Christmas is approaching and that means roads will be packed with travelers. People will be driving to visit their families that live close or far. Now, the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is trying to make your holiday travel a little easier by releasing their holiday travel charts.
These travel charts will show you the best time to travel and the times you should avoid being on the road. But like any holiday, pack your patience because traffic conditions will constantly be changing!
I-90 North Bend to Cle Elum
Eastbound
Westbound
US 2 between Stevens Pass and Skykomish
Eastbound
Westbound
These two are the the popular routes taken by holiday travelers, but WSDOT also provided travel charts for I-5 Lacey to Tacoma and I-5 Bellingham to the Canadian Border.
When you look at these charts the colors indicate traffic conditions with green and yellow showing showing some congestion, while red means that the roadway has reached it capacity. Now, the black line that runs through the typical traffic on that day and around that time.
I-90 will have much longer delays over Christmas as well, but keep in mind that the ferry docks are also expecting longer wait times as well!
If you want to stay up to date on current traffic conditions, make sure to visit WSDOT’s real-time travel map and follow their Facebook, Twitter and app.
Also, while you are driving to see family over the holidays, the Coeur d’Alene Police Department wants to emphasize what equipment you should have in your car at all times in case of emergencies. Here is a list they provided:
Booster cables2+ blankets or sleeping bagsCandles and matchesA snow shovel and scraperFlashlight and extra batteriesExtra clothes (cap, gloves, parka and boots in case you need to walk for help)High-calorie, non-perishable foods like candy and canned nutsSand or strips of carpet for tractionWindshield washer fluid and antifreezeFlares or reflectors
