Aging bridge joints: Sturdy Gertie in Tacoma needs a total knee replacement

By: April Leigh and Cara Mitchell

Emergency lane closures across the State Route 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Gig Harbor for bridge joint repairs on April 27, 2026.

Heads up State Route 16 commuters: more emergency repairs on the westbound 1950 Tacoma Narrows Bridge that takes travelers from Tacoma to Gig Harbor are on the horizon.

A quick history lesson first: the westbound bridge opened to travelers in 1950. It replaced the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge, forever known as “Galloping Gertie.” The 1950 westbound bridge has a few nicknames – one of which is Sturdy Gertie.

We want to level with you on the challenges our dear Sturdy Gertie is facing. We also want to share the steps we are taking to keep this landmark structure working for years to come.

The most pressing issue is the expansion joints. Those are the steel pieces on the bridge deck that make the “thuh-thunk” sound when you drive over them. There are small joints and large joints on the bridge. Like joints on a person, they work together to help the bridge move.

Three of the four large expansion joints near the towers have approached the end of their useable life. Up to now, we've been able to make temporary repairs and keep lane closures to a minimum. But temporary repairs can only last so long.

A detailed description of the location, age and recent repairs of the large expansion joints on the westbound State Route 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Gig Harbor.

The graphic shows the locations of each expansion joint on the 1950 Tacoma Narrows Bridge. There are two by each tower, and each are labeled. There is a section in the Tacoma West Joint where temporary fixes will no longer work. This section is mostly under the two right lanes where the heaviest loads travel. We are at the point where a more extensive repair is needed to keep all lanes open until the aging joints can be replaced. The cost estimate for this extensive temporary repair is $140,000.

Here's the good, the bad and the not-so-surprising details on what's ahead:

The good

There is only one solution between temporary repairs and completely new joints– that's a partial joint replacement. This is a herculean effort, considering these parts aren't exactly available at the hardware store. We've been working with a local steel fabricator since August to create the partial joint and prepare it for installation.

Parts of the new partial joint during fabrication.

The bad

Installing a new partial joint is a big job and requires two lanes across the bridge to close around the clock for two weeks. During the work the two right lanes of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Gig Harbor and the Jackson Avenue on-ramp to westbound State Route16 will close. This means two weeks of long afternoon commutes and delays for travelers. Many of us use the bridge daily and know what a pain this will be.

We expect to make these repairs in October and will share the start date for the work as soon as it's available.

When you drive across the bridge and pass the work zone while repairs are underway, chances are you may see little to no activity. That's because most of the repairs are happening underneath the bridge deck. After the work is finished, we also need time to see how the bridge responds before opening lanes for travel.

Daylight hours are required for this work. If we could do this kind of work at night, we would. This is precision work in a confined space while suspended high above the water. We do lots of other work at night, but this isn't one of them.

The not-so-surprising

This repair is one of many temporary fixes to help keep lanes open until the joints are replaced. It doesn't mean travelers won't see more emergency repairs in both this and other locations. Unfortunately, you can expect more lane closures across the bridge.

Whenever possible, we try to limit repairs during the weekday afternoon commute. But emergencies are just that, and we're not always able to wait until the evening or weekends to do the work.

In some cases, it's nearly impossible to identify where an expansion joint is damaged until it becomes apparent. There are areas of the bridge joints that are encased in concrete. Failures in those areas are often not visible until the driving surface begins to crack and deteriorate around them.

Why the joints keep breaking

The bridge is no spring chicken. As materials age, things begin to break. It faces wind, high traffic volumes and heavy loads. The metal and concrete driving surface expands and contracts in hot and cold weather.

We are now finding cracks and failures in the large steel joints with increasing frequency. Of the 10 emergency repairs since 2024, eight have occurred at the large joints on the bridge.

We weld new steel and add support structures where we can. But with each new temporary repair, the joints deteriorate more. We fix one spot, only to have another crack show up right next to it. It's like breaking a leg, getting a cast, and then breaking the same bone- just in a different spot.

Repairs to large expansion joints on the SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Gig Harbor April 23, 2026.

Project to replace the joints coming

A project to replace the joints is in currently in design, with construction planned in 2027. We aren't building a new bridge – we're fixing Sturdy Gertie. Until we can get the work started, travelers need to be prepared for potentially more emergency lane closures and short-term repairs. We know you'll have lots of questions on what that construction will look like next year – we do too. We will share those details once we have them.

Replacing the bridge joints is one of several preservation projects we are tracking on the 76-year-old bridge over the next six years. We are prioritizing the work based on the emergent need and available preservation funding. The most recent increase in preservation funding in the state's transportation budget will help us keep Sturdy Gertie working as it should for years to come. Right now, just over $300 million is programmed through 2031 for preservation projects specific to the westbound bridge. Beyond next summer's bridge joint replacement work, additional preservation work includes painting the deck truss and towers of the westbound span in the next five years. This is a proactive step to preserve the steel. This proactive work means we save significant money in the future by not having to rehab and replace corroded elements of the bridge. The painting project would include some steel repair work, but it would not be to the point of major rehabilitation, if done soon. Painting the bridge would require full containment over The Narrows, which brings a high cost.

Bridge deck rehabilitation and cable dehumidification need to be done in the next 10 years. This work was recommended following a 2019 inspection.

We can't do all this work at the same time. Paying for each of these repair projects is dependent on funding in the state transportation budget, which is created and approved by the state legislature and signed by the governor.

Don't tolls pay for repairs on the westbound bridge?

