Cliffhanger SR 11 Chuckanut Drive

By RB McKeon

When a rockslide landed across State Route 11/Chuckanut Drive just south of Bellingham on April 22, it brought down thousands of tons of debris and left a huge boulder hanging on the slope above the highway.

In the weeks that followed, crews worked to remove unstable rock, anchor the slope and clear the roadway. After 58 days, Chuckanut Drive is open again, and we’re sharing what it took to reopen this iconic route.

A drone photo taken in early May shows the magnitude of the slide stretching 150 feet long and 30 feet deep.

An iconic road in a geologically complex area

Chuckanut Drive winds between the forested cliffs of the Chuckanut Mountains and the shoreline of Samish Bay. The views are stunning and the geology is just as dramatic. The road is carved into steep, rocky slopes made of old, fractured rock that naturally shifts and breaks over time. This mix of beauty and instability makes it one of the most scenic and challenging roads in Washington and one that is prone to rock slides. This slide, however, was the largest in recent memory, measuring 150 feet long and 30 feet deep.

Behind the scenes with WSDOT engineering geologists

Before crews could fix the road, they had to deal with what was still hanging above it. That’s where scaling comes in.

Scaling means removing loose or dangerous rock from a slope. Specialized crews do this by hand while hanging from ropes generally working from the top of the slope to the base of the slope to minimize risk of rocks falling on them from above. They use pry bars, special tools and air-powered pillows to gently push apart cracked rocks.

 Safety is always the top priority. Crews worked slowly and carefully to make sure loose rock didn’t fall onto the active railroad below. This process required close coordination and constant communication.

WSDOT’s engineering geologists played a key role. These experts study how soil, rock, vegetation and water interact with roads, bridges, and rock slopes such as these.

Two crew members  repel down the SR 11 rock slope to drill reinforcement holes at anchor points to stabilize potentially unstable blocks.

On Chuckanut Drive, WSDOT Engineering Geologists climbed the slope to inspect cracks and areas of potential concern. They used those findings to design a plan to secure the slope. This included drilling deep holes and installing threaded metal bars to help hold the rock in place. Their work happens behind the scenes, but it’s critical to keeping roads like SR 11 safe.

While WSDOT led the technical assessment and oversight, the hands-on work was completed by a contractor brought on through an emergency contract. These specialized crews handled the scaling, drilling, and heavy lifting needed to carry out the geotechnical team’s plan.

From classroom to cliffside

While work was underway, WSDOT also hosted 14 civil engineering graduate students from the University of Washington. These future engineers got a close-up look at how slope repair happens in the real world.

WSDOT’s State Engineering Geologist Marc Fish and Engineering Geologist Stephen Newman speaking with UW civil engineering graduate students who spent a day on-site with crews.

WSDOT staff showed them the tools, techniques, and thinking behind every step from scaling to anchor drilling. Their professor later wrote:

“Seeing the practical application of the theoretical concepts we've been covering has significantly enhanced their understanding. They left the field trip with an enhanced interest in the agency.”

Experiences like this help students connect classroom learning to future careers.

Making the most of the closure

While most of the work focused on the big slide near the Oyster Dome trailhead, crews also used the full closure to tackle another problem slope a few miles north near milepost 13. A smaller slide had occurred there in November 2024.

Crews removed loose rock and stabilized that slope using the same scaling techniques employed at the southern location. No drilling or anchors were required at this location as determined by the engineering geologists. By combining both efforts into one response, WSDOT saved time and reduced the need for a future closure.

Closed for a reason

Pink and white spray paint marks rock that have to be reinforced with reinforcing bars before SR 11 could be reopened.

Chuckanut Drive is beautiful, and the work was visually dramatic. But during the closure, some people tried to go past the road-closed signs. That’s never safe.

This was an unstable slope with tons of loose rock and large equipment in operation. Even when crews weren’t onsite, there was still danger. Road closures protect both workers and the public.

Thanks to everyone who followed the detours and gave crews the space they needed to do their work safely.

A job worth applauding

A big thank you goes to the residents, local businesses, and their patrons who showed patience and flexibility during this emergency work. Your support made it easier to complete repair efficiently.

SR 11 is now open. And while it may not be a Hollywood movie, we think this story deserves a standing ovation.

A screenshot of staff from an area business standing with WSDOT crews as the road was reopened on June 19.

Rescue training in action: A ferry crew member's account of saving 2 lives

 By Second Mate James Kuijper

It is with great relief and professional pride that I am pleased to submit the following report. It's a firsthand account on the rescue of two young canoeists west of Blake Island.

Around 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 13, during our second westbound trip to Bremerton, the Walla Walla got a radio call from the U.S. Coast Guard. They asked us to help rescue people in the water after their canoe flipped over.

The captain and chief mate told the crew we would be changing course to respond. They also said we’ll probably need to launch a rescue boat. Our crew quickly got ready. They prepared the rescue boat and gathered emergency supplies like an AED, oxygen, warm jackets, thermal blankets and a trauma kit.

Some passengers with medical training offered to help. We made a plan to treat the victims for hypothermia while heading toward the area where they were last seen.

The crew aboard Walla Walla quickly diverted course to assist in the rescue of two people near Blake Island on the evening of June 13. The successful response – fueled by expert training, quick coordination and help from skilled passengers – turned a dangerous situation into a life-saving mission. 

Once we saw the canoeists, the captain stopped the ferry. We launched our rescue boat with two crew members (coxswain and lookout) aboard. I gave them instructions about where to look and told them to make sure everyone in the water was rescued.

The engine room oilers helped launch the rescue boat and turned on the boilers to warm the passenger cabin. Three deckhands (two ordinary seamen and an able-bodied seaman) prepared the rescue boat for launch and set up a treatment area in the second mate’s office. I also explained our hypothermia treatment plan to the medical volunteers.

