of spring, it’s time to complete the scheduled work on the Steamboat Slough bridges. That means extended weekend closures on SR 529 throughout the month of May. Our contractor is planning to close sections of SR 529, 24 hours a day, for four days each non-holiday weekend in May. We will not work on Memorial Day weekend.

Contractor crews will close northbound SR 529 at the Steamboat Slough Bridge 24 hours a day May 2-6 and May 9-13.

Contractor crews will close northbound SR 529 at the Steamboat Slough Bridge 24 hours a day May 2-6 and May 9-13.

Closure schedule

The closures will start with northbound from 11 p.m. Friday, May 2, to 11 p.m. Tuesday, May 6 at the Steamboat Slough Bridge. Our contractor crews from Liberty Maintenance will work on mechanical parts of the structure.

During the other three long weekends, we’ll have additional SR 529 closures from 11 p.m. Friday to 11 p.m. the following Tuesday, including:

• Northbound May 9-13
• Southbound May 16-20 (tentative)
• Southbound May 30-June 2 (tentative)

For these closures, you will have access to Smith Island via the open direction of SR 529.

During these weekends, our contractor will replace bridge mechanical items on the northbound and southbound Steamboat Slough bridges. These are two of just three swing bridges that we maintain. Swing bridges rotate rather than lift to allow marine traffic to pass. While these bridges open only about 30 times a year, federal law requires we keep them working so boats can pass.

In 2023, about 18,800 vehicles used northbound SR 529 daily.

In 2023, about 18,800 vehicles used northbound SR 529 each daily.

When one direction of SR 529 is closed at Steamboat Slough, you will be able to use the other to get to or from Smith Island. Our contractor also will have a shuttle service to take pedestrians, bicyclists and people who use mobility devices around the closure.

I-5/SR 529 interchange update

We expect to open on- and off-ramps for this interchange in late spring or early summer. That will complete the I-5/SR 529 interchange. Our I-5 Marine View Drive to Steamboat Slough project will add an off-ramp from northbound I-5 to SR 529 and an on-ramp from SR 529 to southbound I-5. The project also includes a roundabout for easier access between I-5 and SR 529.

Drivers need to plan ahead

During last summer’s work on the northbound SR 529 Snohomish River Bridge, we reduced traffic to one lane in each direction using the southbound bridge. During this year’s closures, we won’t do that because it would be very inefficient to set it up and remove it four times.

That’s going to mean more traffic in north Everett and in each direction of I-5 as people negotiate their way around the closures. People who travel in this area need to:

• Plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
• If possible, avoid peak traffic hours.
• Consider alternatives such as transit.
• Follow detours and avoid neighborhood streets.

If there were a less intrusive way to do this work, we’d certainly use it. But due to its nature, this work requires multi-day closures. We appreciate your patience as we maintain our state’s highways.

Keeping Washington Clean: Fighting Roadside Litter Together—On Earth Day and Everyday

By Celeste Dimichina

As winter ends and spring begins, the warmer weather brings more people outside. It’s also when we start to notice more of what’s around us—flowers blooming, tree leaves turning green, and sadly, litter along our roads and highways.

We appreciate everyone who reaches out to share concerns. We agree—litter is a problem. No one wants to see trash in medians, along shoulders, or near sidewalks. It’s not just unsightly, it affects communities, harms the environment, and shapes how people see our state.

Earth Day is a great time to remember we all have a role in keeping Washington clean. The best way to prevent litter is simple—always secure your load, every time, even on short trips, don’t illegally dump and never toss trash out the window. Cleanup costs a lot of money, and we don’t have the funding to remove litter on a regular basis. That’s why prevention matters.

Litter cleanup takes crews away from other critical maintenance tasks

Each year, we work with the Department of Ecology and spend about $12 million to clean up litter. Even with that investment, crews can only collect a small amount of the trash that ends up along roads.

Litter cleanup also takes crews away from other important work like fixing potholes, repairing guardrails, responding to winter storms, and maintaining rest areas. Preventing litter helps keep crews focused on work that keeps everyone safe.

Litter by the numbers

In 2024, crews removed more than 1,000 tons of litter and debris from Washington highways. One ton equals 2,000 pounds—about the weight of a grand piano or a small car. That’s the same as hauling away 1,000 small cars.

That’s a lot of trash that wouldn’t be there if it had been properly disposed of in the first place.

• 313 tons of litter were collected by WSDOT maintenance crews.
• 380 tons of litter were removed by Adopt-a-Highway volunteers, Ecology Litter Corps, and Department of Corrections crews.
• 310 tons of litter were cleaned from or near encampments, removed by specialized contractors.