No, the tolls you pay on the eastbound SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge do not pay for maintenance on the westbound bridge. Tolls support the operations, maintenance, preservation and insurance costs for the eastbound bridge, which opened to travelers in 2007. The tolls are required until debt service, deferred sales tax, and loans provided by the state have been repaid. More details on Tacoma Narrows Bridge tolling can be found on the Washington State Transportation Commission's website.

Some areas of the expansion joints are encased in concrete. During this 2024 repair to one of the smaller joints, crews scoured out old concrete to repair underneath it.

Why can't you switch one of the bridges to handle both directions of travel?

The bridges do have this capability. However, it takes a long time to convert one bridge to accommodate both directions of travel. They are not set up like Seattle's express lanes. Switching directions of travel across the SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge requires miles of traffic control barrels, cones and signs on both the Tacoma and Gig Harbor sides of the channel. It also requires reduced speeds in both directions. Putting this into place can take up to four hours, plus additional crew to implement. Trying to switch travel during heavy commute hours on this bridge would cause more backups, not less for travelers.

Is the bridge still safe to travel?

Yes. While we do have to close lanes and make emergency repairs, the bridge remains safe for travel in the open lanes.

Know before you go

If you travel from Tacoma to Gig Harbor, make a plan for emergency lane closures. Check the WSDOT app or the real-time travel map before heading across the bridge. Also, please sign up for our email updates. We work to only send these updates when necessary. We'll send out advance notification of significant work or an explanation of what's happening if we need to suddenly close lanes on the bridge.

When traveling, pay attention to messages on the electronic signs above the highway near the bridge. Have a full charge or tank of gas. Travel outside traditional afternoon commute hours whenever possible. There is also the possibility we'll open the HOV lane to all travelers, so please watch for announcements on the overhead electronic signs.

SR 525 Bridge Over Railroad and Paving Projects

Exciting projects are happening on State Route 525! We are hard at work with multiple projects along SR 525 this year. This blog post highlights some recent accomplishments, current events and future direction for the route.

New paving on SR 525 in Lynnwood

We repaved a section of SR 525 between the I-5/I-405 interchange and SR 99 in Lynnwood this past construction season. Eight ramps were also repaved. This section of SR 525 was built in 1984 and was last paved more than 20 years ago in 2004. Preservation work is needed to keep the highway in a state of good repair as more people use SR 525.

The asphalt on this stretch of SR 525 outlived its expected 15-year lifespan. Cracks, ruts, and potholes have developed through the years. These make the roadway uneven, causing pooled water and reduced tire traction. This makes drivers slow down to handle the wet conditions, which impact travel times. Our updates will improve driving conditions and extend highway life.

Community engagement highlight – summer 2025 online open house

We wrapped up our summer 2025 online open house for both the SR 525 Mukilteo Bridge Over Railroad – Bridge Replacement and SR 525 Spur Vic to Mukilteo Ferry Vic – Paving and ADA projects. Thank you for the feedback!

The online open house aimed to understand:

• Active transportation priorities.
• Issues with the existing bridge, bike and pedestrian improvements.
• How people currently move through the area, as well as future use with new facilities.

Nearly 3,000 people viewed the online open house and 87 submitted survey responses. Survey highlights are included below.

• Over one in four respondents walk, bike or roll through the area daily. Nearly one in three respondents stated they would travel the corridor daily if new improvements were made.
• Over 60% of respondents ranked “address safety concerns for those who walk, bike, or roll” as a project priority. “Wider sidewalks” followed, which was a priority for 44% of respondents. Other priorities included:
• Keeping roads open during construction
• Improving the flow of traffic
• Being aware of the impacts of community growth
• Effective transit integration
• Beautification and safety
• When asked to select the top three facilities that respondents would like to see included in the project:
• 52% picked wider sidewalks
• 45% picked separated bike lanes
• 44% picked separated shared use paths

Find the project’s summer 2025 online open house report for full summary of what we heard.

Learn more about the project by reading its FAQ document.

What is Currently Happening – SR 525 Spur Vic to Mukilteo Ferry Vic Paving & ADA

Construction has started for the SR 525 Spur Vic to Mukilteo Ferry Vic – Paving and ADA project. This project will pave SR 525 right up to the railroad bridge that leads to the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal. The project will repave SR 525 with Hot Mix Asphalt and construct Americans with Disability Act upgrades from the SR 525 Spur, which is located just north of Harbour Place, to 2nd Street.

Work will happen nightly (9 p.m. to 7 a.m.) on Sunday nights to Friday mornings. Northbound SR 525 will alternate traffic in the intersections between Paine Field and the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal (mileposts 5 to 8).

We are also making the following improvements:

• New bike lanes from Paine Field Boulevard to 84th Street Southwest
• Intersection improvements, with rectangular rapid flashing beacons, at multiple locations:
• 88th Street Southwest
• 81st Place Southwest
• 80th Street Southwest
• Clover Lane

Due to the short timeframe to deliver the upgrades, the full vision of active transportation facilities needed to meet the complete streets requirement will be built by a later, unfunded project.

What to Expect on SR 525 Moving Forward – Mukilteo Bridge Over Railroad Replacement Project Design & Construction

We picked a two-way bike lane design (also called a cycle track) to meet complete streets requirements. The alternative includes the following to serve those who bike, walk, roll and access transit and decrease vehicle speeds:

• Buffered two-way bike lanes (cycle track) and sidewalk on the west side of SR 525.
• Narrower traffic lanes (11 feet).
• Buffered sidewalk on the east side of SR 525.

The design process for the SR 525 Mukilteo Bridge Over Railroad Replacement project is now underway and is expected to continue through spring 2028.

There will be opportunities to learn more about the project as bridge design continues. The expected construction timeline is spring 2028 through winter 2030.