The young men were swiftly and skillfully pulled from the cold water quickly and carefully. They were wrapped in emergency blankets and firefighter jackets in the rescue boat.

Once back on board, they were bundled up again in firefighter gear. We placed hot packs next to their bodies to raise their core temperatures. They kept shivering uncontrollably until emergency medical services took them ashore in Bremerton. They were awake, responsive and thankful – though a bit embarrassed.

Two passengers helped by offering hot chocolate and snacks from the galley. I want to thank them and also recognize the great support we got from several medical volunteers. These included five doctors, a nurse practitioner, a nurse and some therapists who all helped treat the patients.

Thanks to our planning, equipment, teamwork, training and practice, our crew stayed calm and handled the situation like pros. This was our third rescue this season! We’re thankful for this positive outcome. Good results come not just from luck, but from preparation and training.

Mission: Not-So-Impossible – Operation Ship Canal Bridge

MISSION REPORT: Operation Ship Canal Bridge – Weekend Work Complete

Status: ✅ Mission Accomplished
Date: June 23, 2025
Location: Northbound I-5 across the Ship Canal Bridge
Operational period: June 20-23

What we did

• Reduced northbound I-5 to two lanes between SR 520 and Northeast 45th Street.
• Completed drainage and scupper work, setting the stage for the July/August main event.
• Pulled off two overnight full closures to restripe the lanes first to allow two through-lanes on I-5 while we were working, then to return traffic to its normal configuration before reopening.

How it went

Traffic volumes were moderate, and many travelers adjusted their routes or schedules. Partner coordination and public messaging helped reduce surprises and improve predictability. We completed all planned work and reopened three hours ahead of schedule.

In addition to all of you who played an important role in this successful mission, we’d like to give special thanks to our field crews, partners, traffic engineers and communications teams for flawless execution and coordination throughout the weekend.

Lessons learned

This weekend validated our closure and detour plans, signage placement and our communications and outreach approach. It also gave travelers a chance to test out alternate routes and helped us identify a few minor adjustments ahead of the July 18 – Aug. 18 stretch.

Next steps

🎬 The feature presentation is coming. Starting Friday, July 18, northbound I-5 will:

• Fully close July 18–21
• Reduce to two lanes July 21–Aug. 15
• Fully close again Aug. 15–18

Mission resources: Know Before You Go

Revive I-5 project page
Real-time Traffic Updates
WSDOT App for iOS / Android
Trip Planning + Alternatives

Closing note

Mission Not-So-Impossible isn’t just a name, it’s a mindset. Thanks for helping us get one step closer to a safer, stronger Ship Canal Bridge.

---

By: RB McKeon

A photo of the Ship Canal Bridge taken from above shows a patchwork of repairs that have been needed in recent years as the deck surface continues to show signs of wear and tear.

This is your mission, Seattle – should you choose to accept it.

Starting 10 p.m. Friday, June 20 through 5 a.m. Monday, June 23, northbound I-5 across the Ship Canal Bridge will be reduced to two lanes from SR 520 to Northeast 45th Street. Think of it as a preview of this summer’s big feature: a four-week-long two-lane reduction starting July 18.

But don’t worry, this mission is not impossible. Why? Because we’re giving you everything you need to plan head, test your options and ace the mission.

The objective: Set the stage and stay on track

This weekend’s mission isn’t just a dress rehearsal, it’s a critical setup for the summer’s main event that begins the weekend of July 18 and runs four weeks, ending on Aug. 18.

Crews will complete drainage and demolition work this weekend and prepare the bridge for upcoming around-the-clock lane reductions. Specifically, they’ll work on drainage and replace about 80% of the bridge’s scuppers in the northbound section. This work also allows our contractor to test their plan and make sure the work will go smoothly, helping us stay on schedule.

For you, this weekend is a chance to test your alternate routes, adjust travel times or try transit before the real mission begins. July’s work will be longer and more intense, but certainly not impossible, especially if you’ve already got a plan.

Mission details: What’s happening June 20-23

Northbound I-5 will have lane reductions and shift traffic from SR 520 to Northeast 45th Street from Friday night, June 20, through Monday morning, June 23.

• Northbound I-5 will be reduced to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge all weekend.
• To create two through lanes we will restripe the shoulder to use as a temporary lane. This requires short full closures of northbound I-5 and several ramps that will occur twice:
• Between 12:01 and 1 a.m. on Saturday, June 21 and again on Monday, June 23, to allow for restriping.
• The Mercer Street and westbound SR 520 on-ramps to northbound I-5 will be closed.
• If the weather is bad, we won’t be able to restripe to create two through lanes, but the drainage work will still take place because it is not weather dependent.

• The Mercer on-ramp to the express lanes will remain open.
• The Harvard Avenue East on-ramp will remain open.
• Express lanes will run northbound all weekend to help ease congestion.
• Expect lane reductions in the express lanes:
• 7 p.m. Saturday, June 21 until 5 a.m. Sunday, June 22.
• 7-11:59 p.m. Sunday June 22.

Mission strategy: smart planning and strategic timing

In any good mission, success starts with smart planning, and that includes when it takes place and where and how we divert traffic.

Why now?

In a region as active and fast-moving as the greater Puget Sound, there’s never a perfect time for major construction. That’s why we’ve worked closely with our partners to minimize conflicts with key summer events in Seattle. The timing of this work was carefully selected to avoid overlapping with the Seafair Torchlight Parade, Bite of Seattle, a series of sold-out concerts and the Seattle Mariners’ Ichiro Hall of Fame weekend festivities.

We know how important Seattle summers are, and we want to make sure people know what to expect when traveling to and through Seattle. With a little planning and coordination, you can still experience everything Seattle has to offer while we carry out the mission to preserve I-5 for the future.