In 2022, the Department of Ecology did a study on litter. They found that Washington picks up about 38 million pounds of litter every year. That’s 42% more than the national average. Together, we’ve spent $12 million on cleanup—but there’s more work to do.

Litter isn’t a safety problem unless it blocks a travel lane. Crews have to prioritize work that keep roads open and safe. That means they first clean up big items like furniture, or larger bags of garbage that fall from unsecured loads or are illegally dumped. If you see something that poses a danger to fellow travelers, please call 9-1-1.

WSDOT crews picked up several bags of garbage and debris during roadside maintenance work on SR 500.

What causes litter?

Most trash comes from everyday people— not just those who are experiencing homelessness. It often comes from travelers who don’t tie down their loads, throw cigarette butts or food wrappers out the window or dump household garbage where it doesn’t belong.

Many of us were taught as kids that littering made you a “litterbug”—no one wants to be called that.

Main causes of roadside litter include:

• Unsecured loads – Up to 40% of roadside litter comes from items that fall out of vehicles.
• Improper disposal – Tossing food wrappers, bottles or cigarette butts out of cars or leaving them behind at rest stops and parks.
• Illegal dumping – Leaving household garbage at park-and-rides, rest areas or along the roadside.

Our volunteers and partners make a difference

We can’t do this work alone. Our incredible volunteers and partners play a big role in keeping our roads clean. We partner with:

• The Adopt-a-Highway program
• Ecology Litter Corps (formerly Ecology Youth Corps)
• The Department of Ecology
• The Department of Corrections

In Clark County, we lost a key partner when Larch Corrections Center closed in October 2023. That also ended support from incarcerated crews who helped remove litter in the region.

As of January 2025:

• 607 volunteer groups are part of the Adopt-A-Highway program.
• These groups have adopted nearly 1,100 miles of state roads.
• Another 264 corporate sponsors help cover 258 miles of road.

We give volunteers:

• training
• safety gear
• traffic control equipment
• litter bags
• help with trash disposal

Some highways can’t be adopted because of safety concerns like narrow shoulders. State and federal rules guide how the program works and how we place recognition signs for participating groups.

We’re always looking for more volunteers to join the program and help make a difference. Many of our volunteer groups have been active for decades and take great pride in their contributions.

Volunteers pose with just a fraction of the litter they cleared from Washington Roadways in the Olympic Peninsula earlier this year. 

Why it matters

Washington is known for its lush green forests, scenic trails, clear lakes and rivers, and breathtaking mountain views. Litter takes away from that beauty.

It’s not just ugly, litter can hurt tourism, harm wildlife, and pollute stormwater that flows into our rivers and lakes. It also attracts pests and spreads bacteria and germs.

The good news? By making small changes—like properly throwing away trash and securing loads—we can all help protect the natural beauty that makes Washington so special.

With Earth Day coming up, now’s the perfect time to take action!

What can you do this Earth Day

Earth day is a global event held every year on April 22. It’s a reminder that we all share the important job of protecting the environment and that small actions make a big difference.

Here are a few simple things you can do:

• Secure your load – every trip, every time – It’s the law and it helps prevent hundreds of crashes and stops trash from falling onto the road.
• Dispose of trash properly – Keep a small bag in your car for garbage and use it until you can find a trash can and make sure nothing flies out car windows.
• Don’t dump – Rest areas and park-and-rides are not places to leave household garbage. If you’re not sure how/where to dispose of large items, call your local garbage and recycling service company and ask.
• Speak up – A 2022 survey found 26% of litterers, or one in four people would stop littering if someone asked them to.

We kindly ask YOU, the reader, please do not litter!

• Join Adopt-a-Highway – Most volunteer groups adopt two-mile sections of the roadway and clean up four times a year.

While crews removed litter along the highway, they found a tiny reminder of why preventing litter is important—a ladybug, right at home in the grass. 

Let’s make everyday Earth Day

We don’t have dedicated litter crews or funding for litter cleanup. Our highway maintenance crews pick up litter while doing routine maintenance work along state roads and highways. This means we rely on volunteers, other state agencies and private contractors to help us with the rest.

Several bags of trash and debris crews were able to clear from along SR 500, in Vancouver, on Earth Day.

“Many hands make light work.”

This Earth Day - and every day - we invite you to make a difference

Take the first step: join the Adopt-a-Highway program, secure your load, and encourage others to do the same. And please—keep your lunch, your old mattresses and favorite coffee container with you – don’t leave it along the side of the highway.

