Tips To Avoid A Puget Sound Thanksgiving Traffic Nightmare

BELLEVUE, WA - Leave early and use technology to your advantage. Those are the two big tips from WSDOT as we head into a busy Thanksgiving travel week. No doubt you'll hit some snags this week, but if you follow these tips, maybe it won't be so bad.

Here are WSDOT's Thanksgiving travel tips:

• Consult WSDOT’s travel times charts, which use historical information to help drivers know before they go.
• Check out online tools, including mobile apps, traffic cameras and email alerts.
• Visit our online traveler information about traffic, weather and ferry schedules.
• Follow WSDOT’s social media accounts, such as Twitter and Facebook.
• Pre-program 530 AM and 1610 AM to vehicle radios for highway advisory radio alerts.
• Carry chains and other winter driving essentials.
• Check current chain and traction requirements on the WSDOT passes website or by calling 5-1-1, and watch for highway advisory signs.
• Leave extra time for holiday and winter travel, slow down and drive appropriately for conditions.
• Please plan ahead for heavy holiday ferry traffic and consider purchasing tickets online to save time. The longest lines are expected westbound Wednesday afternoon and evening, Nov. 22, and eastbound Friday morning, Nov. 24. Reservations are recommended on the San Juan and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes. Some ferry routes run on Saturday schedules on the holiday, check the Washington State Ferries website or call 888-808-7977 for details.
• For information about traveling via state-operated airports, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/airports/Amenities.htm or call 800-552-0666.
• Check with your local public transit agency for any holiday schedule or service changes, including some Dial-A-Ride and fixed-route service that may not run on holidays

Photo: In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017, traffic fills all lanes of Interstate 5 heading to downtown Seattle.

Image via Elaine Thompson/Associated Press