Mission support tools:

The mission doesn’t require secret codes or spy gear, just a little planning. We’ve already chosen these dates to minimize impacts, and we have a lot of resources to help you succeed:

• I-5/Yesler Way to Northgate Vic - Pavement, Deck, Joints and Drainage | WSDOT
• Download the WSDOT App from Google Play or the Apple Store
• SDOT’s Flip Your Trip Program
• Transit options like buses or light rail
• Carpool with fellow agents (aka your family and friends)
• Follow us on social media

Try a different route, take transit, adjust your timing. This is your opportunity to experiment before July’s four-week operation.

Coming Soon: The Feature Film

2025: Four-week lane reduction on northbound I-5

• July 18–21: Full closure
• July 21–Aug. 15: Two-lane reduction
• Aug. 15–18: Full closure

2026: Extended northbound I-5 lane reductions

2027: Extended southbound I-5 lane reductions

The trilogy ends with a new long-lasting bridge deck.

Your mission is simple: Know before you go. Plan ahead. And help us keep the region moving while we make essential repairs that will last for decades.

This message will not self-destruct. It’ll just help you survive summer traffic.

Send in the cones: You’re probably going to encounter roadwork this summer

By Rachel Terlep

Grab your popcorn and your alternate routes: It’s summer blockbuster season. Except our blockbusters involve busting literal blocks. They also involve lane reductions, detours, delays and – occasionally – some drama. Coming to a highway near you.

Let’s get this out of the way: If you’re heading to a game, festival, concert, Great Aunt Tilda’s across the state…you’re almost certainly going to encounter road work. Yes, even during that MAJOR EVENT you circled on your calendar months ago.

If you feel like you’ve seen this movie before, it’s because the past few summers have been packed with roadwork. This summer will be especially tough with bigger projects spread out over more parts of the state. Cross-state travel will be difficult, particularly on major roadways like the I-90 Vantage Bridge over the Columbia River and the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle.

We’ll have 117 major projects around the state this summer!

Why? It’s not because we hate you. It’s not because we hate the Mariners or Watershed or Seafair or Spokane’s Feed the Buffalo. It’s because we have 117 projects scheduled this summer – not counting day-to-day maintenance, emergencies and local city and county projects who have their own work and closures. Between the day this blog is published (June 10) and Sept. 30, there are just 14 days with no major events happening. Talk about everything everywhere all at once.

To give you an idea what we’re up against, this is a calendar of major events around the state from June to September. This was drafted in late May, so more events may be added later this summer. And these are only major events, there are dozens of other local festivals, fairs and performances each month, too.

“But why does all the roadwork have to happen NOW?!” you ask. We’re addressing long-standing preservation needs and increasing repair demands. Some of these projects were delayed due to funding constraints, and now that money is available. Many of these projects also improve safety or general travel – and often have been requested for many years.

Why summertime? Simply put, a lot of our work requires dry, warm weather. In Washington, that gives us a little window to do a lot of projects. This also includes maintenance activities like roadway striping (Case in point: we generally can’t stripe highways in the winter.)

We try to avoid special events when we can. All lanes on the I-90 Vantage Bridge will be open during Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends. But we can’t do that for every project on every busy weekend, so – again – expect congestion and delays.

Want to keep up with the closures? Here’s a sneak preview of this summer’s biggest features.

The I-5 Ship Canal Bridge will undergo resurfacing and preservation work over the next three years, starting this summer.

Honey, I Closed the Lanes

Revive I-5

Over the next three years, crews will be resurfacing and preserving I-5 through Seattle – from Yesler Way to Northgate, including the Ship Canal Bridge. This bridge hasn’t seen long-term preservation work in 40 years, so we’re giving it some much-needed love.

This summer, contractor crews from Atkinson Construction will repair and resurface about 20% of the northbound Ship Canal Bridge deck, partially repair five expansion joints and replace bridge drain inlets.

Dates to keep in mind:

- June 20 – 23: Weekend-long lane reduction on northbound I-5

- July 18 – 21: Full northbound I-5 closure from I-90 to Northeast 45th Street

- July 21 – Aug. 15: Four-week northbound two-lane reduction across the Ship Canal Bridge

- Aug. 15 – 18: Full northbound I-5 closure from I-90 to Northeast 45th Street

Read more about our Revive I-5 work in our previous blog.

It’s year two of the Vantage Bridge deck replacement project, which means lane directions in both directions most of the summer.

Bridge Wars Episode II: Attack of the Cones

I-90 Vantage Bridge

It’s season two of our deck replacement on the I-90 Vantage Bridge, which means lane reductions in both directions for most of the summer.

Vantage Bridge was last overhauled in 1982 and often develops holes that go all the way through the deck. Holes like that require emergency repairs and lane closures. The bridge is also a major cross-state connection for freight and passenger travel along I-90, so these repairs are incredibly important.

All four lanes of Vantage Bridge will be open during busy summer holidays:

- Fourth of July: Thursday, July 3, to Tuesday, July 8

- Labor Day: Thursday, Aug. 28, to Tuesday, Sept. 2

The bridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction on weekdays (Monday through Friday) and all lanes will be open on Saturdays and Sundays through July 8.

Starting July 9, the bridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction seven days a week until the project wraps for the season in November.

We expect this project to be complete by fall 2028.

A view of I-405 roadwork in Bellevue in July 2024. Expect 10 weekends of impactful work along the I-405/SR 167 corridor this summer.

The Orange Mile(s)

I-405/SR 167 Corridor

Four projects. Fifty miles. There’s a lot to unpack here, so we’ll keep it simple.

This summer, expect up to 10 weekends of impactful work, including lane reductions and full and directional closures along the I-405/SR 167 corridor. A lot of this work will be in the Renton to Bellevue area.

Crews will add additional lanes, shift lanes, install drainage, construct retaining walls, install new signs, replace culverts and pave.