Beneath the bridge: Meet the interns helping protect Washington's bridges

By: Tina Werner

Most people cross a bridge without giving it a second thought. For Austin and Katelyn, they say every bridge tells a story.

This summer, the two civil engineering students traded college classrooms for hard hats and safety vests. Instead of solving problems from a textbook, they spent their summer helping inspect bridges. We have more than 3,400 bridges and overpasses we maintain across Washington.

Austin stands on the shoulder of US 12 near Morton to measure the depth of water and the conditions of Lake Creek below. This is an important part of bridge inspections, especially for bridges that cross rivers or other waterways.

They climbed under bridges, tested aging bridge decks and noted potential repairs. This hands-on experience gave them a look at the work that keeps our transportation system safe and operational. Traveling across the state and being mentored by Washington’s top bridge engineers – also a bonus.

Learning by doing

Austin, a civil engineering student at Saint Martin's University in Lacey, is spending his second summer with us. Austin is a United States Army veteran and said public service is important to him.

Austin in his United States Army uniform during an airborne operations training in 2019.

"I've always wanted to do work that serves people," Austin said.

His internship focused largely on bridge inspections. Working alongside experienced bridge engineers, he helped document bridge conditions. He learned to look for signs of wear and tear and how inspections help prioritize repairs.

One of his favorite discoveries?

"By far the coolest part was learning about Washington’s timber bridges," Austin said. "We don't really study those in school because they're an older bridge design."

Washington is home to hundreds of older bridges. Many of them have safely served travelers for decades due to regular inspections, maintenance and preservation work. In fact, we maintain 342 bridges* that are more than 80 years old, showing how ongoing care can extend a bridge's service life. Of those, 57 bridges are timber structures and over 80 years old.

Looking beyond the roadway

Katelyn is a Washington State University civil engineering student. She spent much of her summer seeing bridges from a perspective most travelers never experience.

Katelyn stands inside the bucket of an under-bridge inspection truck along State Route 25 over the Columbia River in Northport. This summer, she helped perform chloride testing on bridge decks. She also helped inspect bridge components and examined structures from below. The testing helps find where salt may be causing corrosion inside the concrete before larger problems develop.

"My friends didn't realize we inspect the belly of a bridge," Katelyn said. "Most people only think about the roadway they drive on. There's an entire structure underneath that has to be inspected piece by piece."

Finding issues early allows us to schedule maintenance before damage becomes more extensive. This helps us extend a bridge's lifespan. It also reduces future costs and minimizes disruptions for travelers. This work coincides with the day-to-day work by our maintenance crews.

Every bridge is different

One lesson both interns quickly learned is that no two bridges are the same. Bridge engineers inspect each structure on a regular schedule. Typically, every two years, they check its condition and identify potential repairs.

Some inspections happen from under-bridge inspection trucks. These special trucks allow engineers to reach areas hidden from drivers above. Others need specialty underwater dive teams to inspect bridge foundations. Our movable bridges need mechanical and electrical expert inspectors to do their jobs.

Austin said riding in an under-bridge inspection truck while examining bridges was one of the highlights of his summer.

Underneath the SR 509 bridge near Dash Point State Park. Austin helped inspect several components of the bridge with our bridge preservation team.

"It gives you a completely different perspective when you are in a UBIT below the deck," he said.

The work also showed them that bridge repairs rarely come with an off-the-shelf solution. Many repairs need engineers to design custom fixes because every bridge has its own history, design and challenges.

"People think bridges are all the same," Katelyn said. "They're not. Every bridge requires its own solution. That's what makes this work exciting."

Building tomorrow's workforce

The internship also offered something unexpected: seeing women in engineering leadership roles on our Bridges and Structures Team.

"It was inspiring to see women leading projects and solving complex engineering problems," Katelyn said.

Austin and Katelyn finished their internships on Thursday, August 20 and will now return to college this fall. Both say the experience confirmed they chose the right career path. They hope to someday work for the state of Washington in some capacity.

Their summer wasn't just about inspecting bridges. It was about learning how engineering improves people's everyday lives. Bridges are one component of our state’s complex and evolving transportation system. They keep families connected, support local communities and help millions of people get to work or the grocery store each day. For these interns, every inspection was another step toward becoming the next generation of engineers. We look forward to this next generation, who will design, inspect and preserve Washington's bridges for decades to come.

Learn more about our internship opportunities. And check out our careers in engineering, maintenance and transportation planning.

###

*Based on June 2025 bridge data.

Listening to what the numbers tell us – SR 9/SR 204 roundabout to be rechannelized

 We listen carefully to what our highways tell us.

Though the roads obviously can’t talk, we hear what they’re saying through reports from drivers and community partners who use the roads on a daily basis. We watch with a careful eye, noting how traffic behaves. And, perhaps most importantly, we dig into data to find out if changes we’ve made have the desired effect.

When the numbers show we can still make improvements, our traffic engineers dig in to figure out how. We don’t have an “our way or the highway” mentality – at WSDOT, our way IS ensuring the highway is operating safely and efficiently.

A great example of this will happen Saturday night, Aug. 22, in Lake Stevens.

In 2023, we opened two multi-lane roundabouts on SR 9 in Lake Stevens to help reduce serious injury and fatal crashes and improve traffic flow through the corridor.

In summer 2023, we built two multi-lane roundabouts along State Route 9 in the heart of the busy Frontier Village retail area. These roundabouts were part of a seven-year, $69 million effort working with the community to reduce the potential for serious injury and fatal crashes in the area, limit SR 9 congestion, provide better access to area businesses and improve travel through the area for people walking, biking, taking transit and driving.

Along with the SR 9 roundabouts at SR 204 and Vernon Road, the project added smaller roundabouts at Vernon Road’s intersections with North Davies Road and 91st Avenue Northeast, plus new sidewalks and bike paths.

