Drivers: Here’s how to check SR 16 holiday traffic, Turkey Trot street closures to expect
To avoid the most hectic travel times during the holiday weekend, plan ahead and watch out for trotters.
The Washington State Department of Transportation does not have specific travel charts for what’s expected on state Route 16, but real-time travel information is available on their travel map at https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/.
Drivers can access the map before leaving to see if there are any incidents or projects that may cause delays, Angela Cochran, communications consultant for WSDOT’s Olympic Region, told the Gateway Nov. 17.
Ferry lines
The Southworth Ferry Terminal is accessed from SR 160 and SR 16.
The ferry departing from Southworth to Vashon is likely to fill up from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m., the travel chart shows. After 9 a.m. ferries departing from Southworth are unlikely to fill up.
Departing from Vashon is the opposite.
The ferry departing from Vashon to Southworth is unlikely to fill up in the mornings, the travel chart shows. From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ferries departing from Vashon are likely to fill up.
For additional ferry travel times visit: https://wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/sailing-schedules/best-travel-times/.
Interstate 5 and Interstate 90 holiday traffic
If you’re traveling early, travel charts show Wednesday as the heaviest traffic day on I-5 northbound, Lacey to Tacoma. Heavy traffic is expected from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day shows heavy traffic around lunch and dinner time.
Going south Wednesday on on I-5 shows heavy traffic almost all day. Thanksgiving Day shows heavy traffic going south from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For drivers traveling east for the holiday, travel charts for Wednesday on I-90 show heavy traffic from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day shows moderate traffic all day for drivers traveling eastbound from North Bend to Cle Elum.
Traveling the opposite direction, heavy traffic is expected Wednesday on I-90 westbound from Cle Elum to Northbend from noon to 3 p.m. Moderate traffic is expected Thanksgiving Day.
Turkey trot street closures
If you plan to last-minute shop, know that trotters will be out for Gig Harbor’s 20th annual turkey trot Thanksgiving Day.
The event begins at 8 a.m. and the finish line closes at 10 a.m., according to the website.
Participants will be along the downtown waterfront.
“They will start on Judson Street, then left down the bottom of Soundview Drive, along Harborview Drive, enjoying the view as they turn around just past Peacock Hill at Goodman Drive, and back to Judson,” according to the turkey trot website.
The four streets will be closed to vehicles during the event and Gig Harbor police will reopen the roads afterward, Laura Pettit, communications and tourism director for the city, told the Gateway Nov. 17.