Expect significant delays during weekend closures, especially in the Renton area. Want the details of these four projects? You can find them on our project page.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE…

Those are just the headliners. Also in the lineup this summer:

- Gill-more Girls: This summer, a whopping 20 fish barrier removal work zones will greet travelers on the Olympic Peninsula, including 16 on US 101 from Discovery Bay, west to Sequim, Port Angeles, Forks and south to Lake Quinault.

- Paveheart: Lots of chip seal and paving projects around the state waging battle against rough roads, too many to list here. These projects will be on main roads – like I-5 in Lewis County - and on rural roads in central and eastern Washington.

- BRIDGErton: Dearest gentle traveler, we’ve mentioned the Ship Canal and Vantage bridges. We’ll also be doing preservation work on:

• SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge - closed on intermittent weeknights mid-July through September (not including surprise reveals – a.k.a. unscheduled closures – when we must open the bridge for military vessels).
• I-82 Columbia River Bridge at Umatilla - 24/7 lane closures through the summer
• I-90 bridge at SR 21 in Ritzville – 24/7 lane closures through the summer

- The Rockfall Stabilization Picture Show: A project to reduce the risk of rocks falling onto the roadway will require lane closures and a two-day full closure of US 2 Tumwater Canyon west of Leavenworth. This project will last July through October.

Just to name a few. All said, we have 117 of these projects. We know this is a lot. We’re telling you so you can be prepared. Some tips:

- Stay informed. We get the word out in advance of busy weekends or when project details change, so pay attention to our website, app, email updates, social media and your local news to know what’s happening. You can find info about our app, social media accounts and email updates at our website.

- Get familiar with other forms of transit – buses, trains, bicycles, Link Light Rail. There are a lot of ways to get around. Even carpooling goes a long way to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

- Give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going. Leave early if you can. Take a peep at our real-time travel map before you head out the door so you can note any congestion, crashes or work zones between you and your destination (pssst, this is also a feature on our app).

- Consider altering plans, if possible, during large events or closures. Every person who does their grocery shopping before or after the big backups helps everyone else move along a little smoother. We’re all in this together, folks!

- Identify potential safety rest areas before heading out, to ensure enough breaks to avoid drowsy driving.

- Have a Plan B in mind for that hike. Trailheads parking lots fill up quickly on nice summer days. Never park along road shoulders, as this is unsafe for everyone on the roadway, including emergency response vehicles.

So, send in the cones. Don’t bother, they’re here…

Twin Power: Sheltons keep our ferries running smoothly

 By Brian Vail

Twin brothers Sam and Pete Shelton have worked together since Pete joined WSF in 2020.

Washington State Ferries are famous for having two identical ends, so they never need to turn around. But on the Walla Walla and the Chimacum, it’s not just the boats that have mirror images—it’s the crew. Meet Pete and Sam Shelton, identical twins and engine room employees who keep things running on board.

Pete, the older twin by a few minutes, works as an oiler on the Chimacum and joined our ferry system in 2020. Sam works as an assistant engineer on the Walla Walla and has been with us for over 10 years. Even though they work on different boats, they’ve followed similar paths and still share a lot in common.

The brothers grew up near the water on Key Peninsula, close to Gig Harbor. Early on they learned to navigate from their dad and uncle. As children, they were already cruising around in a small 10-foot Livingston boat. The twins sometimes ran out of gas and had to find a nearby house to call home for a ride—long before kids had cell phones.

“It shocks me because I’m thinking, ‘I’d never let my kid do this,’” said Sam. “We were eight years old, going out in that little boat with just life jackets and oars.”

As teens, Pete and Sam worked at a boat shop near Tacoma and earned valuable sea time on the boat Modoc, experience that helped them later get hired at our ferry system.

Both twins attended two years of trade school for precision machining and manufacturing. Sam went on to work for Hornblower and Pierce County while Pete was hired at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 2012.

Sam was the first to join us in 2014. He debated on working on the deck or in the engine room. Frank Longmate, a captain and one of many mentors that Sam has met, pointed him down a path that altered his career.

“I was leaning towards deck and Frank took a piece of paper and wrote down ‘QMED (Qualified Member of the Engine Department) oiler’ with all the steps it took to get a job in the engine room,” said Sam. “Frank was a really good mentor to me. He showed me the ropes.”

Sam noted the importance of listening and learning from those around us.

“I find people who are willing to share advice are almost more valuable than any class you could take,” he said. “Finding those people that are just a wealth of knowledge that can point you in the right direction.”

Sam worked his way up to assistant engineer over the years and now trains every new engine room employee, which included Pete. Sam is in now in line to be promoted to Chief Engineer.

“I’ve been in the training department since 2018 and I really enjoy sharing the knowledge (that I’ve picked up through the years),” said Sam.

Pete took a slightly different route. In 2017, he became a journeyman machinist and was named Apprentice of the Year, an award given to only one student out of over 200 in each graduating class. He stood out for his problem-solving skills, mentoring others and multiple achievement awards from the Navy. Ultimately Peter worked there for over eight years and was promoted to work leader and then supervisor by 25 years old.

It was Sam who convinced Pete to switch jobs early in 2020. Pete had been focused on his career and wanted to have more time to focus on his passions outside of work. Sam pitched Pete on our more favorable schedule. “You couldn’t pay me enough to keep going on the schedule I had before,” Pete said.

Our engine room crews work seven 12-hour shifts in a row, then get a full week off. They rotate between day and night shifts. The work-life balance is a key selling point in comparison with other maritime positions.

When COVID-19 caused many testing centers to shut down, Pete had to fly to Ketchikan, Alaska to take his oiler’s endorsement test to get hired here. He passed, applied to be an oiler and joined the team, all in one week.

The brothers share a lot in common, including their hobbies. “We always tend to copy each other,” Sam said. “One of us gets a new car, the other one does too. Our hobbies and interests are very similar.”