Then we watched, listened and analyzed to see if the new roundabouts were working as intended.

Digging into the numbers

We’ve fielded concerns from people using the new roundabouts and remained in contact with Lake Stevens officials since the roundabout opened. But it usually takes about three years of post-construction data to see how well a new intersection is working.

Now that we nearly have three full years of data, we have a better picture of how they’ve been performing. Overall, the data showed that collision numbers have decreased since the roundabouts opened. After averaging 16.3 crashes per month the first year after major construction finished (July 2023 through June 2024), that number was down to about 12 collisions per month during the most recent full year since the roundabout opened (July 2025 through June 2026, though that number could change slightly as the most recent collision data is finalized).

While this trend is promising, our engineers developed ideas for further improvement at the roundabout by targeting the locations where crashes are occurring the most.

Chart shows location of crashes entering the SR 9/SR 204 roundabout from the east and the west from July 2023 through June 2026. Safety Disclaimer and Subject Figure: Under 23 U.S. Code § 148 and 23 U.S. Code § 407, safety data, reports, surveys, schedules, lists compiled or collected for the purpose of identifying, evaluating, or planning the safety enhancement of potential crash sites, hazardous roadway conditions, or railway-highway crossings are not subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in a Federal or State court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action for damages arising from any occurrence at a location mentioned or addressed in such reports, surveys, schedules, lists, or data.

Finding areas for improvement

Looking closer at the numbers, our engineers found that about 86% of the crashes since July 2023 related to the two new roundabouts on SR 9 (419 of 490 crashes) happened at the SR 9/SR 204 intersection.

Drilling even deeper into the crash data at the SR 9/SR 204 roundabout, we found more than 50% of all the reported crashes happened on the SR 204 approach on the west side of the intersection and the Seventh Place Northeast approach to the east.

It is in those two areas where we will focus on making improvements.

WSDOT plans to make four lane striping modifications to the SR 9/SR 204 roundabout in Lake Stevens to help create simpler decisions for drivers.

The solution: Making it simpler

After identifying these collision trends, our traffic engineers set out to find solutions. Turns out, we think the easiest way to reduce crashes is to … well, make things easier.

We plan to make four striping modifications to the SR 9/SR 204 roundabout that we believe will create simpler decisions for drivers and, therefore, reduce chances for crashes. We plan to use lane markings to rechannelize parts of the roundabout by:

1. Removing one of the circulating lanes between the westbound Seventh Place Northeast and eastbound SR 204 approaches.
2. Removing one southbound SR 9 lane entering and exiting the roundabout.
3. Removing one westbound Seventh Place Northeast lane approaching the roundabout.
4. Making minor modifications to the striping on eastbound SR 204 lanes approaching the roundabout.

Not only will these changes create easier decisions for drivers, they also will reduce the number of potential conflict points between vehicles entering and circulating in the roundabout. It also right-sizes the intersection’s number of lanes to current traffic volumes, and it will calm eastbound, westbound and southbound traffic as it approaches the intersection.

Taking away a southbound lane on SR 9 could create more delays than drivers currently see. But we expect these changes will continue to reduce the number of collisions that occur at this busy intersection.

WSDOT will rechannel the SR 9/SR 204 roundabout in Lake Stevens Saturday night, Aug. 22, to reduce the number of places cars could come into conflict with each other and make decisions easier for drivers.

So, what’s next?

Unfortunately, the current pavement markings were not made in pencil, so making the adjustments will take a nighttime closure of the roundabout on Saturday night, Aug. 22. From 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, to 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, we will fully close the intersection so that we can remove the old pavement markings, install the new ones and make the SR 9/SR 204 roundabout easier to use. This work requires dry weather and may be rescheduled if rain is forecast.

During this closure, access will remain open to local businesses, but through traffic should detour using Market Place and Lundeen Parkway.

After the new pavement markings are installed, our traffic engineers will continue to monitor the intersection, making sure the changes we’ve made have the desired effect.

As our rechannelization efforts in Lake Stevens show, that’s not an empty promise – we listen to what our highways and the people who use them tell us.

Judkins Park Station Study: How Recent Crossing Improvements Have Lowered Speeds

The Judkins Park community in Seattle continues to grow. With the new Judkins Park Station now open, more people are walking, biking and taking transit. As the neighborhood grows, transportation improvements are leveling-up safety. We’re making it easier to travel on Rainier Avenue South at the Interstate 90 interchange.

The I‑90 ramps to Rainier Avenue South create busy intersections. That makes it challenging to walk, bike, roll or access transit. Cars move through these intersections quickly. Community members have shared concerns about vehicle speeds when crossing the ramps.

Data from the Judkins Park ramps shows that small changes can help reduce speeds. These changes improve safety for everyone traveling through the area. Here, you can see a raised crosswalk and crossing beacon installed by the Seattle Department of Transportation this year.

Our study focused on the safety, bicycle and pedestrian facilities at the ramp and Ranier Avenue South intersection, and access to transit. Our study recommends teeing-up the ramp intersections and eliminating one ramp. The ramp recommended to be removed is westbound I-90 to northbound Rainier Avenue South. These improvements are in the early stages of concept design. The next step in the process is a separate study to evaluate impacts to I-90. This study is subject to FHWA approval. Recently, we partnered with the Seattle DOT on an improvement project at this location. The project constructed the following quick-implementation improvements to three of the ramps:

• a raised crosswalk at the northbound Rainier to eastbound I-90 on-ramp. There was already a rectangular rapid flashing beacon here.
• a raised crosswalk and flashing beacon at the southbound Rainier to eastbound I-90 on-ramp
• a raised crosswalk and flashing beacon at the westbound I-90 to southbound Rainier off-ramp.

