ROCKPORT — A New Hampshire man is being held without bail, accused of attempting to trying to a Rockport resident’s vehicle by force.
Todd Andrew Wilbur, 42, of Derry, N.H., was arrested at 6:46 a.m. Wednesday on Story Street on charges of carjacking and assault and battery, according to a police log entry.
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Look anywhere in Triangle, and it won’t take long for you to see the signs of a growing region. Cranes tower over downtown Raleigh and Durham, expanding the skyline. Crews clear another swath of trees to make room for another townhouse development.
Another sign of the rapid growth: Heavy congestion on the Triangle’s roads.
We asked our viewers and followers to share their biggest Triangle traffic headaches. You shared many trouble spots:
The stop-and-go traffic along Interstate 40 between Raleigh and Durham,
the long-delayed widening project on I-440 in west Raleigh,
the tangle of traffic that chokes the Durham Freeway near the I-885 and N.C. 147 interchange.
One spot people mentioned more often than any other was the I-40/U.S. 1 interchange between Raleigh and Cary. Drivers trying to get on or off I-40 West have about 600 feet to weave across heavy traffic.
“That’s when you [tell] your passenger, ‘Hey, do you see anybody coming? Check all windows,’” said driver Ginia Cooper-Gay, who said it’s a tricky interchange to navigate. “You need a co-pilot!”
Chris Lukasina is the executive director of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), the group of Triangle-area municipalities making plans for how our region will deal with growth in the decades to come. He says the DOT is going to get rid of that tricky interchange and replace it with a much better design.
“That will provide some relief for a lot of folks and make getting through that interchange a lot easier,” he said.
They’re also planning to keep lanes open during construction. It’s great news for drivers, but here’s the catch: It won’t be ready until 2030 at the earliest.
Lukasina says identifying transportation problems is the easy part. The hard part is figuring out how to pay for it.
“We have to have a long-range plan, but we also have to have a budget,” he said. “We have to stay within that budget.”
Future transportation improvement plans
The NCDOT has hundreds of projects on the books for the Triangle area. They’re spelled out in the State Transportation Improvement Plan, which outlines construction funding and priorities for transportation projects across the state. The state analyzes potential projects and assigns a score to each, weighing safety, congestion and local priorities. A project’s score is the main factor that determines if and when it will get built, but budget limits also affect the scheduling.
There are some major projects under construction right now that should provide some significant relief.
The I-440 widening project between Walnut Street and Wade Avenue now is expected to be finished in spring 2026. The last section of N.C. 540 connecting I-40 near Clayton with I-87 in Knightdale should be finished in late 2028. Milazzo says his group also is advocating for improvements to Glenwood Avenue between I-540 and I-440.
Another big innovation in transportation is under construction in Raleigh. The city describes Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as a “high-capacity bus-based transit system that delivers fast and efficient service.” Dedicated lanes and traffic signal priority will allow buses to run reliably approximately every 15 minutes.
Joe Milazzo, executive director of the Regional Transportation Alliance, which advocates for transportation projects on behalf of the business community, calls it “buses resembling trains.”
“It is a great solution, provides flexibility, also provides that transit priority so people can rely on it,” he said.
Raleigh’s first BRT corridor is under construction along New Bern Avenue, linking the city’s east side. Other BRT routes will connect with northern, southern and western Raleigh. The city expects the buses to start rolling as early as 2028. Eventually, it will connect with downtown Cary.
Durham and Chapel Hill also are planning to build a BRT system in the coming years. Milazzo says connecting those systems will provide a flexible solution for people to get around the sprawling region.
“[BRT would be] at least an alternative for some trips,” he said.
Lukasina said a commuter rail could be a piece of the puzzle in the future. Wake and Durham counties’ transit plans propose studying commuter rail in the region. That would put passenger cars on existing railroads, shared with freight traffic, focusing frequent service during the weekday commute.
GoTriangle studied commuter rail in 2023, finding big benefits but also significant challenges in building it within the timeframes and budgets of the counties’ transit plans. Instead, CAMPO is working with the NCDOT to explore ways to enhance passenger rail service that would connect the Triangle’s cities and towns.