Pete and Sam Shelton at a training exercise together.

Pete enjoys using his 3D printer and CNC plasma cutter to make custom parts in his free time. On the Chimacum, he even created a model of the vessel’s reduction gear to help train new employees and visitors.

Looking ahead, the twins hope to work together on one of our future hybrid-electric ferries. They dream of helping build the engine room from the ground up. Sam would serve as chief engineer-the face of the engine room-while Pete would be the assistant engineer, working behind the scenes. With both on board, passengers and crew might need to do a double take to figure out how one person seems to be everywhere at once.

“I love this organization,” said Sam. “Nowhere is perfect, but the schedule, the work and the people I get to work with—it’s a great fit.”

The One Where We Know You Know Before You Go

By RB McKeon

They don't know that we know they know we know … but you will know before you go.

Because this summer, knowing is everything, especially when it comes to getting to and through Seattle. With full closures and lane reductions on northbound I-5, we're giving you the inside scoop early so you can plan ahead and travel easier.

Whether you're a Monica-level planner or more of a Joey just-going-with-it, we've got the tools to help you.

When is this happening?

May 29 marks 50 days out from a major milestone in the Revive I-5 Yesler to Northgate project: the first of two full weekend closures of northbound I-5 from the I-90 interchange to Northeast 45th Street. The July 18 closure sets the stage for four weeks of lane reductions across the Ship Canal Bridge. During all of this work, the express lanes will be open northbound 24/7.

• June 20 – 23: Weekend-long lane reduction, 24 hours a day, to prepare for the four-week summer two-lane reduction.
• July 18 – 21: Full northbound I-5 closure from I-90 to Northeast 45th Street to set up the work zone for the four-week lane reduction.
• July 21 – Aug. 15: Four-week northbound two-lane reduction across the Ship Canal Bridge.
• Aug. 15 – 18: Full northbound I-5 closure from I-90 to Northeast 45th Street to pick up the work zone.

Fall/winter: Several southbound I-5 two-lane reductions coming
Work will shift to southbound I-5 lanes this fall/winter. Dates to be announced soon.

What are we doing?

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

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

Know before you go

We get it, closing lanes on I-5 in the summer is a big deal and that's why we're here to make sure you know before you go.

• We encourage you to ride transit — it's the best, most reliable way to get around and youth 18 and under ride free.
• You can expect longer travel times, so consider adjusting when you travel, if you can.
• Stay informed—find the most up to date info on our project website: bit.ly/ConstructionI-5
• Use travel planning tools like WSDOT's app and following us on social media for the latest

Same Friends, new look

It's still us, but we've got a new look to help you find our information.

You'll see this visual identity on all project materials moving forward whether from us or our many regional partners that are playing a role in helping you move throughout the region. We'll be out and about in a neighborhood near you soon so be on the lookout for us.

Wenatchee return-to-service journey

By Stan Suchan

The Wenatchee is one of the state’s three largest ferries. It was built in 1998. In 2023, it went to the shipyard for upgrades to help it last for many more years. When it returns, it will be North America’s largest hybrid-electric passenger vessels. Upgrades are almost done, and there are just a few more steps to get the ferry back in service this summer.

Wenatchee dockside at Vigor shipyard.

What’s new on the Wenatchee?

Crews installed an updated power system and better ship controls. This system, also called the propulsion system, moves the ferry through the water and controls its speed, direction and stopping power. They also converted Wenatchee to hybrid-electric power and did other work to preserve the ferry.

The work included:

• taking out two of the four diesel generators
• building two new battery rooms and outfitting them with 864 battery modules
• installing new controls
• installing thousands of feet of electric and fiber optic cable
• painting much of the exterior of the ferry
• replacing vinyl on some seats
• deep cleaning

The Wenatchee car deck as seen while docked at Vigor shipyard.

What will it take to get Wenatchee back into service this summer?

Sea trials and crew training are currently underway from Vigor Shipyard. After all goes well, the U.S. Coast Guard will issue initial approvals and Washington State Ferries will take the Wenatchee back. The ferry will then be moved from the Vigor Shipyard to Eagle Harbor Shipyard on Bainbridge Island.

Skilled tradespeople at Eagle Harbor will do more work to get the ferry ready for service. Ferry crews aboard Wenatchee will complete training and conduct more sea trials to make sure it’s ready. Then the U.S. Coast Guard must give final approval. If all goes to plan, this should take an additional four to six weeks.

Crews and tradespeople are doing everything they can to get the ferry back into service. But they will not compromise quality for speed. We will keep you informed about the Wenatchee’s journey as we get ready to return the ferry to our Seattle/Bainbridge route.

Why modernize ferries?

In 2024 Washington State Ferries carried more than 19 million riders. Modernizing the aging fleet is necessary to ensure service continues and will be reliable.

Our ferries work hard for more than 20 hours per day. The average ferry in our fleet is over 35 years old. We need to modernize six ferries and build sixteen new ferries by 2040. These ferries will have modern propulsion and operating systems, hybrid-electric power, and other technologies. The return of the Wenatchee represents the first milestone in this once-in-a-generation effort. We are also pursuing the construction of new ferries, the first of which could be in service as early as 2029.

Washington State Ferries is proud of the path we’re on to build our ferry fleet of the future. We hope that you will journey along with us.

Baby salmon (doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo) and a huge milestone for the US 12/SR 8 fish passage project in Grays Harbor County

 By Angela Cochran

Spring is a time of new beginnings – from cherry blossoms and tulips to hatching chicks and ducklings, we see signs of new life after our long, gray winter. In Grays Harbor County, our crews witnessed such an event at a recently completed fish passage site on State Route 8 near McCleary. Remember all those adult salmon we showed you last fall? We are seeing the fruits of their labor – or at least the fruits of some more recent spawning salmon – baby fish!

Our workers saw dozens of baby coho under SR 8 in early April.

