<a href="https://mynorthwest.com/chokepoints/southbound-sr-167-open-wsdot/4108870" target="_blank">View original image source</a>.
In a surprising plot twist straight out of the highway construction playbook, the Washington Department of Transportation has decided to keep Southbound SR 167 open this weekend. You might recall that WSDOT had originally planned to close it from 12 a.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Monday for widening and express toll lane expansion work. Talk about a last-minute save, right? Craig Smiley, the construction communications manager, must’ve felt like a hero pulling off this change—after all, every driver battling rush-hour traffic knows the value of a lane that just won’t shut down!
In the same breath, though, highway travelers should prepare for some typical weekend chaos elsewhere. The closures of Southbound I-5 and Southbound I-405 are still very much on the books, starting from 11 p.m. Friday night. It feels like a classic choose-your-own-adventure, except all the paths lead directly into a wall of brake lights. Curious how this will all shake out? Let’s hope it’s not a summer of discontent on the highways.
On a lighter note, how do you feel about sudden changes like this in construction schedules? It may be frustrating, but at least we’re getting some highway wins, no matter how small. What’s your craziest traffic experience? Did it involve too many detours and a mysterious “road closed” sign? Share your stories below—after all, misery loves company on the open road!
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