DOT Web site maps best times to travel for July 4

Drivers planning to hit roads and highways around the state over the Fourth of July weekend might be wise to check out a state Department of Transportation (DOT) Web site — www.wsdot.wa.gov/Congestion/IndependenceDay — for tips on the best times to travel.

The site compares holiday-weekend travel times with a typical summer weekend in July, and also compares traffic volumes on certain roads for the two previous Fourth of July weekends that started on a Friday.

Traffic analysts have studied the trends for Interstate 90, Interstate 5 at the Canadian border and I-5 from south of Olympia through Lewis County — locations that typically have an increase in weekend and holiday travel.

The DOT expects travel to increase by noon Thursday. Volumes should decrease on Friday and Saturday, then pick up again on Sunday and Monday.

In this state, the DOT predicts increased gas prices could keep drivers closer to home, and that's likely to increase traffic on routes to area attractions and ocean beaches.

Work at most DOT construction-project sites around the state will be suspended from noon Thursday until Monday morning. But drivers should be prepared for shifted lanes, road detours and reduced speed zones in some places. There might be delays at peak travel times.

On the DOT's Web site, a color-coded map displays where traffic is heavy and light and relays real-time point-to-point travel times.

DOT incident-response teams will be on the road over the weekend and on Monday to assist motorists on major highways and mountain passes. The State Patrol says troopers also will be out in force.

Charles E. Brown: 206-464-2206 or cbrown@seattletimes.com