These coho salmon fry (the term for baby fish) hatched recently upstream from SR 8 near Mox Chehalis Road East. In summer 2024, we removed the small pipe culvert that blocked fish from swimming under the highway. The new culvert is a large concrete box that allows fish to access habitat that they haven’t been able to get to since the highway was originally built.

We spotted these adult fish upstream of the new culvert in fall 2024. 

The stream is a tributary of Mox Chehalis Creek. It may not seem like much, but this small stream is clearly important to the ecosystem, as we can see that salmon are spawning in it. According to our partners at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the stream also supports other species of salmon, such has chum, as well as resident, steelhead and sea run cutthroat trout. And that’s just the protected fish species. For a small stream, that’s a lot of fish! It stands to reason that giving them access to even more habitat, even just a mile or so, will help them have room to thrive.

More coho fry in the stream under SR 8.

What our crews report seeing in real time is that more habitat means more fish. It’s like that disembodied voice said in that little baseball movie from the 80s, “If you build it, they will come.” This concept also applies to neighboring culverts. Sometimes there are multiple culverts making fish passage difficult or blocking it altogether in a stream but only one that we, as a state highway department, have the authority to correct. However, once we correct ours, counties, cities and even private property owners may be more likely to receive grant funding to help correct theirs.

Good news for highway users

In addition to the baby news, we have some good news for travelers on top of the highway. We expect to complete work at all five locations early. When we designed the project, we expected stream work to take two summers to complete. That meant we would start opening lanes at each site in the fall of 2025. Since our contractor, Cecannti, Inc., was able to complete all the stream work in one summer, we are able to start opening lanes early. As of  Monday, May 19, traffic is now back to its original configuration with two lanes in each direction at Camp Creek in Montesano and the Mox Chehalis Creek tributary east of McCleary.

A look under the new US 12 bridges in Montesano.

Daytime lane closures will still occur as our crews complete landscaping and other final work along the roadway. This will mostly happen on weekdays, which is good news if you’re heading to the beach on a weekend. We also have to remove the large temporary light poles. Once that happens, the speed limit reduction will go away at those two sites.

That will leave only three work zones with around-the-clock lane closures. The speed limit will remain 50 mph approaching Elma from either direction. We’re working at these locations to get them to the next stage throughout spring and summer. You’ll see temporary changes to the roadway while that happens as well as some rolling slowdowns. This allows us to leave one lane open in each direction while paving and striping the closed lanes. Please don’t pass vehicles slowing traffic. They are there for your safety and to protect our workers.

When a traffic backup triggers the Queue Warning System, this electronic sign will display messages like "Traffic Backups Present", "Slow or Stopped Traffic", "Use Both Lanes, Take Turns at Merge".

Travelers will also notice the Queue Warning System moved closer to the remaining work zones approaching Elma. The Queue Warning System uses sensors to detect traffic backups and then displays messages on an electronic sign. The messages let people know what to do as they approach the work zone. We’ve seen these signs activate during busy holiday weekends, so you may notice them if you’re headed to or from the beach for Memorial Day.

Approaching the finish line

We expect to complete work at all sites in the fall. We want to thank you all for your patience. We know it’s been a long road (ha ha!), but we’ve almost arrived at our destination, and you will, too! When planning your summer trip to the beach, make sure to visit our online open house for information on all of the projects happening on the Olympic Peninsula. Check the statewide travel map and WSDOT app for real-time information before heading out the door.

Deep dive into cause of SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge malfunction. Did the tug fix it?

By Cara Mitchell

SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge closed to vehicles but open for marine traffic during a boat opening. Marine openings are required by Federal law.

The State Route 104 Hood Canal Bridge is no ordinary bridge. Surrounded in salt water more than 300 feet deep, it floats like a boat on the surface of Hood Canal. On average 18,000 vehicles a day use the bridge. Communities in Jefferson and Kitsap counties use the bridge to get to appointments, work, school and vacation destinations. It’s also a key gateway for tourists who flock to the Olympic Peninsula.

Timeline

At 1 p.m. Monday, May 5, at the request of the United States Navy, we opened the bridge to allow for their boats to pass through. Per our protocols with any Department of Defense opening, our bridge cameras go dark. There is no advanced warning that the bridge is closing. This is done for security reasons.

We have a dedicated crew at the bridge with in-depth knowledge of the unique span. When they tried to close it so vehicles could drive across, the west half of the span wouldn’t move. Crews troubleshooted the issue for hours, but nothing worked.

They inspected gear boxes, power sources, motors and brakes. Everything looked fine, yet the west half wouldn’t budge. Our state bridge engineers, who were dispatched almost immediately following the malfunction, are based out of Olympia and were coming from work in Aberdeen. We knew the backups on US 101 might delay their arrival at the bridge, so we enlisted the help of Washington State Patrol to escort them through the backups.

Once state bridge engineers arrived at the bridge, they gave the okay to hook a tugboat up to the west half of the bridge. The tug gave it a pull. It worked. After that, the bridge was able to move on its own power. Out of an abundance of caution, we tested bridge functions one more time while the tugboat was on site. Again, the bridge behaved as it should. We opted to limit the marine openings to 300 feet until further inspections could be performed.

A commercial tugboat and WSDOT maintenance skiff in the waters along the Hood Canal before maneuvers to fix the malfunctioning west span of the bridge just before sundown Monday, May 5.

The next day, a bridge inspection team diver went down to look under the bridge. It allowed us to see if there were any obstructions beneath the icy waters of Hood Canal. The diver looked for evidence of debris stuck under the bridge or marine growth on the bridge bottom that could have caused the issue. They found nothing out of the ordinary. There was nothing that would have caused the bridge to malfunction. Another test opening took place Tuesday evening with the tugboat nearby. The bridge operated under its own power with no issues. The mystery deepened even further. The bridge works like normal. Nothing to indicate why it wouldn’t budge Monday night.

