Washington

[jakeroot]

The DuPont and southern Lakewood area actually has a significant number of highway signs with rounded corners. I tried my best to grab some photos. Some are better than others.

Most of these are also visible on Google Street View. They've all been installed in 2025, most seemingly part of the new DuPont DDI project.


I-5 upcoming exits and trucks sign by Jacob Root, on Flickr


JBLM Advanced Exit Sign by Jacob Root, on Flickr


I-5 JBLM/DuPont Advanced Exit Sign by Jacob Root, on Flickr


I-5 JBLM/DuPont Exit Sign at Gore Area by Jacob Root, on Flickr


I-5 DuPont Exit (DDI) Future Sign by Jacob Root, on Flickr


I-5 Exit 120A-B Exit Sign by Jacob Root, on Flickr


JBLM Visitor Center Exit Sign by Jacob Root, on Flickr


I-5 JBLM Main Gate by Jacob Root, on Flickr

[Bruce]

The ribbon was cut on the newest I-5 ramps (at SR 529 in Marysville) in July, but they won't open until late September or early October because of supply chain issues.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/wsdot-delays-opening-of-marysville-interchange-ramps/

Yet to be seen if this eases some of the new slowdowns at the approach to the forced merge point.

[Thunderbyrd316]

   I noticed when coming up to Bremerton last week for the KDDA Season Championship Race / Demo at Thunderbird Stadium that there are now exit number tabs posted at the Wollochet (11), Burnham (14) and Purdy (15 NB / 17 SB) exits that I did not see when I last came up in July for the Whaling Days Race / Demo. There is also a weird EXIT 11 tab stuck above the SPEED LIMIT 60 sign just past the northbound on ramp from Olympic Drive, which can be seen at the 12:50 mark in this video. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8doUkgGLBU

[stevashe]

I noticed when coming up to Bremerton last week for the KDDA Season Championship Race / Demo at Thunderbird Stadium that there are now exit number tabs posted at the Wollochet (11), Burnham (14) and Purdy (15 NB / 17 SB) exits that I did not see when I last came up in July for the Whaling Days Race / Demo. There is also a weird EXIT 11 tab stuck above the SPEED LIMIT 60 sign just past the northbound on ramp from Olympic Drive, which can be seen at the 12:50 mark in this video. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8doUkgGLBU

I noticed when coming up to Bremerton last week for the KDDA Season Championship Race / Demo at Thunderbird Stadium that there are now exit number tabs posted at the Wollochet (11), Burnham (14) and Purdy (15 NB / 17 SB) exits that I did not see when I last came up in July for the Whaling Days Race / Demo. There is also a weird EXIT 11 tab stuck above the SPEED LIMIT 60 sign just past the northbound on ramp from Olympic Drive, which can be seen at the 12:50 mark in this video. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8doUkgGLBU

I noticed those recently too, but haven't gotten pictures. They are being installed as part of the repaving project in the area. There's an Exit 11 tab erroneously placed above an adopt a highway sign in the other direction as well! I also just noticed last night that all the exit tabs are left aligned. I heard from someone at WSDOT that a bunch of paving projects were rushed out the door this summer after the legislature provided extra funding, so I suspect these signing plans may not have been reviewed for errors.

[ErmineNotyours]

SR-167 at 3rd Ave SW in Pacific has two lanes in the northbound direction closed due to an overheight truck strike.  This was already in the detour route for the 410 White River Bridge closure.

[jakeroot]

WSDOT's Twitter page indicates it will be months before it is repaired.

The only realistic solution is to shore up 3rd in Pacific, or route another lane of 167 onto the southbound roadway. Leaving it as one lane northbound for months simply is unacceptable.

https://x.com/wsdot_traffic/status/1971280755520319670

Edit: apparently X/Twitter isn't integrated here anymore:

[Amaury]

US 97 over Blewett Pass has been closed since Sunday with no signs of reopening soon due to the Labor Mountain Fire, which has jumped the highway multiple times: https://www.facebook.com/WSDOT/posts/pfbid02FUb7QbJPny8BJw8pCA3wgShcVbbWkz1Cyn4KYAyFd3tHFgmrXnDN4Z5q7qGSfDrel

[Bruce]

WSDOT has opened the new I-5 offramp to SR 529 in Marysville and expects to open the I-5 onramp soon:

https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/news/2025/new-connections-marysville-northbound-i-5-ramp-sr-529-now-open-southbound-i-5-ramp-debuts-soon

[stevashe]

WSDOT's Twitter page indicates it will be months before it is repaired.