Lukasina says another major upgrade eventually coming to the Triangle the idea of “managed freeways,” using technology to manage traffic flow. It would allow officials to adjust speed limits and lane use dynamically to keep traffic flowing as well as possible.
“Helping to avoid those bottlenecks or minimize the time we have those bottlenecks out there will really help improve the traffic flow,” Lukasina said.
It’s just roads that have to be expanded and improved Milazzo says keeping up with the Triangle’s growth means upgrading all forms of transportation. A big focus for the Regional Transportation Alliance is pushing for improvements at RDU. The new runway and expansion of Terminal 2 are major steps to accommodate growing numbers of passengers.
“Airport expansion never ends, because this market never stops growing,” Milazzo said.
As the Triangle grows, Milazzo said the business community wants these projects take “less ‘forever.’” He says as frustrating as the Triangle’s highway headaches can be, they are a sign of a healthy region.
“Having growth is a wonderful thing. It certainly beats the alternative for a market,” he said. “We all would like to see things go faster, but if we work together and keep focused on it, we can get the solutions we want.”
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A Land O’ Lakes business owner says the increasing congestion in Pasco County is making it hard for customers to get to and from her salon.
Jennifer Gregory owns Sage Salon, which is in the Publix shopping center on U.S. 41 and Pleasant Plains Parkway.
When she first opened the salon in 2007, the area looked a lot different.
What You Need To Know
Increasing congestion in Pasco County is making it hard for customers to get to and from Land O’ Lakes salon owner’s business
Jennifer Gregory owns Sage Salon, which is in the Publix shopping center on U.S. 41 and Pleasant Plains Parkway
“We used to have one road north, one road south. Lot of cows. And that’s all we had. Now we have a bustling area that seems like there is a lot more people than we can handle now,” Gregory said.
Now U.S. 41 is four lanes and busier than ever, especially during the afternoon rush.
“Even just coming up 41, just the traffic from school, from work. If there’s one car broken down, it backs up for miles,” Gregory said.
And that can lead to a lot of issues for drivers trying to get in and out of the shopping center.
Salon manager Leah Feeney describes what it’s like when trying to make a left turn onto Pleasant Plains Parkway to get to U.S. 41, where drivers have to make a U-turn.
“When you’re getting out of this parking lot and you’re trying to get into that original U-turn lane, it’s already backed up,” Feeney said. “So you can’t leave the parking lot until that’s cleared. Once it’s cleared, you have to wait for traffic to get through and then get in the U-turn lane and then wait for three light cycles for people to let you in.”
And that’s because drivers are also trying to get to and from the Connerton neighborhood using just two lanes in each direction, where homes are continuing to be built.
“Like when I’m booking appointments, I want to stay away from the 4 o’clock, 5 o’clock, because it’s just so difficult to navigate the traffic,” Feeney said.
Pasco County officials say the traffic management team is aware of the issue. They are exploring options there, like adding a left turn lane to 41 or modifying the existing lanes to help traffic move through the area better.
Gregory says she’s been trying to get Pasco County to look at the intersection to see if there’s anything that can be done and hopes they consider making changes.
“Now we have two lanes coming north and two lanes going south. Like do we need more than that? Seems like a lot for this area but maybe that’s what we need with all these new neighborhoods coming in,” Gregory said.
CASTLE ROCK, Wash. – People driving between Portland and Seattle on Sunday will experience traffic backups due to an overturned semi-truck on Interstate 5 North.
Deputies arrived on the scene in Castle Rock, Washington, just over 100 miles south of Seattle, on Nov. 16. There, they found a semi-truck hauling a shipment of juice bottles rolled over blocking the entire roadway.
Overturned semi-truck hauling “a whole lot” of juice in the Castle Rock, WA area. (Source: WSDOT Southwest)
The northbound lanes were shut down entirely until crews were able to push the truck into just the right lane, allowing traffic to continue crawling through the left and center lanes just after 10 a.m.
Traffic delays were expected into at least the early afternoon on Sunday while WSDOT announced crews began the task of cleaning up “a whole lot of juice” from the roadway, and truck itself, before it could be fully towed off the northbound lane.
