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bakarac t1_j3oyy32 wrote

Reply to comment by MikeJL21 in I've driven up and down I-5 100 times since 2014. here's some fun facts about to know by KanyeWaste69

I'm looking to move to Lacey and just drove through the area this weekend for the first time.

I didn't notice any traffic around JBLM but understand it's a prominent spot in the area - any advice?

Is it just busy during busy hours, or all the time?

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MikeJL21 t1_j3pmqr7 wrote

I've been living up in Marysville for a couple years now so I dont remember the exact times but the general rule of thumb is when JBLM is letting out in the evening or when they're all getting there in the morning its straight gridlock. And if they're letting out for a long weekend, fuuuuuuck that. You aren't going anywhere. Sundays are bad too

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KanyeWaste69 OP t1_j3sm9pb wrote

I wanna say in the past 2 years they have done massive upgrades to the north/east end of that through Lakewood/Dupont connecting the Tacoma construction are. Either from exit 118/119 to 125-128.

The lacey to DuPont could use some work. Like Marysville it sucks there's no light rail plans to Olympia

Also I have been lucky, I have never been through there between 3-6pm as if I am getting stuck in traffic when I havs to travel during rush hour, I'm either there by 7pm, or I don't hit any snags until Tacoma going either way.

Also having a Friday through Sunday/Monday work schedule means I'm traveling either in the middle of the week or late in the evening.

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MikeJL21 t1_j3sroeh wrote

Thats good to know they actually made some progress. For a year I commuted to Federal Way for work and 3 of my shifts had me leaving FW towards Olympia at 4PM lol. I just started going to Emerald Queen for a beer until 6 since I wasn't gonna get home until 7 either way

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OkayestHuman t1_j3q0165 wrote

It’s a choke point, there’s no real access between Lacey and Lakewood without getting on I-5 or going around JBLM through Yelm/Roy (or cutting through a water tower lot in an HOA). Any backups or slowdowns get magnified. If everything is working right, there’s no issues, if there’s an issue, there’s no relief (even cutting through the base may not be much help, if you have access)

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bakarac t1_j3q2774 wrote

Well damn and good to know, thank you!

Olympia is beautiful, I am ok being stuck in town

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MikeJL21 t1_j3rfdb2 wrote

I wish Olympia is still as beautiful as when I was younger. I didn't even recognize it by the time I left. The last place I lived was over by capital city golf course in Lacey, that was a pretty nice area that was still low key.

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applemantotherescue t1_j48thu5 wrote

It's a very nice area but building Horizon Pointe caused so much traffic in the area it's a pain in the ass to get anywhere during the day.

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