The only realistic solution is to shore up 3rd in Pacific, or route another lane of 167 onto the southbound roadway. Leaving it as one lane northbound for months simply is unacceptable.

https://x.com/wsdot_traffic/status/1971280755520319670

Update: NB SR 167 will be back to two lanes "by October 17". The right and left lanes will be open, with barriers placed to keep traffic out of the middle lane. Truck traffic will be restricted to the right lane. The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph.

Full article: https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/news/2025/wsdot-outlines-repair-plan-and-next-steps-sr-167-bridge-damaged-sept-23-strike


In other semi-related SR 167 news: the express toll lane conversion is happening on October 20th. This will make the tolling system on SR 167 operate the same as the toll lanes on I-405 ahead of the opening of the Renton to Bellevue toll lanes in the coming months.

Related to the bridge strike, tolling implementation has been delayed for the NB portion from Sumner to Pacific until the 3rd Ave bridge is repaired.

[Alex]

I noticed when coming up to Bremerton last week for the KDDA Season Championship Race / Demo at Thunderbird Stadium that there are now exit number tabs posted at the Wollochet (11), Burnham (14) and Purdy (15 NB / 17 SB) exits that I did not see when I last came up in July for the Whaling Days Race / Demo. There is also a weird EXIT 11 tab stuck above the SPEED LIMIT 60 sign just past the northbound on ramp from Olympic Drive, which can be seen at the 12:50 mark in this video. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8doUkgGLBU

I noticed those recently too, but haven't gotten pictures. They are being installed as part of the repaving project in the area. There's an Exit 11 tab erroneously placed above an adopt a highway sign in the other direction as well! I also just noticed last night that all the exit tabs are left aligned. I heard from someone at WSDOT that a bunch of paving projects were rushed out the door this summer after the legislature provided extra funding, so I suspect these signing plans may not have been reviewed for errors.

I saw the two peculiar Exit 11 tabs last month and thought, what the heck? Shot photos of each and added them to an update for the Washington State Route 16 guide.

SR 16 westbound:



SR 16 eastbound:



One other issue I noted while adding photos to the site was that the last guide sign for Wollochet Drive has a tab for Exit 10 instead of Exit 11:

[roadman65]

I noticed when coming up to Bremerton last week for the KDDA Season Championship Race / Demo at Thunderbird Stadium that there are now exit number tabs posted at the Wollochet (11), Burnham (14) and Purdy (15 NB / 17 SB) exits that I did not see when I last came up in July for the Whaling Days Race / Demo. There is also a weird EXIT 11 tab stuck above the SPEED LIMIT 60 sign just past the northbound on ramp from Olympic Drive, which can be seen at the 12:50 mark in this video. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8doUkgGLBU

I noticed those recently too, but haven't gotten pictures. They are being installed as part of the repaving project in the area. There's an Exit 11 tab erroneously placed above an adopt a highway sign in the other direction as well! I also just noticed last night that all the exit tabs are left aligned. I heard from someone at WSDOT that a bunch of paving projects were rushed out the door this summer after the legislature provided extra funding, so I suspect these signing plans may not have been reviewed for errors.

I saw the two peculiar Exit 11 tabs last month and thought, what the heck? Shot photos of each and added them to an update for the Washington State Route 16 guide.

SR 16 westbound:



SR 16 eastbound:



One other issue I noted while adding photos to the site was that the last guide sign for Wollochet Drive has a tab for Exit 10 instead of Exit 11:

Odd indeed.

[pderocco]

I saw the two peculiar Exit 11 tabs last month and thought, what the heck? Shot photos of each and added them to an update for the Washington State Route 16 guide.

SR 16 westbound:



SR 16 eastbound:



One other issue I noted while adding photos to the site was that the last guide sign for Wollochet Drive has a tab for Exit 10 instead of Exit 11:

Well, they decided to standardize on exit tabs, and they really meant it.

[kkt]

Washinton State route 410's White River Bridge, between Buckley and Enumclaw, is expect to reopen tomorrow morning according to WSDOT.  It's been closed since August 18, when a truck with tall cargo struck and deformed crossbeams.

[74/171FAN]

Washinton State route 410's White River Bridge, between Buckley and Enumclaw, is expect to reopen tomorrow morning according to WSDOT.  It's been closed since August 18, when a truck with tall cargo struck and deformed crossbeams.

It reopened earlier today.