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LET’S GO NOW TO LIVE TRACKER THREE ON THE ROADS THIS MORNING. KCRA 3’S ERIN HEFT IS IN KINGVALE THIS MORNING. AND ERIN, YOU’RE REALLY SEEING THE SNOW THIS MORNING. YES WE ARE. WE ACTUALLY HOPPED OUT OF LIVE TRACKER THREE BECAUSE. SO INTERESTING. WE HAVE CHAIN CONTROLS IN EFFECT. THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING AT DOWN THE WAY A LOT OF SEMI TRUCKS PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF INTERSTATE 80. LIKE YOU SAID, WE’RE IN KINGVALE. IT’S A VERY SHORT STRETCH OF CHAIN CONTROL. BUT JUST BE AWARE IT IS IN EFFECT. AND ALSO IF YOU’RE SOMEONE WHO HAS ALL OF THE TREAD ON YOUR TIRES AND EVERYTHING APPROPRIATE, MAYBE YOU DON’T NEED CHAINS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THOSE APPROPRIATE TIRES OR YOU PUT THEM ON YOURSELF. CHAINS. THAT IS GREAT. BUT ALSO JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE CHAIN INSTALLERS THAT DO THIS SEVERAL MONTHS OUT OF EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO SLOW DOWN AND TAKE PRECAUTION BECAUSE THEY’RE OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WE ACTUALLY TALKED TO CHRIS LOTITO. HE’S BEEN DOING THIS FOR 50. YES, FIVE ZERO YEARS. HE’S 70 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR. TAKE A LISTEN TO HIS ADVICE. YOU ENTER A CHAIN CONTROL AREA. LEGALLY, THE SPEED LIMIT IS 30 MILES AN HOUR. WE RECOMMEND 2530, TOPS. CHAINS AREN’T MADE TO GO ANY FASTER ANYWAY, AND IT’S NOT SO MUCH HOW FAST YOU CAN GO. IT’S HOW QUICK YOU CAN STOP. SO THE SLOWER YOU GO, THE EASIER IT IS TO STOP AND AVOID COLLISIONS. YEP, HE’S PREACHING SAFETY, WHICH SHOULD BE EVERYONE’S TOP OF MIND. THAT IS OVER 30 MILES AN HOUR. DON’T BE SOMEONE WHO’S SPEEDING THROUGH THIS ZONE, BECAUSE IF I WALK SLOWLY, YOU’LL SEE YOU’RE GOING TO MEET CALTRANS. AND YOU’RE ALSO GOING TO MEET CHP UP HERE. AND THEY’RE GOING TO ALSO BE MAKING SURE THAT YOU’RE TAKING PRECAUTION. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CHAINS. YOU ARE ONLY GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR OR LOWER. AND THEY’LL ALSO BE THE PEOPLE TO RESPOND IF YOU SPIN OUT OR HAVE A CAR CRASH. SO PLEASE JUST KEEP TAKING PRECAUTION. AND ALSO, CHRIS WENT ON TO SAY THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE WATER IN THE CAR, THE APPROPRIATE CLOTHING IN THE CAR, AND PATIENCE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES INTERSTATE 80 DOES SHUT DOWN, HAVE GLOVES, HAVE THE RIGHT SHOES. DON’T BE US. TODAY WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE IN VALLEY RAIN. SIKE! WE’RE IN SIERRA SNOW AND THAT IS SOMETHING. JUST TO KEEP IN MIND. LIFE AND THINGS CHANGE. LETICIA. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SAY HI TO CHRIS. HE’S BEEN
Chain controls return to Sierra as Sunday morning snow slows I-80
Veteran chain installer shares safety tips as Caltrans checks cars snowfall blankets the summit before ski season.