A WSDOT bridge inspector in dive gear, getting ready to inspect underwater portions of the floating Hood Canal Bridge the day after it malfunctioned.

Working theory to potential cause

There is no apparent mechanical or electrical cause. That leaves us with a working theory. It’s possible that some kind of underwater debris affected the span and dislodged when the tugboat pulled on the draw span.

When something isn’t working right, human instinct is to “diagnose and fix”. We would really like to pinpoint an exact cause. At the same time we have not seen any damage to the bridge. Our Hood Canal Bridge crew and state bridge engineers are continuing to evaluate this issue.

Why we open the bridge for boats

Under maritime rules, boats get the right-of-way over vehicles when bridges block the path of marine traffic. We understand it seems counterintuitive since there are more vehicles than marine vessels. However, long established law requires the Hood Canal Bridge and others like it (Title 33, Part 177 Draw Bridge Operations) to give marine traffic the right-of-way over vehicular traffic.

We have worked with regulators to prevent some seasonal drawspan openings. From May 22 to Sept. 30 each year, private vessels (pleasure craft) are prohibited from requesting a drawspan opening from 3 to 6:15 p.m. daily during the peak afternoon commute. The rule doesn’t apply to commercial, U.S Navy or other Department of Defense vessels.

But not all boats are the same and not all need the bridge to open. In those cases, the regulations require mariners to navigate under the truss spans of the bridge whenever possible. Mariners should not request draw span passage if their vertical clearance is enough to use elevated areas of the bridge.

Truss heights (smallest vertical clearances at Mean High Water) clearances vary based on tides and wave activity.

• Jefferson County (west) measures 31 feet
• Kitsap County (east) measures 50 feet

Requesting an unneeded draw span opening is a reportable offense to the United States Coast Guard and needlessly jams up traffic across the bridge.

Saltwater marine environment requires ongoing maintenance

When people drive across the third longest floating bridge in the world, they probably don’t think about what it means to be on a floating bridge on corrosive salt water.

The salty, marine environment requires the structure to have ongoing maintenance and construction.

The bridge is also regularly under pressure from wind, waves, and fast-moving tides. This past winter we’ve had to close the bridge due to strong winds and extreme tidal swings in the 300-foot-deep Hood Canal.

Because the bridge is so unique, many of its key elements are custom made. When a part wears out it takes a lot of time to fabricate and install a replacement. There is no other bridge like it in the world. Later this summer, we hope to wrap up work on the bridge’s center lock system, which is all custom work.

Here’s one of two systems that helps keep both halves of the bridge in place. 

Extended bridge closures

We try to avoid extended closures of the bridge as much as possible.

We don’t control the weather though. Long closures for wind and strong tides happen.

In most cases, when there’s a mechanical problem our dedicated bridge crew can address it in less time than it takes for folks to travel the 3-hour detours by road along the Hood Canal or by boat using the Port Townsend Ferry.

Sometimes, extended closures are necessary to complete vital projects that keep the bridge operational. However, these are almost always at night with advanced notice to travelers.

When extended closures occur, we ask that travelers waiting on the shoulder of US 101, SR 104 or SR 3 for the bridge to open to not block driveways for property owners. This creates challenges for local communities.

How to check the Hood Canal Bridge status

We offer several ways for bridge users to stay up to date in real time. Add these handy links to your travel toolkit when you plan trips across the water:

• Sign up for bridge closure notifications
• Check the bridge status page
• Download the WSDOT app
• Follow us on X/Twitter or Bluesky

Please visit our online open house for more information about the 2025 construction season and to sign up for updates.

Guess who’s back, back again! 2-boat Seattle/Bremerton ferry service and more!

By Bryn Hunter

Summer in Washington state is, in a word, perfect. Sunny skies, temperatures in the mid-70s and low 80s, and endless outdoor recreation opportunities.

And, for many, that means taking a ride on the iconic Washington State Ferries. The number of passengers doubles in the summer. It’s our Super Bowl.

This summer will be a notable one for our history books. We’re going to return to almost full domestic service three years earlier than originally planned.

We could not bring back more ferry service without our highly skilled crews. Our dedicated mariners are trained professionals who take safety seriously and are proud to serve their communities every day. 

Adding service

In early 2025, Gov. Bob Ferguson directed WSF to focus on service. Service restoration had been on hold until the new hybrid-electric ferries start arriving in 2029. With the governor’s direction, our Vessel Engineering department went to work. Thanks to their hard work, we’ll have the 18 vessels we need to add service beginning next month.

This summer we will bring back the following service:

• The Seattle/Bremerton route will return to its two-boat schedule starting Sunday, June 15.
• The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth “Triangle” route will resume its pre-pandemic three-boat schedule beginning Monday, June 30.
• A second vessel will operate on the Port Townsend/Coupeville run every Friday through Monday from July 4 through the end of the route’s shoulder season on Oct. 13.

As we worked on these updated schedules, we wanted to make sure our Triangle route’s two-boat backup schedule would be more reliable. We heard from riders that you care more about predictable schedules than the number of sailings. That’s why we made the decision to move to a full three-boat weekend schedule this summer instead of a modified two-boat schedule with a third bonus boat.

We’re also going to operate a new summer schedule in the San Juan Islands. This comes after a robust, two-year public engagement process. We've launched new winter and spring seasonal sailings schedules on the route. Since then, we’ve seen a 20 percent improvement in on-time performance from the previous year. We’re optimistic that the new summer schedule will continue the trend.

The reality of adding service

We’ll need to crew three more boats daily for this added service. We've worked hard on our hiring and career development efforts. That means we’ve built a much more sustainable workforce pipeline to keep our crewing levels where we need them to be. But with more vessels in service, there will be fewer available relief crew members. That means an increased risk of short-term cancellations due to staffing shortages while we work to fill relief requests.

