News

Find news releases and announcements about the agency in our virtual newsroom. 

State ferries enters busy summer season with marked improvement completing more than 99% of sailings

Posted 05/22/2024

SEATTLE – As the crewing situation improves at Washington State Ferries, the sailing cancellation rate has been cut in half over the past year.

North Spokane Corridor and Wellesley Avenue to close for one month starting Tuesday, May 28

Posted 05/22/2024

SPOKANE – Due to the late fall opening of the new section of freeway, not all the work was completed when the Wellesley Avenue Interchange opened to traffic. To complete the work, contractor crews will now close Wellesley Avenue starting Tuesday, May 28, between Market Street and Freya Street. Crews will also close…

SR 123/Cayuse Pass scheduled to reopen May 24 and SR 410 Chinook Pass to remain closed

Posted 05/22/2024

Every year, the Washington State Department of Transportation works to reopen State Route 410/Chinook Pass and State Route 123/Cayuse Pass in time for Memorial Day weekend. This year, a washout and the timing of repairs will bring a partial opening.

Search for missing plane and pilot concludes after discovery of aircraft wreckage near Humpback Mountain

Posted 05/20/2024

OLYMPIA – The search for a missing pilot concluded Monday, May 20 after the discovery of aircraft wreckage near Humpback Mountain, just west of Snoqualmie Pass. Ground search crews discovered the crash site around 1:30 p.m. The plane’s 69-year-old pilot, Jerry Riedinger was found deceased inside the plane located in a…

WSDOT searching for missing plane near Snoqualmie Pass

Posted 05/19/2024

OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Transportation is searching for a missing plane in the vicinity of Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie Pass.

Stay Saddled Up for Bike Month 2024

Posted 05/17/2024

Gov. Jay Inslee officially designated May as Bike Month. People around the state are celebrating the humble bicycle by riding every chance they get.

New roundabout coming to SR 203 this summer will improve safety, mobility between Monroe, Duvall

Posted 05/16/2024

HIGH ROCK – Construction will begin in late May on a unique, exclamation point-shaped compact roundabout that will improve mobility and safety along State Route 203/Duvall-Monroe Road Northeast in the High Rock community.

Dedicated ferry lane coming to State Route 305 on Bainbridge Island

Posted 05/15/2024

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND – Travelers who drive onto the Bainbridge Island ferry will soon have a lane all to themselves on southbound State Route 305 approaching Winslow.

Pavement repair project will target damaged sections of SR 18 near Tiger Mountain summit

Posted 05/15/2024

KING COUNTY – The second phase of a regional pavement repair project beginning this spring will grind down damaged sections of State Route 18 between Issaquah-Hobart Road and Deep Creek and replace them with new asphalt.

Westbound SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge reduced to two lanes for emergency repairs May 13

Posted 05/14/2024

UPDATE - There is good news for travelers who use the westbound State Route 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge. During the morning of Thursday, May 16, Washington State Department of Transportation crews reopened all lanes across the bridge that takes travelers from Tacoma to Gig Harbor. The lane closures were in place to…

Slow down – lives are on the line. 

In 2023, speeding continued to be a top reason for work zone crashes.

Even one life lost is too many.

Fatal work zone crashes doubled in 2023 - Washington had 10 fatal work zone crashes on state roads.

It's in EVERYONE’S best interest.

95% of people hurt in work zones are drivers, their passengers or passing pedestrians, not just our road crews.