Together, we can stop litter before it starts and keep Washington clean, green, and beautiful.

Ready to get involved?

Visit WSDOT’s Adopt-a-Highway page to learn more and sign up today.

SR 522 traffic shifts at I-405 as crews make progress reshaping the interchange

By Lauren Penning

In the last year, crews have made rapid progress reshaping the interchange at SR 522 and I-405. Now we are ready to move to the next phase of construction on the I-405 Brickyard to SR 527 Improvement Project. This means traffic needs to shift on SR 522 at the I-405 interchange.

Map showing where crews will shift traffic on SR 522 at I-405.

What to expect while we do the shift

Starting at 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 18 to 6 a.m., Saturday, April 19:

• SR 522 will be a single lane each direction at I-405
• Westbound SR 522 ramp to northbound I-405 closed with signed detour in effect

Drivers should slow down as they approach the work zone. Watch for changing traffic control as crews shift eastbound and westbound traffic to the newly paved section of SR 522 further north.

Progress on Par Creek fish passage
This shift means traffic will move over the newly completed section of the Par Creek fish passage. This fish passage will run under SR 522 at I-405. We completed the first section of the fish passage in late 2024. Since then, westbound SR 522 ramp traffic has been traveling over that new section. Now we’ve completed the second portion of the passage and are ready to shift traffic again. This will free up space to begin construction on the south portion.

Opening of the second phase of the Par Creek fish passage in February 2025. The blue line shows where the fish passage will connect. Traffic will now be shifted on top of the fish passage, opening up a new area to continue work.

The Par Creek fish passage will connect the Sammamish River with Par Creek, allowing for natural stream processes that help protect and restore salmon runs. In total, this project will remove six fish barriers and create new habitat area.

Reminder to slow down to 35 MPH

A year ago, we reduced the speed limit on SR 522 near the I-405 interchange from 60 to 35 MPH. We made this permanent change for the safety of our crews. This speed limit also reflects how drivers will navigate this road in the future.

Despite this change, our crews still regularly see traffic speeding through the area. They often see drivers far exceeding the posted speed limit. We are asking drivers to slow down on SR 522 near the I-405 interchange for the safety of our crews and all travelers.

New route to SR 522 from northbound I-405 coming in late 2025
This project adds direct access to the I-405 express toll lanes (ETLs) at the SR 522 interchange. These ramps will be available for HOV and ETL users and Sound Transit Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). It also provides infrastructure to support BRT service along I-405. These new connections mean changes to the I-405/SR 522 interchange.

Key Changes:

• New traffic signal in late 2025 will control two movements :
• Eastbound SR 522 to northbound I-405: New left turn at signal, no more loop ramp.
• Northbound I-405 to west SR 522: Use new signal, no more flyover ramp.
• More signals: Two more added by 2028.

Important Dates:

• First signal: November 2025
• Project completion: 2028

Expect ongoing updates before each major change.

A map of the final configuration of the SR 522 interchange. You can see three new traffic signals marked. These allow for access to the new direct access ramps to the express toll lanes and Stride station. Please note, this is a conceptual design, and details are subject to change.

Thank you for your patience as we continue this work. Improvements to this 4.5 mile stretch of I-405 through Bothell will benefit drivers, riders, and many other travelers. Check out the WSDOT real-time travel map for up-to-date information. If you have any questions and/or you would like to sign up for project updates, please email I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov. Stay informed by subscribing to WSDOT updates for King County.

Two new Salish welcome figures greet ferry riders inside the Bainbridge Island walkway

By Diane Rhodes

Skokomish tribal artist Andy Wilbur-Peterson tells the story behind his pair of welcome poles as they’re unveiled on April 8 inside the new Bainbridge Island pedestrian walkway.

A pair of Salish welcome figures newly installed in the passenger walkway at our Bainbridge Island ferry terminal wish passengers a warm welcome and safe travels. The 10-foot-tall hand-carved red cedar welcome poles were unveiled to the public on April 8. Carved by Native American artist Andy Wilbur-Peterson and titled Crossing the Water, they are mounted in two pier houses along the walkway.

See a short video (Facebook Reel) of one of the two welcome poles being installed and unveiled.

“I started carving when I was 19,” Andy said. “Before that I was making baskets. The designs on these poles combine several marine elements such as orcas and waves. The male has a strawberry tattoo on his arm for the island’s strawberries.”

Andy grew up in Shelton, Wash. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Native American studies from Evergreen State College in Olympia where he worked with Makah artist Greg Colfax on a 12-foot female welcome figure for the college. Andy has taught both carving and painting classes to all ages through various tribes and local schools. Andy and his wife Ruth Peterson run their carving studio and gallery from Skokomish, Wash.

