RIDGEFIELD, Wash. — Labor Day weekend is here and that means many people are hitting the road. In southwest Washington, drivers can expect up to 90-minute delays on southbound Interstate 5 now through Monday, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said.
Aside from holiday travel, the opening of a new Costco and a construction project may also snarl traffic. On Thursday, Costco opened on North 56th Place, just off Interstate 5 at Exit 14 in Ridgefield. Traffic in the area will likely be heavy throughout the weekend, WSDOT warns, especially during popular shopping hours. The city of Ridgefield has been working with Costco on a traffic plan, which includes a temporary traffic signal at North 53rd Avenue and Pioneer Street, flaggers to direct drivers, and a temporary parking lot for employees and overflow.
Additionally, construction work on the southbound bridges over the North Fork Lewis River, just south of Woodland, is causing temporary one-lane closures around-the-clock now through September. Crews are repairing the bridge deck and making modifications to make the road smoother to travel. Drivers can expect delays of up to 70-90 minutes on Fridays and Saturdays, according to WSDOT.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) recommends drivers hit the road earlier or later in the day to avoid peak travel times, and to plan for extra travel time.
Delays driving on the Oregon Coast
In Oregon, travel to the coast will be slow for drivers taking Highway 101. The highway is down to a single lane of traffic with a 24/7 traffic flagger. A section of sidewalk and guardrail collapsed on the Necarney Creek Bridge in Oswald West State Park in Arch Cape Thursday afternoon. As a precaution, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has closed a section of the highway until inspectors can check the bridge. ODOT has no estimate as to how long the lane closure will last, but traffic will be impacted into the Labor Day weekend.
