NEWS

(NEWHALEM)– A second emergency contract has been signed, and repairs began Wednesday, May 13, along a section of State Route 20/North Cascades Highway damaged by washouts in December. Work on this new contract will happen at the same time as emergency work already underway near Diablo Lake. The Washington State Department of Transportation set a goal to finish repairs and reopen the closed section of SR 20 between Colonial Creek Campground (milepost 130) and Porcupine Creek (milepost 156) by the Fourth of July. To help accomplish this goal, contractors are required to work 24 hours, seven days a week when it is safe to do     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)– For the first time since 2017, Washington has a new playbook for the skies. A recently completed, comprehensive roadmap called the Washington Aviation System Plan (WASP) guides how the state invests, protects and modernizes its 134 public-use airports over the coming decade. This update arrives at a pivotal moment, as Washington’s aviation system has faced growing demand and rapid change. Since the last WASP was completed, the industry has transformed with the emergence of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the popularity of sustainable aviation fuels, a widening pilot and mechanic workforce gap, and pressure on airport land from     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)- – The Washington State Transportation Commission will review tolling trends and policies at its May 19-20 virtual meeting, including options for a low-income toll discount program scheduled to launch later this year on the State Route 509 and 167 expressways. Beyond tolling, commissioners will learn about efforts to expand access to zero-emission vehicles, and transportation planning efforts for the Puget Sound region, statewide and at the U.S.-Canada border, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The public is invited to attend the meeting, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on     (read more)

(OAK HARBOR)– Travelers will soon see a series of permanent speed limit reductions along a 6-mile stretch of eastbound and westbound State Route 20 through and south of Oak Harbor. Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews will replace the existing speed limit signs with new signs. The permanent speed reductions affect SR 20 between Penn Cove and Southwest Barlow Street in Oak Harbor, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The new speed limits will be: - 45 mph between mileposts 24.95 and 30.26 – down from the current 50 mph speed limit. - 35 mph between mileposts 30.26 and 30.77 – down from the     (read more)

(PORTLAND, Ore.)– On May 14, fire restrictions will go into effect for all Bureau of Land Management administered lands throughout Oregon and Washington. The BLM and U.S. Wildland Fire Service leaders encourage all visitors to be aware of active restrictions and closures as warmer, drier weather sets in around the Pacific Northwest. These fire restrictions help reduce the risk of human-caused fires. Starting May 14, the use of fireworks, exploding targets or metallic targets, steel component ammunition (core or jacket), tracer or incendiary devices, and sky lanterns, according to a news release from BLM. "We are increasingly concerned that 2026 could rival     (read more)