Washington eases traffic on I-90, New York upgrades navigation systems, and industry employment stats in June
Washington: project to ease traffic on Interstate 90
Washington’s Department of Transportation is enhancing the interchange between Interstate 90 and Route 18 to alleviate congestion in the Snoqualmie Valley, one of the state’s busiest areas. The project includes a temporary reconfiguration of lanes and the permanent installation of a diverging diamond interchange.
Interchange reconfiguration will occur in multiple stages, with the current installation of girders for a new bridge over Route 18 continuing until July 11. Subsequently, starting from July 17 at 9 p.m., a westbound lane of State Route 18 will temporarily close to relocate westbound lanes to the left. This phase will include a new five-light signal to regulate turns, effective until the completion of the diverging diamond interchange on Interstate 90.
In addition to improving traffic flow, the Route 18 expansion involves constructing new bridges over Lake Creek and Deep Creek, designed to address fish passage barriers. The new interchange is expected to be operational by late November, with the full opening of the expanded roadway anticipated by the end of 2024.

New York: navigation systems to display bridge, tunnel, and underpass heights
Vehicle collisions with height-restricted bridges are a persistent issue in New York State. A year ago, a law was enacted to initiate a state campaign enforcing regulations related to these incidents, as over 800 such collisions were recorded statewide in the past two years, according to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office.
Increased traffic and the use of GPS navigation systems have contributed to the rise in bridge accidents in New York, despite existing warning signs. Recently, the Assembly passed Bill 8582 to address this issue more effectively. This bill would require GPS navigation systems to display the heights of bridges, tunnels, and underpasses along proposed routes to combat this problem.
The bill stipulates that navigation systems must show legal heights of bridges and overpasses along suggested routes, ensuring drivers are accountable for complying with vehicle height and weight restrictions and other traffic laws.

June stabilizes trucking industry jobs
In June, employment in the trucking industry stabilized after two consecutive months of losses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 100 jobs were lost in the trucking sector in June, marking the third consecutive monthly decline following five months of growth.
So far in 2024, trucking industry employment has decreased by over 3,000 positions. Nevertheless, compared to last year’s total of 30,000 jobs, this figure offers some optimism for the sector. Furthermore, the transportation sector as a whole has seen a net increase in employment, with significant gains noted in transportation support activities, land passenger transportation, and air transportation.
On another note, wages in June showed year-over-year and month-over-month increases, with the average weekly wage reaching $1,163.15 for all transportation and warehousing employees. The unemployment rate for transportation and material moving occupations rose to 6.7%, up from 5.9% the previous year.
Overall, employment across all industries increased by 206,000 jobs, though revised data indicates slower growth than initially estimated in April and May.


DOT suspends federal funding in New York amid civil rights review
U.S. DOT announces interim final rule banning race- and sex-based contracting requirements in federal grants. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a statement

U.S. government shutdown begins: how will the transportation industry be affected?
A U.S. government shutdown began a shutdown on October 1, 2025, but the Department of Transportation released its operational plan. The U.S. government shutdown began

A contagious phenomenon: 96% of drivers engage in road rage
Road rage and aggressive driving is no longer the exception, it’s the norm, discovered the AAA. Road rage, or aggressive driving, has become a growing

California revises warehouse regulations to reduce emissions and community impact
California reviews pioneering warehouse regulations to improve transportation and public health policies. California is set to implement a key revision in its warehouse regulations, a

25% tariff on heavy trucks manufactured outside the U.S.
The Trump administration recently announced its intention to impose a 25% tariff on heavy trucks manufactured outside the United States. The Trump administration recently announced

DOT tightens requirements for CDL and CLP for non-domiciled individuals
The U.S. DOT has decided to implement new measures regarding the requirements for obtaining a CDL and CLP for non-domiciled individuals. The U.S. Department of