WSF consults with federally recognized tribes with treaty rights where our projects are located to include tribal cultural design elements at our terminals. While these pieces add beauty, their presence signals something deeper. Story poles like these are an integral part of Native American culture in the Salish Sea. Often, they tell a story of the place or history of the tribe. And they remind travelers that local tribes and their customs live on here. By showcasing their thriving and vibrant culture to the traveling public, we also honor tribal treaties.

The story of the poles:

A long time ago, after the humans were created, the Creator gave power to the humans to rule the land. When humans came to the water, they wanted to cross to the other side. So, they created a canoe to help them get to where they wanted to go. One day as they were crossing the water they looked down and saw life, so they jumped in and caught Salmon and Octopus and took them to the other side of the water. When they got to the other side, they fed everyone.

Eagle was so appreciative that she gave them some of her feathers so that they could travel far.

Salmon gave them power to cross the water with great ease.

Octopus gave them the ability to go wherever they needed to be.

These poles represent the ability that all humans may travel and have great strength to go wherever they desire and have protection and power within.

--Ruth Peterson

Local community members selected this artwork through a process managed by the Washington State Arts Commission in partnership with WSDOT and WSF.

New rules and new look coming to SR 167

By Lauren McLaughlin

If you’ve been driving on SR 167 during the last few weeks you’ve likely seen some new equipment. We’re here to shed some light on what’s happening on the road.

Cameras, pass readers and more!

We are installing updated tolling equipment. This includes cameras that read license plates, pass scanners, and other equipment to help us manage traffic.

On the gantry you can see pass scanners, license plate reading cameras, lights, and other vehicle detection equipment that will help track when vehicles enter and exit the tolled lane.

This new equipment will help modernize SR 167 and make it consistent with other toll roads in Washington. Drivers without a Good To Go! account will be able to use the toll road via Pay By Mail; a payment option where we’ll take a picture of your license plate and mail a bill. That bill will be sent to the address on your vehicle registration with the Department of Licensing. (The Pay By Mail toll rate is $2 higher than the Good To Go! Rate.)

Right now, drivers on SR 167 need to have a Good To Go! account and a pass installed before they can pay a toll to use the SR 167 HOT lanes while traveling alone.

Once the new equipment is installed people will have the chance to decide during their drive whether the toll is worth it for their trip, the same way they can on all our other toll roads.

As early as this fall, SR 167 will also have toll zones. These zones allow us to better manage the toll rates throughout the corridor. (This is similar to the way tolling currently works on I-405.) That means if there’s heavy traffic in one toll zone, the toll rates might be higher in that area. If traffic is flowing freely in another area the toll rate will be lower.

A mockup of what the new signs will look like on SR 167 when the toll zones are in place.

Along with the new toll zones, SR 167 will be restriped in some areas. Striping will show specific entry and exit points for the tolled lane. There will also be double white lines separating the tolled lane from the general purpose lanes. But unlike I-405, SR 167 will continue to have just a single tolled lane in either direction.

HOV to express toll lane

We’re also extending the northbound toll lane further south to Sumner. That change allows us to manage traffic for a larger piece of the roadway. It also gives drivers a chance to decide sooner if the toll is worth it. If they decide it is, they will get more benefit from it.

However, this does come with some growing pains. The installation of license plate readers means that people who carpool on SR 167 will need to have a Good To Go! account and a Flex Pass installed in their vehicle. That pass has to be set to HOV mode to travel toll-free. Motorcycles will need to have a Motorcycle Pass to travel toll-free on SR 167. In the future, anyone traveling without a Motorcycle Pass or a Flex Pass set to HOV mode will be charged a toll, no matter how many people are in the car.

The good news is that it’s completely free to open a Good To Go! account! Our Pay As You Go option allows you to open an account with just a credit card, and have your tolls charged to your card after your trip. And even better, we plan to give out free Flex Passes and Motorcycle Passes later this year to help make that transition easier!

We’ll have more information about how to get a free pass available this summer, as well as timing for when the rules will change for SR 167.

Testing in progress

As the installation continues over the next few months you may see lights flashing or words or numbers displayed on the new signs. Don’t worry, that’s part of testing the new equipment.

Even if you see those lights and numbers on the new signs, you won’t be charged a toll for driving by them until the system upgrades take place later this year.