These improvements help slow the speed of vehicles traveling through the ramp intersections. We completed these improvements in March 2026. We also completed a before-and-after speed study to understand the effect of the improvements. We collected speed data for one-week periods before and after the changes. We used cameras installed at the crosswalks for this study.

What the data shows

The study shows a small reduction in average speeds after the raised crosswalks and flashing beacons were installed. Even better, the results show a dramatic drop in the highest speeds recorded at each ramp.

Highlights include:

• Average speeds for vehicles at all three crosswalks are below 26mph. For reference, the speed limit on Rainier Avenue South is 25 mph.
• 85% of all vehicles traveled slower than 28 mph.
• The top speed at the crosswalk for the westbound I-90 off-ramp to southbound Rainier Avenue South dropped 45%, from 71 mph to 39 mph.
• The top speed at the crosswalk for the northbound Rainier Avenue South on-ramp to eastbound I-90 dropped 32%, from 68 mph to 46 mph.

The top speeds are the most challenging for people who bike, walk, roll or drive in the neighborhood. These changes in top speeds increase safety for all modes of travel.

Raised crosswalks have lowered vehicle speeds near the on- and off-ramps. Average speeds for vehicles at all three crosswalks are below 26 mph.

Why speed matters

Speed plays a key role in whether a crash results in serious injury or death. According to national safety research, you are more likely to survive a collision if vehicles are moving slower.

Small reductions in speed can have a big impact. By lowering both average speeds and the highest measured speeds, projects like this can enhance safety for everyone. Improvements like raised crosswalks make it safer for people walking, biking or rolling through the area.

Why these results matter

The joint SDOT/WSDOT project marks the first time that we have installed raised crosswalks on one of our roadways.

The results of the before-and-after study are consistent with what other agencies are seeing. Examples include a recent Hawaii DOT project and the Seattle DOT Speed humps. These combined results suggest that raised crosswalks can help calm and slow traffic. We’re helping communities take safety to the next level, even in areas like freeway ramps. These results will help us decide where to add raised crosswalks in the future.

Looking ahead

We are continuing to work on improving how people move through the area. With the Judkins Park light rail station now open, we are creating a multimodal transportation system. This means systems that work for everyone, whether they are walking, biking, taking transit or driving.

While there is more work ahead, these early improvements are a step forward. They show how targeted upgrades can make a big difference. Together, community input, data and smart design choices are helping unlock a safer, more connected Judkins Park area. These insights will continue to guide our decisions. We are working toward long-term improvements to safety, access and connectivity in the area.

We will continue to work with our partners to refine our recommended alternative. Read our fifth blog post about this project to learn more about the process. We’ll continue community engagement in the fall.

Study webpage: I-90 Judkins Park Station – Reconnecting Communities

Email updates: Sign up for Seattle area news and study updates.

Mobile App to replace I-90 text alerts to allow more efficient, user-friendly updates and information

Change may be as difficult as it is inevitable, but change can also be a good thing. In the fast-paced world of transportation, we know it’s important to keep you up to date in the most efficient, user-friendly way possible. Whether it’s weather changes, construction, or other travel information, we want to keep you informed.

That’s why a big shift is coming. On Aug. 31, 2026, the way we communicate I-90 travel alerts will transition to the WSDOT Mobile App.

But don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. We’re excited to announce the new communication method available at your fingertips. You can still get important I-90 travel notifications by downloading the WSDOT Mobile App. After installing, turn on push notifications for Snoqualmie Pass I-90.

Here's how to make the switch from text messages to notifications in the app for iPhone and Android.

For iPhone users:

• Download the WSDOT Mobile App from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
• Open the app and select the notification bell (in the top-left corner of the screen on iPhone).
• Here you will find the notification menu. From here, you can toggle notifications on and off.
• Select Snoqualmie Pass I-90.
• Turn on push notifications.

For Android users:

• Download the WSDOT Mobile App from Google Play.
• Open the app and select Notifications (on the left-hand menu selection).
• Here you will find the notification menu. From here, you can select notification alerts.
• Select Snoqualmie Pass I-90.

The Snoqualmie Pass I-90 notification still covers I-90 from North Bend to Vantage. That’s milepost 33 to 138, just like the text message service.

If incidents or activities will add 30 minutes or more to travel times or result in a closure, we’ll send you a notification. You’ll also receive advance notice of planned closures. That includes construction closures and winter avalanche-control work.

If you don’t want to turn on push notifications, you can still find Snoqualmie Pass I-90 alerts in the Mountain Pass section of the WSDOT Mobile App. This section shows current winter pass conditions and information about events that may cause delays along I-90.

Example of a Snoqualmie Pass I-90 notification and the maintenance and construction alerts available in the WSDOT iOS app

Example of a Snoqualmie Pass I-90 notification and the maintenance and construction alerts available in the WSDOT Android app

You can do even more with the WSDOT Mobile App. It's a one-stop shop for travel information. It includes real-time travel alerts, mountain pass conditions, traffic cameras and roadway conditions.

We encourage you to set up Snoqualmie Pass I-90 push notifications by Aug. 31. That’s when the current I-90 text messages alert service ends.

Whether you’re commuting over Snoqualmie Pass, visiting family or traveling across the state, the WSDOT Mobile App makes it easy to get the travel information you need when you need it.

Park (or ride) the bus: Visitors enjoy transit options during summer soccer extravaganza

“Parking the bus” is a strategy often used by soccer teams as they try to close out a victory in the later stages of a match. Meanwhile, riding the bus (or ferry, train or light rail) is a proven strategy for safe and affordable access to transportation and mobility.