And with an aging fleet we know some vessels will be out for various reasons unexpectedly. They may be sidelined by a rogue crab pot or a mechanical breakdown as they work their nearly 24/7 service hours.

With these risks in mind, we’ve updated our Service Contingency Plan to show how we make service decisions with full transparency. Wonder why certain vessels can only operate on certain routes? Or why Sealth seems to travel throughout the entire ferry system? Check out the plan to read the full breakdown of what we do during service breakdowns.

We’re so excited to be able to offer more service for our over 19 million riders each year. Here’s to summer 2025, a good time to be excited about Washington State Ferries!

Diverging from the norm to deliver a diamond

Update: 10 a.m. Thursday, May 22, 2025

The five-day closure of State Route 18 has been rescheduled due to rain and is now expected May 29 to June 4.

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By David Rasbach

Five-day closure of SR 18 sets the stage for summer interchange opening

We weren’t planning on a five-day extended weekend closure of State Route 18.
Instead we had a series of normal weekend closures planned over the next few months. But we want to keep the I-90/SR 18 Interchange Improvements project on schedule and moving efficiently, so we’re doing something different.

On Thursday night, May 29, both directions of SR 18 at the I-90 interchange near Snoqualmie will close. It will remain closed around the clock for five full days, reopening Wednesday morning, June 4. If we took the more common approach of overnight or weekend closures, this work would take months. This extended closure allows us to complete critical work in just five days.

We know this will be a major disruption. But it’s a strategic decision that helps avoid many weeks of recurring closures. It also puts us in a strong position to open the new diverging diamond interchange later this summer.

The May 15-21 closure of SR 18 will allow us to complete nearly three months of work on the south end of the new diverging diamond interchange in just five days.

What to expect during the closure

SR 18 will be fully closed in both directions at the I-90 interchange. This closure will be in effect from 9 p.m. Thursday, May 29, through 5 a.m. Wednesday, June 4. No traffic will be allowed under the I-90 bridges during this time.

We scheduled the closure after Memorial Day weekend to avoid the busiest holiday travel weekend.

What’s happening during the closure?

Crews will complete a major phase of work on the southern part of the new interchange, including:

• Installing new drainage and electrical crossings
• Removing the existing SR 18 pavement
• Rebuilding and paving the diverging diamond south of the I- 90 bridges
• Constructing concrete islands and curbs
• Creating a left-turn lane from westbound SR 18 onto Southeast 104th Street
• Installing a U-turn with a signal so eastbound SR 18 drivers can head westbound toward Auburn

All this work will be complete when the road reopens on Wednesday morning. The remaining steps will wrap up later this summer. This includes work under the I-90 bridges and on the northern part of the interchange.

This five-day closure allows us to complete in days what would normally take up to three months. It also reduces lane shifts on SR 18, improving safety for crews and people traveling.

Detour and access information

While mainline I-90 will remain open, traffic using on- and off-ramps will be restricted:

• Eastbound I-90 off-ramp traffic can only turn right (south) onto westbound SR 18
• Westbound I-90 off-ramp traffic can only turn right (north) onto Snoqualmie Parkway or continue onto westbound I-90
• No left turns will be allowed from either ramp
• Eastbound SR 18 traffic must detour via eastbound I-90 and loop around
• Southbound Snoqualmie Parkway traffic must detour via westbound I-90 and loop around

During the May 15-21 closure of SR 18, you can detour using eastbound and westbound I-90 and loop around at nearby interchanges – exit 20 (High Point Way) or exit 22 (Preston-Fall City) to the west of SR 18 or exit 27 (Southeast North Bend Way) east of SR 18 – to reach your destination.

Maintaining access: Emergency responders, Snoqualmie Valley School District, and Sound Transit buses will be allowed through the SR 18 work zone under the I-90 bridges during the closure.

Freight advisory: Freight haulers heading westbound on I-90 should plan ahead:

• Use Exit 22 (Preston–Fall City) to loop back to westbound SR 18
• Or continue west on I-90 to southbound I-405

Please do not use Issaquah city streets or Issaquah-Hobart Road. These streets are not suitable for semi-truck traffic.

Westbound I-90 freight traffic should either use exit 22 (Preston-Fall City) to loop back to SR 18 or continue on westbound I-90 to to southbound I-405. Issaquah city streets and Issaquah-Hobart Road are not suitable for semi-trucks.

Full detours will utilize:

• Exit 20 (High Point Way) or exit 22 (Preston-Fall City)
• Exit 27 (Southeast North Bend Way)

We expect delays, especially during peak travel times. Please plan ahead, leave early and consider alternate routes if possible. Real-time traffic updates are available via the WSDOT app and travel map.

People trying to reach Snoqualmie during the closure of SR 18 should use eastbound I-90, loop around to westbound I-90 at Southeast North Bend Way (exit) 27 and exit to SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkway.

During the closure of SR 18, people coming from Snoqualmie Pass will have to follow a detour to reach westbound SR 18, while people heading from eastbound SR 18 toward the pass can follow their normal route.

During the closure of SR 18, people coming from Snoqualmie and heading to Maple Valley or over Snoqualmie Pass will need to use westbound I-90 and loop around at the Preston or High Point interchanges.

During the closure of SR 18, people coming from south of the I-90/SR 18 interchange who need head west on I-90 will need to use eastbound I-90 and loop around at Southeast North Bend Way.

What’s next

This closure marks a major milestone in the I-90/SR 18 interchange project.

With the southern end complete, we can focus on building under the I-90 bridges and on the northern end of the interchange. This closure helps us take a big step toward improved traffic flow, reduced congestion and enhanced safety. Before you know it we’ll be polishing off a diamond of an interchange.

Once complete later this summer, the new I-90/SR 18 diverging diamond interchange will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and increase safety through one of the state’s busiest interchanges.