The Washington State Department of Transportation says, if you’re travelling next week for the holiday, take your chains… and your patience. A news release just sent out says forecasts are calling for calm weather next week, meaning more drivers may brave Washington’s highways for the Thanksgiving weekend.
Here are some of the highlights from WSDOT’s historical data about holidays, winter, and driving:
– Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday weekend of the year for I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass and the section of I-5 south of Olympia through Lewis County. Congestion is expected along the I-5 corridor from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, on eastbound I-90 from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday and on westbound I-90 from 1-7 p.m. Sunday.
– US 2 traditionally sees an increase of traffic on the Friday following Thanksgiving.
– Transit systems follow a holiday schedule on Thanksgiving Day, so plan accordingly.