The Seattle Stadium has now hosted its final match of the world’s most famous sporting event. There’s little doubt that Seattle lived up to its reputation as one of the greatest soccer cities in the nation. But the Emerald City also proved itself one of the nation’s best cities for public transportation.

We saw many thousands of visitors converged in western Washington for much of the past month. Many of those people chose from a wide array of public transportation options for getting around. Whether to the stadium or to local attractions, visitors had their choice of ferries, trains or buses.

Most public transportation agencies in the area added to their existing services to help with the large numbers of visitors. Now that the games are over, we’re working with our public transportation partners to check rider numbers, trends and patterns.

Here’s a look at some of the numbers:

• WSDOT’s Amtrak Cascades trains: between June 13 and July 7, Amtrak Cascades carried more than 85,000 passengers. That’s a 19% increase over the same period in 2025. The greatest increase was on routes between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. – two of the host cities. Those routes saw a 38% increase in riders from the previous year. Most of the daily roundtrip trains were sold out, particularly on game days.
• Sound Transit: Link light rail had a whopping 5.4 million boardings in June and shattered daily records on game days. Link even broke the Seahawks’ Super Bowl parade record of 220,000 riders – but they did so on every single match day. And with 309,000 board ings Monday, July 6, Link eclipsed all its daily records for highest ridership in Sound Transit’s history!
• Across six match days, the region tallied an estimated 3.4 million boardings on transit services in King County. The final match saw some of the biggest numbers of the tournament, with 620,000 boardings. Overall, Metro estimated 1.9 million boardings on its buses, boats, shuttles and streetcars. Sound Transit accounted for the balance with an estimated 1.5 million boardings on Link light rail and its 1 and 2 bus lines.
• Travel Washington Intercity Bus: Our Travel Washington Dungeness Line saw a 10% increase in ridership from June to May. This line runs between Port Angeles and Seattle via Washington State Ferries. There were also dramatic increases in web traffic on all Travel Washington websites.
• Washington State Ferries: WSF saw a boost in ridership. In particular, the first Team USA match Friday, June 19. This day had nearly 83,500 boardings – compared with just under 71,000 boardings on the same day in 2025.

Seattle has a sterling reputation as a home of soccer supporters, as well as a welcoming destination for traveling fans. For nearly a month this summer, that shared love was on full display for all the world to see.

And not to be outdone, our local transit agencies’ history as an elite-level network of transportation services was clear as well. Each public transportation provider in the region did extensive planning and predicting demand. We all stepped up to get everyone where they needed to go throughout the tournament and beyond.

Final result: soccer fans and the transit services they chose combine for a 2-0 victory.

Washington State Ferries Celebrates a Year of Hybrid-Electric Milestones

Saturday, July 18, 2026, is the one-year anniversary of the Wenatchee returning to service. The Wenatchee is North America’s largest hybrid-electric ferry. It was a historic moment for Washington State Ferries. It’s also a vital proof of concept for building a cleaner, more reliable fleet. Looking back over the past year, that single step has turned into incredible momentum. We want to share the progress of our Electrification Program.

As with any first-of-its-kind project, the Wenatchee faced typical commissioning hurdles early on. However, thanks to the hard work of crews and partners, those challenges are in the past.

In its first year the Wenatchee racked up some impressive numbers. On its Seattle to Bainbridge Island route, we had:

• 5,500 sailings
• 1.8 million total passengers
• 552,000 vehicles

The hybrid-electric ferry even took center stage on the global map. During the recent World Cup matches in Seattle from June 15 to July 6, the Wenatchee carried:

• 206,000 passengers
• 104,000 walk-on visitors
• 49,900 vehicles

Travelers from across the globe experienced our clean, quiet, cutting-edge maritime transit.

Placed on the smokestack and above the passenger loading area, new Hybrid Electric markers welcome passengers aboard the Wenatchee.  

The real-world data from this first year is encouraging. We don’t have rapid charging at the terminal yet. But even without that, the Wenatchee is operating in hybrid electric mode. That means fuel savings and reduced carbon emissions. Once we have full shoreside charging, carbon emissions could be reduced by 90 percent or more.

The Wenatchee is just the beginning. The past year brought massive structural progress across the entire electrification portfolio. We’ve cemented key industrial partnerships to build out the future ecosystem:

• Shoreside Charging Infrastructure: Siemens Energy is designing and constructing charging stations on shore. The Seattle to Bainbridge Island rapid charging project is on track to be completed in 2029.
• Automatic Charging: Stemmann-Technik will provide specialized charging systems. These systems will physically connect the terminals to the vessels.
• Charge Management: Washington State University Engineering is designing the “brain” to manage charging.
• New Hybrid Builds: ABB will make propulsion and power storage systems.

The momentum is not just on paper. Hybrid ferries that carry 160 autos are being constructed in Florida. The engineering design work on those is now nearly wrapped up. We expect to cross a huge construction threshold by cutting steel later this summer.

We started with a single converted vessel navigating its first hybrid runs. Now we have an entire supply chain humming into motion. The last year proved that maritime electrification is no longer a distant vision. It is happening right now on the Puget Sound.

Share your experience on State Route 164 and help shape future improvements

Heading to the King County Fair this month? Or traveling State Route 164 for your daily commute, school drop off, or local errands in Auburn or Enumclaw? Whether you are visiting the fair, heading to work, or making a trip to the mountains or local businesses, SR 164 plays a role in your day. However you use SR 164, your experience matters.

We are studying improvements for the stretch of road that extends from Auburn (Dogwood Street) through Muckleshoot Indian Tribal lands and unincorporated areas of King County to Highpoint Street in Enumclaw. Your input will help identify priorities and shape our recommendations. Take a few minutes to share your feedback.