On a KCRA3 Weather Impact Day in the Sierra, chain controls greeted drivers before dawn over the Interstate 80 summit, slowing traffic as snow tucked the mountains in ahead of Thanksgiving.“I coined the term: make sure you bring your patience. You’ll need it,” said Chris Lotito, who has spent 50 years installing chains on the side of the interstate. His advice for winter travel is simple and strict: “Always bring your chains with you, always make sure you have a full tank of gas, because sometimes the road may be closed for a little while and you want to stay warm, bring a blanket or two and always bring water.”Caltrans crews were out checking for chains, tires, and four-wheel drive as ice and snow covered the roadway. In chain control areas, the speed limit is 30 mph. “We recommend 25–30 tops,” Lotito said. “Chains are not made to go any faster anyway, and it’s not so much how fast you can go, it’s how quick you can stop. So the slower you go, the easier it is to stop and avoid collisions.”Some drivers were caught off guard by the early blast. “I just came from Sacramento, so I was just coming to visit some friends,” said Alvin Ho, behind the wheel of his Prius Sunday morning. “They told me to expect it, but I’ve never really driven in snow, so this is my first time.”Lotito noted that traffic remains manageable for now, but that won’t last. “It’s a little early for heavy traffic because the ski resorts aren’t open yet. Once they open, this road turns into a nightmare as far as waiting and waiting and waiting.”For now, the message is to prepare, slow down and take in the view. “Just be careful up here, look how beautiful it is before Thanksgiving,” Lotito said.Here’s what drivers should bring:Tire chains and know-how to install themFull tank of gasBlankets and warm clothingWater and basic suppliesExtra time and patienceSee more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
KINGVALE, Calif. —
On a KCRA3 Weather Impact Day in the Sierra, chain controls greeted drivers before dawn over the Interstate 80 summit, slowing traffic as snow tucked the mountains in ahead of Thanksgiving.
“I coined the term: make sure you bring your patience. You’ll need it,” said Chris Lotito, who has spent 50 years installing chains on the side of the interstate.
His advice for winter travel is simple and strict: “Always bring your chains with you, always make sure you have a full tank of gas, because sometimes the road may be closed for a little while and you want to stay warm, bring a blanket or two and always bring water.”
Caltrans crews were out checking for chains, tires, and four-wheel drive as ice and snow covered the roadway. In chain control areas, the speed limit is 30 mph.
“We recommend 25–30 tops,” Lotito said. “Chains are not made to go any faster anyway, and it’s not so much how fast you can go, it’s how quick you can stop. So the slower you go, the easier it is to stop and avoid collisions.”
Some drivers were caught off guard by the early blast.
“I just came from Sacramento, so I was just coming to visit some friends,” said Alvin Ho, behind the wheel of his Prius Sunday morning. “They told me to expect it, but I’ve never really driven in snow, so this is my first time.”
Lotito noted that traffic remains manageable for now, but that won’t last
. “It’s a little early for heavy traffic because the ski resorts aren’t open yet. Once they open, this road turns into a nightmare as far as waiting and waiting and waiting.”
For now, the message is to prepare, slow down and take in the view. “Just be careful up here, look how beautiful it is before Thanksgiving,” Lotito said.
How to track Doppler radar, traffic and rain totals for California storm
Follow the storm with interactive radar and see the latest traffic conditions and rain totals.