[ErmineNotyours]

Yet another bridge strike.

https://mynorthwest.com/chokepoints/i-90-overpass-strike-cle-elum/4145773

[Quillz]

Good example of how headlines obscure reality. I was thinking, "how does a bridge go on strike?" Seems to just be political speak for "the bridge is closed for repairs," but I guess then the governor wants it to be done quicker so they're trying to get some additional funding.

[stevashe]

Good example of how headlines obscure reality. I was thinking, "how does a bridge go on strike?" Seems to just be political speak for "the bridge is closed for repairs," but I guess then the governor wants it to be done quicker so they're trying to get some additional funding.

It's not political speak, "bridge strike" is referring to the fact that the bridge was struck by a truck that was too tall to fit under it. And the bridge is not closed for simple repairs. It's closed indefinitely while they demolish and replace it because it was damaged beyond repair!

You are correct that the governor's actions are intended to get the bridge rebuilt faster by seeking additional funding. I think that is warranted for a bridge that was suddenly and unexpectedly taken out of commission.

[Quillz]

I'm saying the word "strike" gave me a different impression from "something hit the bridge."

[Bickendan]

I'm saying the word "strike" gave me a different impression from "something hit the bridge."

The bridges unionized. Their demands are simple: Rehabs, repairs, and upkeep. They're prepared to strike, and they've got trucks at the ready!

[kkt]

I'm saying the word "strike" gave me a different impression from "something hit the bridge."

The bridges unionized. Their demands are simple: Rehabs, repairs, and upkeep. They're prepared to strike, and they've got trucks at the ready!

Pretty sure strike meaning "to hit" is a lot older than refusing to work as a labor negotiating tactic.

The bridges should really add "enforce height restrictions" to their list of demands.  That should be easy enough to do with a camera.

[ErmineNotyours]

Traffic lights will be added to SR 522 at I-405 as part of the HOT lane expansion and bus rapid transit project.  I thought this was going to be a temporary configuration, until I saw the plans.  The only free flowing left movement will be west 522 to south I-405.  The remaining movements will be covered by three traffic lights on eastbound 522 and two lights in the westbound direction.  I was surprised they squeezed in two HOV lanes through this interchange a few years ago, but they can't fit any more lanes.  They claimed they couldn't find any money in the budget to maintain a free flowing interchange, but maybe they can do it in the future.  The commenters on the WSDOT project page are not happy.  https://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/sr-522-bothell-traffic-signals.html

Final project design: https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-405sr-522-vicinity-sr-527-express-toll-lanes-improvement-project

[jakeroot]

The 405 ETL project from Bellevue to Renton has been delayed by 1.5 years, from completion this year to Summer 2027:

https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-405renton-bellevue-widening-and-express-toll-lanes-project

https://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/renton-to-bellevue-project-update.html

Unfortunately, the contractor is not delivering on schedule. WSDOT is doing everything possible to hold the contractor accountable, including taking them to court. That litigation is ongoing.

[stevashe]

The 405 ETL project from Bellevue to Renton has been delayed by 1.5 years, from completion this year to Summer 2027:

https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-405renton-bellevue-widening-and-express-toll-lanes-project

https://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/renton-to-bellevue-project-update.html

Unfortunately, the contractor is not delivering on schedule. WSDOT is doing everything possible to hold the contractor accountable, including taking them to court. That litigation is ongoing.

I've been wondering what was up with the schedule considering it doesn't look like the project is anywhere close to complete and it was supposed to be done this year....

[kkt]

US 2 over the Cascades in Washington closed for months.

Due to major damage from the series of storms we've had the past week, US 2 will be closed, probably for several months.  Among those hurt will be people with cabins and ski resorts, and just people who want to get from Leavenworth to Skykomish without detouring via I-90.

https://komonews.com/news/local/governor-ferguson-highway-2-will-be-closed-for-months-due-to-storm-damage-leavenworth-stevens-pass-mountain-travel-road-washington-flood-flooding-repair-wsdor-economy-tourism

[pderocco]

US 2 over the Cascades in Washington closed for months.

Due to major damage from the series of storms we've had the past week, US 2 will be closed, probably for several months.  Among those hurt will be people with cabins and ski resorts, and just people who want to get from Leavenworth to Skykomish without detouring via I-90.

https://komonews.com/news/local/governor-ferguson-highway-2-will-be-closed-for-months-due-to-storm-damage-leavenworth-stevens-pass-mountain-travel-road-washington-flood-flooding-repair-wsdor-economy-tourism

Glad I drove it last July.