A new sign structure on northbound SR 167 near Sumner, showing an entry and exit point for the tolled lane is coming up. There is also a rate sign, with its information obscured, which in the future will display what the tolls are for each toll zone ahead.

Travel disruptions
We started installing the updated equipment near Sumner. We’ll be making our way north over the next few months. The work does involve some overnight lane reductions and road and ramp closures. Be sure to keep an eye on our project page for the most up-to-date information about closures and planned work.

Heavy equipment and work crews need to use all lanes when installing certain elements of the new equipment. The work is done at night to avoid too much disruption to daily commutes.

Why update now?

This work has actually been in progress since 2023 (and has been in the works long before then). The ultimate goal is to seamlessly connect three toll facilities, creating an approximately 50-mile tolled corridor. That would allow drivers to travel all the way between Sumner and Lynnwood without needing to exit the tolled lanes. To do that, the tolled lane on SR 167 needs to work the same way as the tolling on I-405. We especially want this update in place before the new toll lanes open on I-405 between Renton and Bellevue.

The SR 167 HOT lanes opened in 2008 as a pilot program to test if tolling could be used as traffic management tool. The pilot was one of the first of its kind in the country. At the time, the equipment was state-of-the-art. After 17 years, the equipment has aged and will soon no longer meet the needs of our system or our customers.

Like all systems, tolling equipment must be regularly updated so it continues to work reliably. Our oldest toll road is the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Earlier this year we updated all the equipment on the bridge for the first time in nearly 19 years. We also monitor other roadways as they age to make sure the equipment still meets our needs. We will consider equipment updates on those roads as needed.

Close call: Work zone crashes a growing danger for road crews

By Scott Klepach

Kevin Nicholson was getting ready to settle in for the night when his work phone suddenly rang. He knew something was off to get a call in the middle of the night.

It was Oct. 15, 2023, and the night shift had already started. At the time, Nicholson was a highway maintenance supervisor for our Cle Elum area team on I-90. The call was from his crew telling him there was a collision in Cle Elum involving a semi-truck carrying cold storage food. The semi had struck the guardrail and rode down the barrier along a bridge. Finally, its trailer jackknifed.

Nicholson quickly arrived on the scene. Crews closed off the right lane of westbound I-90 and waited for the tow truck to arrive. WSDOT maintenance crews also help with debris clean-up and traffic control during and after crashes.

WSDOT maintenance crews keep I-90 near Cle Elum closed longer after a semi-truck struck a Road Warrior that had been set up to protect crews clearing debris from an earlier crash.

Nicholson and his crew started clearing the road of debris so the front-end loader could get there quickly. But that’s when another semi-truck crashed into our rig in a closed work zone.

A second collision

The truck ran into our Road Warrior vehicle. These vehicles are placed in advance of the closed work zone. They have warning lights and flashers to alert travelers of a crash ahead. These vehicles help deter the public from entering the work zone and help protect the crew members if someone does drive into the work zone.

Nicholson remembers vividly hearing the secondary semi-truck crash. In addition to the Road Warrior truck, a WSP trooper vehicle was also struck. Two troopers were sent to the hospital with minor injuries. Our Road Warrior fuel tank was ruptured by the impact. That second incident resulted in an extended closure of the highway, with one lane being closed for several more hours. We often hear from travelers frustrated by being stuck in a backup. Especially when injuries occur. The Washington State Patrol needs to meticulously investigate the cause of the crash and allow first responders to provide medical assistance to victims. Then we work to reopen the roadway as quickly and safely as possible.

A WSDOT Road Warrior was positioned as a protective barrier for maintenance crews clearing debris from an earlier crash when a semi-truck drove through the work zone, causing a second collision on I-90 near Cle Elum in October 2023. The crash damaged the Road Warrior and ruptured the fuel tank.

“Unfortunately, we see this kind of thing a lot as we set up a work zone,” Kevin said, adding that driving behaviors have worsened over the last several years. “We see people driving upwards of 80 miles per hour or greater on our highways, barreling into work zones, distracted or under the influence. That puts everyone at risk.” WSP reports speeding and erratic driving have increased.

We work closely with WSP, who is the enforcement agency for state highways on coordinated public emphasis and safety campaigns. This can mean additional patrols for things like DUI and chain-up requirements during winter. This helps keep everyone safe and able to get to where they need to go.

Increase in speeding and erratic driving puts everyone at risk

Nicholson says his crew notices that people drive better if they see red and blue flashing lights. WSP has begun pulling vehicles over more often for speeding and driving distracted (like cell phone use).

