A triple threat of delays is expected to snarl traffic over the Labor Day weekend in Clark County.
The long-awaited opening of Costco’s newest location in Ridgefield today is sure to mean traffic jams and backups throughout the weekend. The new store is expected to draw many of its shoppers from the north end of Clark County, as well as Cowlitz and even Lewis counties.
Additionally, ongoing repairs on the Lewis River Bridge will spell double delays for drivers coming from north of Woodland.
Traffic could also get snarled heading north on Interstate 5. Trips to Seattle are up nearly 30 percent from last year, in part because Seattle is a major port city for cruises to Alaska, according to AAA booking data.
Gas Prices
People taking a road trip for the Labor Day holiday will likely find cheaper gas prices than last year.
As of Wednesday, the national average was $3.36, according to AAA. The Washington average was $4.17 and the Oregon average was $3.80.
Last year on Labor Day, the national average was $3.81, while the Washington average was $5.08 and the Oregon average was $4.74.
To make matters worse, the Transportation Security Administration is predicting the busiest Labor Day travel period on record.
Between today and Monday, nearly 270,000 travelers are expected to pass through Portland International Airport — up more than 7 percent over the same period in 2023, according to the Port of Portland. Friday is expected to be the busiest travel day with more than 59,000 travelers anticipated.
INRIX, a global provider of transportation data, expects the afternoons and evenings of today and Friday to be the busiest times on the road as holiday travelers mix with commuters. In some areas, delays could be 20 percent to 40 percent longer than normal drive times.
Bookings for domestic travel are running 9 percent higher than last year for the holiday weekend, according to AAA.
“The most congestion is expected before the holiday weekend,” said Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho. “The best times to travel by car over Labor Day weekend are early in the morning or in the evening.”
For the return trip, pretty much all of Monday will be a slog, according to INRIX.
Portland International Airport
PDX unveiled its reconstructed main terminal this month, and a revamped security check should lead to faster screening.
And while millions of people — 17 million, to be exact — will take to the skies over the Labor Day holiday period, PDX is not expected to be as busy as it was earlier this summer. In fact, June 16 and Aug. 11 landed in the top 10 busiest days at PDX on record.
“Though it’s not forecasted to be the busiest Labor Day holiday on record at PDX, the fact that two 2024 summer dates are in the top 10 is a good sign of the travel recovery here at home,” said Port of Portland spokeswoman Allison Ferré. (June 17, 2019, was the busiest day ever recorded at PDX, according to Ferré.)
Nonetheless, it will be a very busy weekend for flyers.
“It’s recommended that travelers arrive two hours prior to their flights — or even earlier if they want to check out everything new at PDX,” Ferré said.
An updated terminal map is available at flypdx.com/map, where travelers can see the new layout, shops, restaurants and the location of the iconic carpet that’s back at PDX.
Those who plan to park at PDX while they travel can check garage capacity at flypdx.com/parking.
Costco traffic impacts
Last week, Ridgefield released its traffic management plan for Costco’s opening weekend.
When Costco opens its doors at 8 a.m. today, two routes will be available between Pioneer Street and Costco. The first route is via North 56th Place. The second route is via North 53rd Place and Pioneer Canyon Drive, where a temporary traffic signal will be remotely monitored to adjust for real-time conditions and ensure smooth traffic flow.
The highest traffic volumes are expected this evening and Saturday around noon. Drivers using Pioneer Street today or Friday are urged to use an alternate route, especially during the evening commute.
