News

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

New ramp meters in Spokane begin operating Tuesday, June 13

Posted 06/08/2023

SPOKANE – Meters provide better traffic flow, less congestion and reduced collisions during peak commute hours

Construction begins June 12 on long-awaited safety improvements at Colbert Road and US 2

Posted 06/07/2023

COLBERT – North Spokane County intersection project selected by community

Safe Routes to School project brings shared-use path to Vancouver this summer

Posted 06/07/2023

VANCOUVER – Families who walk, bike, roll, skate or scoot to school in the Orchards neighborhood will have a safer path to school thanks to Safe Routes to School funding.

On Tuesday, June 20, Washington State Department of Transportation’s contractor, Thompson Bros. Excavating, will begin construction…

Season premiere: New segment of US 12 near Walla Walla opened Friday, June 2

Posted 06/06/2023

TOUCHET – Just in time for summertime travel, drivers can now enjoy a wider, safer stretch of highway in southeast Washington. On Friday, June 2, the Washington State Department of Transportation and its contractor Atkinson Construction opened the new 11-mile segment of US 12 about halfway between the Wallula Junction…

Public invited to learn about construction on US 12 and I-82 in Yakima at a drop-in session on June 7

Posted 06/05/2023

YAKIMA – Roadwork on the US 12 and Interstate 82 bridge decks near North First Street in Yakima will bring closures and detours each summer and fall for two years. Members of the community are invited to learn about the upcoming construction project at a drop-in session on Wednesday, June 7, at the North Town…

A state first: Lane striping on I-5 in Fife turns orange this summer to help drivers notice the work zone

Posted 06/05/2023

FIFE – For the first time in Washington, orange lane striping will be added to white lane lines in an active work zone to test whether the brightly colored paint helps improve work zone awareness and safety.

Northbound I-5 in Seattle closes overnight June 6-8, express lanes will remain open for through traffic

Posted 06/02/2023

SEATTLE – To install signs and other electrical work for the Seneca mobility project on Interstate 5, the northbound mainline lanes and the collector/distributor ramp that brings traffic from I-90 onto the freeway will undergo four overnight closures on Monday, June 5, through the morning of Friday, June 9.

Why there will probably be roadwork during the event you’re going to this summer

Posted 06/01/2023

With 116 projects scheduled this summer – not counting day-to-day maintenance, emergencies and local city and county projects – there is a lot to get done in a short timeframe.

Public invited to help shape future transportation needs along US 12 near Naches

Posted 06/01/2023

The town of Naches, the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments and the Washington State Department of Transportation are studying ways to improve safety and bicycle and pedestrian connections along US 12 in Naches.

Public invited to weigh in on the future of I-5 through the Nisqually Valley

Posted 06/01/2023

LACEY – Community members have an opportunity to provide feedback on a report that will help shape the future of Interstate 5 through the Nisqually Valley.

Slow down – lives are on the line.

Excessive speed was a top cause of work zone collisions in 2024.

Phone down, eyes up.

Work zones need our undivided attention.

It's in EVERYONE’S best interest.

96% of people hurt in work zones are drivers, their passengers or passing pedestrians, not just our road crews.