Take the 10 minute survey by Tuesday, July 28.

The study area from Dogwood Street East in Auburn to High Point Street in Enumclaw.

We are identifying future improvements and making a plan for the next steps.

What we are studying

The study focuses on safety, access, mobility, walking, biking, transit, freight and emergency response needs on this part of State Route 164. We will identify short- and long-term improvements, document key needs and priorities, and make recommendations. Planning now can save time and resources in the future.

Want to hear from you today (or at least before Tuesday, July 28)!

An online open house and survey are live. If you travel on SR 164 between Auburn and Enumclaw, whether it be driving, walking, biking, rolling or transit, tell us about your experience. Click here to fill out this 10-minute survey.

We will be doing community engagement throughout the study. Other engagement opportunities will be shared as the study advances.

Working with partners

We are working closely with partners along SR 164, including:

• Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
• City of Auburn
• City of Enumclaw
• King County
• King County Metro
• Emergency services
• Local and regional agencies

Input from our partners helps align the study with local plans, transit needs, community priorities, and emergency access.

What to expect

The SR 164 Vision and Implementation Plan supports our mission to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective travel options. This study will run from 2026 through mid-2027. There are three phases with opportunities for feedback.

Phase 1: We are currently in Phase 1.

• Learn about the corridor today. We collect data, review current and future conditions and listen to understand needs and concerns.
• Identify what matters most. Community input and partner input help shape the study's purpose, priorities and tradeoffs.

Phase 2:

• Develop ideas for improvement. The SR 164 Plan team will develop improvement options to address safety, access and travel needs. We'll collect community input on possible improvement options.
• Review the improvement options. We compare the options to understand their benefits, limits and tradeoffs.

Phase 3:

• Improve the recommendations. We share improvement options, gather feedback, and make changes as needed.
• Set priorities. We share a draft recommendation and ask for community input.
• Finish the plan and report back. We will summarize what we heard, explain how input was used, and complete the plan for the state legislature by June 30, 2027.

Learn more and stay informed

We are committed to transparency throughout this process and your feedback and voice make a difference. Thanks for helping to make this community driven.

Project webpage

Visit the project page for the latest updates, detailed information and recordings/presentations from our Advisory Group meetings.

Email updates: Sign up for news and study updates .

Contact Info

Zack Howard
WSDOT Principal Multimodal Planner, Complete Streets
Management of Mobility
206-437-6353
Zachary.Howard@wsdot.wa.gov

How a maintenance crew turned their commutes into a multimodal adventure

By Hannah Weinberger 

This is your sign to start a commute club with your work friends

The next time you see a group riding scooters or carrying them on light rail, give them a wave: They might be the same people keeping roads safe for all of us to use.

The scooter crew is the talk of Washington State Department of Transportation’s Area 5 maintenance facility on South Spokane Street. For the past three months, six crew members who used to drive to work have turned recent scooter purchases into a daily commute they look forward to taking together, on streets they maintain.

Crew members with our Area 5 Maintenance team show off their scooters and colorful helmets. 

They’ve learned that switching up their travel habits not only makes their commutes easier, more affordable and more fun, but changes their relationship with work and our transportation network in interesting ways.

It started with crew member Lauro. While he used to live a five-minute drive from work, moving to Federal Way had him rethinking his commute. When the new Federal Way light rail station opened, he got more serious about buying a scooter – and when gas prices surged this spring, he took the plunge.

By that point, Julian, Woody, Xavier, Scott and Luis had been talking about buying scooters for as much as a year. “I think all of us were waiting for one person to do it,” Xavier says. The scooter crew started taking shape within days. Two of them joined Lauro in riding to the Federal Way station, taking light rail to SoDo, and arriving at work by way of the 6th Ave. protected bike lane that intersects the shed’s driveway. (They used to find the bike lane annoying as drivers. “The bike lanes are actually pretty good,” Luis says. “We are on board. We want more.”)

Two weeks later, they were four-riders strong. Then six. Then came the coordinated helmets and an action camera to capture the camaraderie.

Between the convenience of connecting with light rail, the affordability, the good company and conversation and not having to sit in traffic, scooter commuting had the crew hooked. Oh, and the scenic route helps. Scott gets Rainier views as he crosses the 520 Bridge to Bellevue by scooter or the new Line 2, while Luis scoots over a hilly trail that connects from a station all the way to his backyard. “You go slower, but it’s a pretty view. And it’s something that I don’t see when I drive, you know?” Luis says.

The crew that scoots together, it turns out, also looks forward to spending more time together. Where they used to leave in a rush to beat traffic on Thursdays and Fridays, they now spend that time hanging out and exploring the area. “I think knowing your coworkers outside of work is extremely important to build those relationships, and I think it creates a healthier work environment,” Scott says.

Operations and maintenance leaders agree. “It’s definitely a morale booster,” says Sage Jones, assistant superintendent for Area 5 maintenance. “When the guys come rolling in like that, when they’re happy… it affects the entire crew.” Sage and Alec Brown, also an assistant superintendent for Area 5 maintenance, are working to make transit and micromobility more accessible for crew members by allowing for some scheduling flexibility: When a crew member wanted to take a train to work but was worried about arriving a few minutes late, managers accommodated them. “We value what they bring as a whole, no matter how they get to work,” Alec says.

Meanwhile, the scooter commutes are taking on a life of their own. The more the crew rides, the more routes they dream of trying.

After noticing a long bike lane south of the maintenance facility, Lauro’s been selling his colleagues on a route that skips Light Rail entirely.

“ One day,” he says, “ we should scooter from [work] all the way to Federal Way.”

