People heading out for the Labor Day holiday weekend should expect extra traffic on the roads and busy state ferries, officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation said Wednesday.
Travelers should plan ahead and allowing extra travel time as Labor Day approaches, officials said.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the U.S.-Canadian border to non-essential travel, traffic may still be heavy over the holiday weekend.

While some traffic volumes have dipped due to the pandemic, traffic to popular outdoor areas can still be heavy, officials warned.

WSDOT is recommending that people stay close to home, limit non-essential travel and have a backup plan if their location is already crowded. That can help reduce travel stress as well as slow the spread of COVID-19, officials said.

Statewide construction has been halted, but travelers can expect holiday travel delays — especially if they're headed over the mountains.

WSDOT has suspended most state highway construction work during the weekend, starting Friday, Sept. 4, through Monday, Sept. 7, though some larger construction zones and detours may remain in place.

Traffic is always heavy over Interstate 90’s Snoqualmie Pass on summer weekends, so travelers should allow extra travel time or consider traveling during non-peak times, typically early in the day or later in the evening.

People boarding a state ferry by vehicle should prepare for long waits and plan to remain in their vehicle throughout the sailing as much as possible due to the pandemic. Officials also noted that some routes are operating on reduced sailing schedules.

Reservations are recommended for the Port Townsend-Coupeville and the Anacortes-San Juan Islands routes.