Holiday weekend travel requires preparation and patience

(OYLMPIA)– Cloves and cinnamon spice aren’t the only seasonal ingredients necessary for a holiday weekend. People headed everywhere from Friday Harbor to Walla Walla for Thanksgiving will want to plan now for winter weather and additional holiday traffic.

The Washington State Department of Transportation recommends people expect heavy traffic and delays on major routes like Interstate 90, US 2 and I-5 – as well as long ferry lines. Consult the agency’s holiday travel charts before heading out. The charts help determine the best times to travel, including times to avoid if possible.

Most construction will be paused over the four-day weekend to help reduce congestion, according to a news release from the WSDOT. The WSDOT recommends people travel early or late and give themselves plenty of extra time. Crashes or emergency road repairs also can add to travel times.