I'm definitely missing a few things as yesterday's drive completely fucked my sleep schedule and I'm just staying up all night at this point to fix it. If you got anything extra I'd love to hear it

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I enjoyed this post more than I thought I would 🤣

Never take the Battleground exit. Nothing good happens in BG.

I live in Lynnwood and laughed way harder than I probably should had at the shit talk about the area. A light rail is coming!! In like 2080…

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Amen to that!!

Fyi, If I'm remembering the area your talking about correctly, those "lines" across the highway from Seattle to Tacoma are expansion joints. The road there is made of panels of concrete, not asphalt. If the road didn't have gaps then in the summer the road would expand and buckle.

lmaooo im glad. my sleep deprived brain is super thankful. 5am brings the best thoughts

Go to sleep! It’s getting light out. 🤣

ohh that make sense, I swear wsdot never stops talking about expansion joints, yet only now im finding out what they are

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I remember in June 2021 parts of the asphalt sections did buckle during that awful heatwave

As someone that's driven extensively in most major metros around the country... Worst drivers and most aggressive drivers in the nation. The self centered, self righteous dipshits who drive 60 in the left lane are probably the ones pissing off the aggressive ones into a homicidal rage. It's a shit combination of mental retardation that puts everyone else in danger.

The left lane is always the most congested since so many are allergic to keeping right in the pnw. Except around larger interchanges, the right lanes are always more open and easier to navigate.

That line in the left lane around federal way, I don't know if its got a name but it is just a terrible construction job from the lane expansion where the road was created at different heights exactly where you're tires go. So it constantly pulls into the lower section and the traffic beside you.

The HOV lane is the passing lane. This is the only way to get around that selfish left lane camping asshole that speeds up every time they're passable and slows down again every time they're not. Those are the fuck wits that cause all the cacading brake checks in the left lane.

Man I dont know how the drive between Lakewood and Lacey can be relaxing when JBLM exists. That little stretch has taken me 2 hours on its own before.

Come out to my farm in Battle Ground. I’ll change your mind. Also, Battle Ground Lake is great for families.

Exit 9 is whipple creek regional park, I don’t know why you would be so secretive about it. Was there yesterday, it was lovely.

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Tukwila -> Federal Way: Where going 70 in a 60 means you’re still one of the slowest vehicles on the road.

The bumps south of DT are completely fixed now I’m confused

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Yeah and not heing secretive it's the only park off that exit I believe. Everyone I encountered there was really nice too which was unexpected since people (like me) generally avoid socializing with randoms outside lol. Great park

The real secret is off exit 16 to the east down that big hill.

Understand expansion joints, but I assume OP was referring to those dashed groves in some lanes themselves, not between the lanes; they appear to be ground down a 1/4 - 1/2 inch from surface and are right where your tires go…I end up straddling the lane line when there is no other traffic just to stop the sound.

When I lived in Vancouver that’s where all the horses were. I loved being only 20 minutes from basically any type of riding style you could think of. I haven’t seen horse density like that since I lived in Central Florida. And then getting to go to BG Lake after riding, heaven!

Ok you forgot to mention in afternoon rain around Tacoma (exits 133 and lower) you can’t figure out where the lane is. They have painted and ground off so many lane markers that it’s like a bunch of parallel lines a foot apart . The rain makes the actual lines blend in with the scrapped off lines. As they have replaced now that they are “done” parts are better but still a mess

Definitely possible, I'm not super familiar with that area, as such I'm not exactly sure what it is you're describing. I just know a concrete panel section of highway is through there.

I will mention one thing! When you are heading south into Seattle, you actually don’t need to get all the way left. If you take the I90 exit, there are actually 2 lanes that meet back up with I5 south! I didn’t know this for years until someone told me, it is poorly marked.

And those can be great to escape congestion for a bit at times

You know, upon closer look these are ground down perpendicular to some expansion joints. Not all, and some locations have more than others. Some lanes don’t have them at all. Any ideas?

Thanks Google Street View!

Thank you, I wish more people around here understood. As they are driving 59 in the left lane for all eternity, and someone flies around them I guarantee they feel "wow what an asshole". When really they themselves have created the unsafe situation in the first place...

The best park in Vancouver - can we get one more subtle hint plz

Thx for the deets on holes and racetracks. Need more info on where to piss. Over.

Great list. Also, in the HOV lane around exits 174 (by a graffiti that says “COVID victims”) and 181 there are a series of manholes that are very recessed and basically giant potholes. I have never understood why these sewer covers can’t be flush with the rest of the road. So irritating! I always drive a bit to the right side of the lane (whenever I remember).

La Center bottoms is a cool area. It was actually one of the first European settlements in Washington State.

But the traffic is so heavy there, and something was wrong with either the design of the joints or the way the concrete work was done. The ruts in the concrete over time created a massive transition that just hammers the suspension.

Los Angeles has used concrete for decades and generally does not have this problem. Whatever LA did, Seattle and WSDOT didn't. If it's fixed now, here's hoping the fix works long term.

Great write up!

Everett-Marysville stretch is the worst. Horrible design. WSDOT should be embarrassed. And now they are going to add a lane. KILL ME.