In 2024, there were 246 citations issued for distracted or inattentive driving in state road work zone crashes. In 2024, the total number of work zone-related crashes increased from 1,377 crashes in 2023 to 1,607 crashes. That’s an increase of 17%. The most significant rise was in serious injury crashes. These crashes increased by 36% from 2023 to 2024. Our crews say they regularly see drivers looking at their phones. Drivers are sometimes texting or even watching shows as they blow past signs about slowing down or stopping – which puts everyone on the road at risk.

Work zone crashes aren’t just dangerous for our workers. They’re also dangerous for travelers. Statistically, in Washington travelers are more at risk in work zones than the workers. In 2024, 96 percent of Washington roadway work zone fatalities and injuries were to drivers or their passengers. Also, traffic fines are doubled in work zones, so speeding drivers could also face hefty fines.

Changes to work zones for increased safety measures

We are working in-house and with construction, union, contractor, and legislative partners to improve safety in work zones for everyone. We are taking new and additional steps in designing some of our work zones. We’re also looking into new safety equipment and approaches. We will continue to schedule more projects during daylight hours. We now combine projects, when possible, to reduce the number of times our crews are exposed to traffic. You’ll also see more closed lanes and longer work zones to create more of a buffer between workers and active traffic. These actions can increase congestion on major routes, and we know they are not popular with travelers. However, we must prioritize worker and traveler safety and balance these needs cohesively.

Why does this matter? According to Jason Pratt, a maintenance operations superintendent, driver behavior needs to change.

“We give travelers multiple warnings of an upcoming work zone or crash site,” says Pratt. “More often than not, they don’t pay attention and that is really unfortunate because it puts everyone at risk.” For this incident, he said the night crew had already installed a large message board sign 14 miles prior to the incident that warned travelers. There were also several pre-warning signs closer to the scene where the right lane was blocked.

A semi-truck is damaged after running into a WSDOT Road Warrior causing a second crash scene.

Far too many of our workers have had close calls, serious injuries and even deaths in our work zones. It’s hard to find a crew that hasn’t had an injury or numerous close calls. Most road workers can recount incidents where they had to take action to avoid tragedy due to drivers entering work zones. We have had 61 workers killed on the job - many in marked work zones. We hope we never have to add another name to this list.

Safety is paramount

Our crews have regular safety discussions before and after their work using what is called Take 2 for work activities like patching potholes or bridge cleanings. It’s designed to let crews speak up, ask questions and promote safety not just for themselves, but everyone involved on the job and travelers who may enter the area.

“We have a strong team environment,” Nicholson says. “Our crews notice what doesn’t seem right and are equipped to ask questions. We want everyone to go home to their loved ones at the end of their shift.”

We ask all drivers in work zones to:

• Slow Down – drive the posted speeds, they’re there for your safety
• Be Kind – our workers are helping to keep you safe and improve the roadways
• Pay Attention – both to workers directing you and surrounding traffic
• Stay Calm – expect delays, leave early or take an alternate route if possible; no meeting or appointment is worth risking someone’s life

Nicholson noted the crashes that day could have been much worse. Thankfully no one died, but our crews and partners are always on the alert for what is coming down the road. Do them a favor by slowing down in work zones, putting the phone down and never driving under the influence.

New I-405 bridges over Northeast 85th Street

Travelers will soon be driving across the new northbound and southbound I-405 bridges spanning Northeast 85th Street in Kirkland. Crews are completing construction of the new bridges this spring, as part of the I-405/Northeast 85th Street and Inline BRT Station Project.

Upcoming lane reductions on southbound and northbound I-405 in April

Southbound I-405 Lane Reduction to 2 lanes

• April 11, 10:30 p.m. - April 14, 6:30 a.m.
• Kirkland, from NE 124th to NE 85th St.
• Express Toll Lanes will be open to all traffic

During the southbound lane reduction, crews will be preparing the roadway for the traffic switch to the new bridge. The general purpose lanes of southbound I-405 will shift to the new bridge during an overnight lane reduction later in April. The southbound ETLs will shift shortly after as part of ongoing nightwork.

Northbound I-405 Lane Reduction to two lanes

• Late April (exact dates to be announced)
• SR 520 to NE 85th St.
• Express Toll Lanes will be open to all traffic

The process will be the same as the southbound switch. Northbound I-405 drivers using the general purpose lanes will start driving on the new northbound bridge. The Express Toll Lanes will shift to the new bridge during the week as part of ongoing nightwork.

Map of southbound and northbound traffic shifts to the new I-405 bridges.

Expect increased congestion and plan for additional travel time during the closure. Use alternate routes and travel during off-peak hours to the extent possible.