We’re moving forward on the SR 167 Implementation Plan

State Route 167 is one of the busiest and most important corridors in the Puget Sound region. It connects people to jobs and essential services, keeps freight moving, and links communities across South King and Pierce counties. But like many growing areas, it’s also facing increasing congestion and travel challenges.

That’s why we’re continuing work on the SR 167 Implementation Plan, the next step in turning a long-term vision into real, on-the-ground improvements.

What is the Implementation Plan?

A few years ago, we worked with communities and partners along the corridor to develop the SR 167 Master Plan. That effort identified a range of multimodal improvements and strategies to help address safety, mobility, and access along the corridor.

Now we’re building on that work.

The Implementation Plan focuses on identifying which projects to advance and how they align with funding and phasing. It builds on the Master Plan by outlining the technical work required to move projects forward, including early engineering, traffic analysis and cost estimating.

Our goal is to identify one or more packages of projects and outline the level of funding that would be needed to deliver them. Those recommendations will be shared with the Legislature to help inform future decisions about transportation investments.

How we’re evaluating projects

One of the most important parts of this work is figuring out which projects rise to the top.

We’re using the goals established in the SR 167 Master Plan to guide our evaluation. That includes looking at how each project or package performs across a range of factors, such as:

• Improving safety performance for people traveling on and across the corridor
• Supporting reliable travel for people and freight
• Expanding travel options, including transit, walking, biking, and rolling
• Reducing environmental impacts and supporting healthier communities
• Improving access for communities that have been historically underserved
• Making sure solutions are practical, deliverable, and a good use of public funds

We’re also looking at how projects work together. Instead of focusing on individual projects in isolation, we’re evaluating how groups of projects can be packaged and phased to deliver the greatest overall benefit for the corridor.

Working with partners every step of the way

We’re not doing this alone.

We’re working closely with cities, counties, transit agencies, freight, and community representatives throughout the corridor. That includes the SR 167 Equity Advisory Committee, which helps make sure community perspectives are part of the process.

Together, we meet regularly to review projects, talk through priorities and shape how projects could be grouped and delivered. This collaborative approach helps us balance technical analysis with what matters most to the people who commute, live and work along SR 167.

We’ll wrap up this effort with a final report to the Legislature in December 2026.

A new webpage to follow along

We recently launched a new webpage dedicated to the SR 167 Implementation Plan. It’s the best place to find background information, track progress, and stay up to date as the work continues.

If you’re interested in the future of the corridor, we encourage you to check it out and follow along.

See us in your community this summer

We’re also getting out into the community.

This summer, our team will be visiting neighborhoods along the corridor to share information and answer questions. You’ll be able to find us at local fairs and festivals, where we’ll be talking about what we’re studying and what it could mean for the future of SR 167. Here’s a look at where you can find us this summer:

• June 20–21, 2026: Sumner Rhubarb Days
• July 10–12, 2026: Kent Cornucopia Days
• July 18, 2026: Edgewood Summerfest
• July 24–26, 2026: Renton River Days
• Aug. 14–15, 2026: Milton Days

If you see us at an event, stop by and say hello. We’d love to talk with you.

What’s next

The Implementation Plan is a key step in moving from planning to delivery. By combining technical analysis with input from our partners and communities, we’re working toward a clear path forward for the corridor.

We’ll continue to share updates as the work progresses and let people know about opportunities to get involved. If you have any questions, please email I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov. You can also sign up for email updates.

Illustrative drawing of potential SR 167/SR 18 interchange improvements that may be included in the recommended package of projects

Illustrative drawing of Kent Direct Access, which may be included in the recommended package of projects

A cool, shady era begins at the Quincy Valley Rest Area

They say an optimist is someone who plants two acorns and buys a hammock. Well, there were no hammocks in sight or acorns being planted on May 13 at the Quincy Valley Rest Area off SR 28, but there was plenty of optimism.

Students from the local 4-H clubs (Quincy Sportsman 4-H and GQ 4-H), aided and supervised by community members, spent the day planting trees at the rest area, to replace the dozens of honeylocusts that had to be removed due to an infestation earlier this month.

Children from Quincy-area schools spent a day planting trees at the WSDOT Quincy Valley Rest Area off State Route 28 on May 12, 2026. The new trees replaced older trees that had to be removed due to disease.

This time around, the children spruced the place up with a variety of trees: October Glory maples, Austrian pines, European hornbeam, American Elm. The goal was simple, and visionary: To replenish the rest area with trees for future generations of travelers to enjoy. They showed up, donned reflective vests and gloves, grabbed shovels and got right to work. The rest area remained closed while the children worked safely in the dirt.

We partnered with Quincy-area 4-H clubs to plant new trees at the Quincy Valley Rest Area on SR 28, on May 13. The old trees were removed earlier this spring due to disease.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the youth volunteers who donated their time and energy to this project:

Brielle Baughman, Rayginn Baughman, Cora Tonne, Owen Tonne, Coulton Schwint, Addison Schwint, Bristol Knutson, Easton Dreher, Bentley Dreher, Braxton Dreher, and Chris Fuller.

Special thanks also go to group leaders Kristin Gans, Justine Schwint, Pauline Baughman, Jen Snyder, and Nichole Dreher, along with parent volunteers Michael Knutson, Stormy Baughman, and Jill Tonne, whose support and leadership helped make this restoration effort possible.

Because of their efforts, the Quincy Valley Safety Rest Area is beginning a new chapter — one that will provide shade, beauty, and a welcoming place to rest for travelers for decades to come.

Children and adults from the Quincy Valley worked side by side on May 12, 2026 planting trees at the Quincy Valley Rest Area off State Route 28. The children belonged to local 4-H clubs.