2170. And at only 150x the budget, what a steal!

Oh my god I moved here from Oregon and I thought I was crazy when those little lines scared the shit outta me! It feels exactly like a toy train on a track!! I spend a lot of time driving from Seattle to Oregon to see my family now, and your write up is a 10/10 haha.

Mr. Austin, is this you?!

Interesting, I really have no experience with concrete slab roadway design, so my ideas aren't "good" but any means, but I'm willing to guess!

My guess is it's from a repair where they ground into the slap, fixed something (rebar?) And then filled it back up.

A secondary guess would be something to do with drainage. Perhaps those spots get a little sitting water in the center so they create a little more space for it to sit as it drains, where it is less dangerous for drivers.

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I'm a truck driver and I drive to Portland nightly.

I use the left lane in a lot of places between castle rock/centralia because overloaded log trucks have made such enormous grooves in the asphalt that it can violently shake the truck to the point it's unsafe. The worst places where this is is just after the cowlitz river bridge on I5 south and just before exit 60 until milepost 65 on i5 north.

I don't do concrete roadway design, but there are a lot of factors that could cause issues that LA doesn't have. I'm fading could because I really don't know what went into the design in either location.

The concrete mix design is one thing that is pretty much impossible to comment on without seeing the original design, but could be a big factor in how the concrete holds up.

But most likely either the weather or the soil supporting the roadway is likely the largest factor in the longevity of the road. (Obviously the real answer is a combination of many factors)

LA doesn't get the same wet and freezing cycles that Seattle does (though they get way more direct sun and heat) and that can be really cause issues for roads. You'd have to ask a geotech because I don't know what the soil is like down there, but the Puget Sound region has a lot clay and silt deposits from the glaciers.

But things like that are why you can't just copy and paste a road design project anywhere in the country, or even the same county really.

Yeah op sounds like he fucked up its a good shortcut if you can change lanes in traffic

Ooohh snap.....La center!!!

Lol most aggressive drivers in the nation? That's about as wrong as you can get. Passive aggressive is the pnw and it shows in our driving. Drive in the east coast, like Jersey and say we're more aggressive, or Phoenix, fucking Phoenix driving is steroid induced aggressive.

Sucks to be you because everyone knows the best stretch of WA state i5 is through the bow hills by lake Samish. It's fucking beautiful.

Our tax dollars at work, bringing on the potholes so when we get our vehicles fixed, they can take out more taxes from that 🙄

I live off exit 9, and I have no idea what you’re talking about. Can I have a hint?

edit I now see it’s Whipple Creek, but I don’t really consider it a park, so I wasn’t sure. It really is a beautiful slice of nature. There’s also a playground park: Fairgrounds.

I live off exit 9 and thought surely they’re not talking about whipple creek? I guess so. It sure is a beautiful slice of nature. Too many horse poops though.

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?

As someone who lives in Centralia, works in Chehalis and has to deal with I5 being two lanes at supposedly 60mph twice a day, all I can say is people need to chill the frick out.

What do you mean by hidden race track? Race track for what??

The short lines cut into the asphalt that you are referring to in your lane that run in the same direction of travel were a (silly) experiment by WSDOT to improve drainage. You can see them on I-90 as well, they’re particularly bad heading eastbound as you go up and over Snoqualmie pass and down the other side in the old sections that haven’t been re-paved in a while. I don’t think they’re especially effective at improving drainage or avoiding hydroplaning, and I think WSDOT has given up on using them in new paving jobs. I always avoid lanes with them - they’re loud when you’re driving on ‘em and it can jerk your car around unexpectedly.

Update finally did when it got dark out lmaooo I am never doing this again

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

My understanding is when a road has those little rectangular "divots", there are tensioning cables within the concrete, not to be confused with common rebar. I think it was supposed to be the cat's meow a decade ago, but turned out not to be a efficient as hoped.

Ah, interesting. Thanks for the input!

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Do what you gotta do. Thanks for keeping our economy moving friend.

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)

Spot on - got my first speeding ticket around exit 200.

Well damn and good to know, thank you!

Olympia is beautiful, I am ok being stuck in town

Those are rookie numbers

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.

Yeah that area is a mess.

> I fucking hate the little open holes/lines in the freeway from Seattle to Tacoma. Even with new tires my car will go out on its own like it's a little model train. if you know what that is called in the road please tell me

Yes! The things that are like three parallel lines in each tire track. i-90 going east also has these things.

If anyone knows what they are for, I'd love to know. I've tried to google but no luck.

It really is! Some spots on the 101 remind me of it, but it’s not as good

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.

Thanks for the explanation this makes a lot of sense why it's always in that stretch you just mentioned too

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

Ah yes, the "pinch"

The portion of 2-lane heading north between Napavine & Grand Mound is enraging, especially on Sunday summer afternoons, have had to save time by getting off on Labree and rejoining I5 at the outlets more times than I can count.

My usual place to stop was at Cowlitz Crossing north of Ridgefield, the gas was too expensive, especially one supposedly on native land, but they contracted with a great chicken tender vendor at least. Recently, my goto has been that Space Age around Castle Rock, low gas prices, a Krispy Krunchy Chicken, AND an A&W for me to get my fried cheese curd fix? Amazing.

Also, I think I got pulled over by that Marysville/Everett area trooper you mentioned this past November for 71 in a 60, thankfully I think he got bored waiting for me to fumble for my proof of insurance and let me off with a warning.

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.