Details and updates about the lane reductions will be posted on the project webpage. The schedule may change because construction can be unpredictable.

Making room: Weekend closure of Northeast 85th Street in May

• Between Kirkland Way/114th Ave NE and 120th Ave NE
• For demolition of old I-405 bridges and construction of new interchange
• Expect noise, dust, and vibration near the area.
• Details to be shared before closure.

During this closure, crews will demolish the old I-405 bridges to make room for the lower and middle levels of the three-level interchange. After demolition, crews will excavate Northeast 85th Street to make room for a new oblong-shaped roundabout on Level 1 and the multimodal hub on Level 2. Level 2 will provide access for transit riders, carpoolers, express toll lane users, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Example of an oblong-shaped roundabout near Columbus, Ohio.

The new three-level interchange on I-405 in Kirkland.

Mark your calendar for the next quarterly project update webinar, May 27

The meeting will provide an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming construction work, ask questions, and find out how to stay informed. The project team will hold this meeting via Zoom from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27. Registration will be posted to the project webpage in early May.

If you have any questions and/or you would like to sign up for project updates, please email I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov. Stay informed by subscribing to WSDOT updates for King County.

The One Where You Think it’s an April Fools’ Joke about Revive I-5 (but it isn’t)

By: RB McKeon

We get it – after many changes on the I-5 Yesler to Northgate project, when we say we've got some work to do this summer you might think this is a well-timed April Fools' joke – but it isn't. As negotiations with our contractor continue, we have identified approximately four weeks of critical construction activities in 2025 as the best way to complete the project by the end of the 2027 construction season.

Last time we talked about this project, we shared that the long-term linear lane closures originally planned for 2025 were pushed to 2026 to align construction spending with available funding. That's still true. While we pivoted away from long-term lane closures in 2025, a shortened season of work this summer will allow crews to understand the condition of the bridge below the surface and get back some of the time we lose next season when most work across the region is paused during the FIFA World Cup.

What's happening in 2025

We have four weeks of lane closures on northbound I-5 at the Ship Canal Bridge and two weekend closures of northbound I-5 between I-90 and Northeast 45th Street happening between Friday, July 25 and Monday, Aug. 25.

During this summer's closures, contractor crews from Atkinson Construction will:

• Repair and resurface up to 20% of the northbound Ship Canal Bridge deck.
• Partially repair five expansion joints.
• Replace bridge drain inlets.

Full closures and lane reductions

To complete this critical preservation work, construction crews will:

• Close all lanes of northbound I-5 from I-90 to Northeast 45th Street from Friday night, July 25 to early Monday morning, July 28. During the closure, crews will set up work zone barriers, restripe lanes and replace bridge drain inlets.
• When northbound I-5 reopens on July 28, it will be reduced to two lanes for approximately four weeks, with the speed limit reduced to 50 mph.
• Close all lanes of northbound I-5 for a second weekend from I-90 to Northeast 45th Street from Friday night, Aug. 22, to early Monday morning, Aug. 25, when all lanes reopen. During the closure, crews will remove the work zone, restripe lanes and replace bridge drain inlets.

There's never a good time to do this work

Recognizing the difficulty of closing lanes on I-5 during Seattle's busy summer, WSDOT scheduled this work to avoid major holiday weekends and peak events, such as Fourth of July, Labor Day and Ichiro Suzuki's Hall of Fame celebration at T-Mobile Park.

And, to help mitigate the effect on traffic:

• The I-5 express lanes will remain open in the northbound direction around-the-clock during the lane reductions.
• Drivers can use I-90 exits, the collector-distributor lanes or alternate routes to navigate closures.

Why now?

The I-5 Ship Canal Bridge carries nearly 200,000 vehicles a day, and its deck has reached a point where delays in repairs will only lead to more frequent and severe rehabilitation needs. The summer 2025 work allows WSDOT to:

• Prevent more emergency repairs that cause unexpected traffic disruptions.
• Stay on track for the 2026-27 bridge rehabilitation project, avoiding conflicts with the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
• Gather critical data on the bridge's condition below the surface to better prepare for future work in 2026 and 2027.
• Evaluate the effect on traffic of a northbound closure, especially with express lanes running northbound around-the-clock during this period.

This isn't an April Fools' joke, and we promise, it's for a good reason. There's never a perfect time to close lanes on I-5, but these four weeks of work help keep us on track for the bigger preservation project ahead.

We'll keep working with our partners, sharing updates, and making sure you know before you go.

25 years later, Belle Williams still grieves the loss of her husband killed in a work zone collision on US 12

By: Tina Werner

They say it gets easier with time. It hasn’t for Belle Williams. She has grieved the loss of her husband every day for 25 years.

Sam Williams was a highway maintenance worker based out of Morton in southwest Washington. On Feb. 22, 2000, Sam kissed Belle and their four children goodbye before leaving for his shift. It was the twins' birthday, and their party would be later that night. Sam was flagging in a marked work zone along US 12 near Mossyrock – simply doing his job – when he was hit by a speeding and distracted driver. Sam never made it home. He later died in the hospital. Belle stayed by his side, even after he passed. He was 41 years old.

Belle Williams (center) is surrounded by her four children with a photo of Sam Williams. Sam was killed in 2000 when a distracted driver entered his work zone on US 12 near Mossyrock. Law enforcement cited the causing driver for excessive speed.

“He is not with us physically anymore, but he is always with us,” Belle said.

Sam’s passing left a profound impact on those around him. Those closest to him described him as a devoted father, husband and community member. His absence has meant missing out on pivotal family moments—father-daughter dances, lawnmower races with his son and graduations.

Sam was a valued member of the Morton maintenance shed, loved his community and served as a volunteer firefighter. Belle described his death as tragic and something she hopes no other family ever has to endure.

In addition to being a dedicated highway maintenance worker with us, Sam Williams was also a volunteer firefighter in his community. He is seen here coming out of a smoke-filled home in Morton, receiving a fresh oxygen tank.

On the day of the work zone crash, Belle remembers having a bad feeling when Sam kissed them goodbye.

“He hugged us and even sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to the twins,” said Belle. “He was a great dad, and we had no reason to believe he wouldn’t be home that night to celebrate our girls’ birthday.”

While mourning the loss of her spouse, Belle faced yet another challenge—a cancer diagnosis. But she fought and beat it, embodying resilience. Her children were her motivation to stay strong.

Sam and Belle had four children together. Thanks to WSDOT’s Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization supported largely by employee contributions, the Williams children received college scholarships. The foundation has provided financial support to 292 families, totaling $547,000, helping with medical expenses, assistance for families of fallen workers and support for injured employees.

Belle said she and the children are grateful for the scholarships they received.

“Going to college was one of Sam’s many goals for his children. The WSDOT Memorial Foundation helped make that possible,” said Belle. Their son, Sam Jr. works for us in Morton doing highway maintenance work. The Morton facility is the same facility his dad, “Big Sam”, worked out of.

Belle (left) with her daughter Kelsey (right) pose for a photo in March 2025 at the Columbia Tower in Seattle for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Firefighter Stair Climb.

Belle is now retired from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, but the grief still lingers.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Sam’s death. Work zone employees are spouses, parents, children, siblings and friends—they all deserve to go home safely at the end of their shift.

Unfortunately, many workers have faced close calls, serious injuries or death due to drivers' actions in work zones. Crews work mere inches from speeding traffic and workers often recount incidents where quick action prevented tragedy.

We’re seeing more speeding and erratic behavior in work zones– which puts everyone at risk.

• In 2024, the total number of work zone-related crashes increased by 17 percent, rising from 1,377 crashes in 2023 to 1,607 crashes.
• The largest increase was in serious injury crashes, which rose by 36 percent from 2023 to 2024.
• It’s not just road crews at risk in work zones: Nearly 96 percent of people injured in work zone crashes are drivers, their passengers or nearby pedestrians. It is in everyone’s interest to pay attention and drive safely in work zones.

Most work zone crashes are preventable. According to the Washington State Patrol, the top three reasons for work zone collisions in 2024 were:

1. Following too closely
2. Excessive speed
3. Inattention/distracted driving

While even one loss is too many, we now have better tools to keep our workers and the traveling public safe in work zones. We collaborate with construction teams, unions, fellow state agencies and legislative partners to enhance work zone safety for everyone. We adopt proactive approaches to work zone design. As new technology is developed, we explore new safety equipment and tactics to minimize worker exposure to traffic.

Additionally, the phased rollout of the Work Zone Speed Camera Program in active construction, maintenance and crash zones will begin this year. This program, built in partnership with the Washington State Patrol and other safety-focused agencies, aims to prevent tragedies. It starts with one camera and will expand to six by this summer.

Belle holds a framed photo of her husband Sam Williams. This year is the 25th anniversary of his death. Belle hopes to raise awareness about the importance of work zone safety.

The goal of the program is simple: save lives. And Belle is hopeful it will do just that.

“If it saves one life, it will be worth it,” says Belle.