TIME RIGHT NOW IS 7 A.M. TODAY IS ALSO A WEATHER IMPACT DAY, AND HERE’S A LIVE LOOK FROM SACRAMENTO, RANCHO CORDOVA AND STOCKTON WHERE RAIN IS COMING DOWN RIGHT NOW. IT ALL STARTED EARLY THIS MORNING AND IS EXPECTED TO LAST THROUGHOUT THE DAY. HEADING INTO THE WEEK, LET’S GET WEATHER CHECK NOW WITH METEOROLOGIST KELLY CURRAN. YEAH, THAT RAIN HAS BEEN COMING DOWN THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE OVERNIGHT HOURS, ESPECIALLY AROUND MODESTO, PICKING UP MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT. AND IT’S BEEN RAINING EVER SINCE. NOW THIS IS A LIVE LOOK OUTSIDE IN RANCHO CORDOVA, WHERE NOT ONLY ARE WE DEALING WITH THOSE SCATTERED SHOWERS, WE’RE ALSO DEALING WITH SOME AREAS OF PATCHY MORNING FOG. WE’RE GOING TO SEE SCATTERED SHOWERS ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY. BUT THEN A SECOND STORM ARRIVES TONIGHT, BRINGING IN EVEN HEAVIER BAND OF SHOWERS. AND THEN ON TOP OF ALL THAT, WE’RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH SNOW SHOWERS IN THE SIERRA, WHICH WILL LIKELY PROMPT CHAIN CONTROLS. WE ALREADY HAVE A FEW OUT THERE, BUT MORE WILL LIKELY BE HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY AS THAT SNOW LEVEL CONTINUES TO DROP. SO LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE RADAR FIRST. AND YOU CAN SEE FROM I-5 EASTWARD. THAT’S WHERE WE’RE REALLY CONTINUING TO SEE THOSE RAIN SHOWERS. NOW YUBA CITY STARTING TO DRY OUT NOW. STILL A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS AROUND CHICO SACRAMENTO DOWNTOWN AREA. THE SHOWERS ARE STARTING TO LET UP, BUT WE’RE STILL SEEING MORE FURTHER TO THE EAST. AUBURN GRASS VALLEY LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS, DONNER SUMMIT SEEING SNOW AND POLLOCK PINES. WE HAVE SOME MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN COMING DOWN, INDICATED BY THOSE SHADES OF YELLOW HEADING FURTHER TO THE SOUTH AROUND STOCKTON WE’RE SEEING LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS. SAME AROUND GALT. MODESTO CONTINUES TO SEE THAT LIGHT RAIN, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE HERE FROM SNELLING ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH SONORA AND ARNOLD UP TOWARD 88. THAT’S WHERE WE’RE SEEING THAT BAND OF YELLOW INDICATING AGAIN, THE MORE MODERATE SHOWER ACTIVITY. AND THIS IS MOVING ITS WAY EASTWARD. WE’LL BE SWITCHING OVER TO SNOW AS IT GOES UP IN ELEVATION. SACRAMENTO 56 DEGREES. THAT’S THE CURRENT TEMPERATURE. WE’RE AT 52 IN AUBURN. TRUCKEE 36. AND THESE TEMPERATURES ARE NOT GOING TO BE WARMING UP MUCH TODAY. WINDS AT THE MOMENT NOT TOO STRONG, BUT THEY HAVE SWITCHED DIRECTIONS. SO THEY’RE OUT OF THE SOUTH. WE’RE GOING TO SEE EVEN STRONGER WINDS AS WE GET INTO THE EVENING HOURS. HIGHS TODAY. WE’RE ONLY GOING TO MAKE IT INTO THE UPPER 50 IN THE SACRAMENTO AREA. WE’RE GOING TO BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THAT COMING UP IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES. KELLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND LET’S GET A CHECK RIGHT NOW. OUTSIDE LIVE TRACKER THREE ON THE ROADS THIS MORNING IN KCRA 3’S. ERIN HEFT IS LIVE IN PLACER COUNTY. AND AARON WHAT ARE YOU SEEING RIGHT NOW? OH, IT IS SLICK THIS MORNING, LETICIA. AND VERY MUCH CHANGING CONDITIONS AS WE GET HIGHER IN ELEVATION. SO LET ME SHOW YOU OUTSIDE OF OUR WINDSHIELD. THIS THE CAMERA THAT’S STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND A SHOT OF THE ROAD SO YOU CAN SEE LOTS OF WATER KICKING UP OFF OF THE INTERSTATE RIGHT NOW. AND THEN OUR ROOF CAMERA, WHICH IS THE CAMERA LOCATED ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE, YOU CAN SEE QUITE DAMP OUT THERE. SO THINGS YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF IS THAT YES, IT IS VERY WET, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH PLACER COUNTY AS WE’VE LEFT SACRAMENTO AND NOW PAST BAXTER AND ARE MAKING OUR WAY EVEN HIGHER. STILL VERY WET. SO NOTHING THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT BEING SLICK FOR ANY ICY REASONS, BUT THAT CHANGES WHEN IT COMES TO KINGVALE BECAUSE KINGVALE THERE ARE TWO LEVEL CHAIN RESTRICTIONS RIGHT NOW, SO JUST BE AWARE THAT THESE ROADS GET A LITTLE SLICK UP THERE. IT’S A VERY SHORT AREA THAT’S IN CHAIN RESTRICTIONS AND CHAIN CONTROLS, BUT THERE ARE SNOWPLOWS OUT. AND FOR MORE SPECIFIC AREA OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE FROM KINGVALE TO AROUND THE DONNER LAKE AREA. SO THAT’S WHERE THE R2 CHAIN CONTROLS ARE. THAT’S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE TOW TRUCK EXCUSE ME, SNOWPLOWS ARE AT THE MOMENT. SO THAT GIVES US AN INDICATOR THAT THAT’S THE AREA THAT’S MOST SLICK. BUT PLEASE BE AWARE IF YOU’RE WORKING YOUR WAY UP INTERSTATE 80, JUST BE PREPARED. IT’S THAT KIND OF SEASON WHERE YOU NEED TO HAVE CHAINS IN YOUR VEHICLE, OR YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. IT’S THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON WHERE INTERSTATE 80 GETS A LITTLE DICEY. JUST BE PREPARED. LETICIA. THINGS CHANGING INDEED. ERIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LIVE REPORT. WE’LL CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU. AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS GET THE LATEST WEATHER UPDATES BY DOWNLOADING THE KCRA 3 APP.
How to track Doppler radar, traffic and rain totals for California storm
Follow the storm with interactive radar and see the latest traffic conditions and rain totals.
KCRA 3’s weather team issued Impact Days for Sunday and Monday because of how wet and windy conditions will affect outdoor activities and travel for the Valley, Foothills and Sierra. See the latest forecast here. Share your weather photos and videos at kcra.com/upload.Below are resources to find live, interactive radar and traffic maps on KCRA.com to help keep you prepared. You can also see the latest rain totals below. Download our app for the latest breaking news and severe weather alertsHere is where you can download our app for the latest weather alerts.Track real-time traffic updates in Northern CaliforniaClick here to see our interactive traffic map.Track California Doppler radar Click here to see our interactive radar map.)Track California highway road conditions hereHere is where you can search Caltrans road conditions by highway and see if chain controls are in effect. Track the rain totals below Here are key websites to prepare for and track California power outages.Preparing for power outages: Ready.gov explains how to prepare for a power outage and what to do when returning from one here.Keeping informed when you’ve lost power and cellphone service: How to find a National Weather Service radio station near you.Here is how to sign up for CalAlerts emergency alert notifications for any county in California.Track PG&E power outages here. Track SMUD outages here. Track power outages across all California counties. Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook, Instagram and X. Meteorologist Heather Waldman on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X, Facebook and Instagram.Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on Facebook.Meteorologist Ophelia Young on Facebook, X and Instagram. Watch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV. See more coverage of top California stories here | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
KCRA 3’s weather team issued Impact Days for Sunday and Monday because of how wet and windy conditions will affect outdoor activities and travel for the Valley, Foothills and Sierra.
Below are resources to find live, interactive radar and traffic maps on KCRA.com to help keep you prepared. You can also see the latest rain totals below.
Download our app for the latest breaking news and severe weather alerts
WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. – The SR 20 North Cascades Highway will be closed through at least the weekend, as a wintry mix is expected to fall.
What we know:
The highway closed at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, with the possibility of reopening on Monday, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. It’s currently inaccessible between the Ross Lake Dam and Silver Star Mountain gate (milepost 134 to 171).
Officials say the closure is due to snow and rain in the forecast, which could create hazardous conditions for drivers. However, it’s looking drier next week, so crews will assess whether the road is safe to reopen on Monday.
The North Cascades Highway typically closes during the winter and reopens in the spring each year. It’s an important route for travelers and stretches across four Washington counties, including Skagit, Whatcom, Chelan and Okanogan counties.
Last year, the North Cascades Highway closed for the season on Nov. 18 due to avalanche risk. It reopened this year on Earth Day, April 22.
What’s next:
There is no estimated time for when the highway will reopen, but WSDOT will update its real time travel map or the mountain pass page with the latest conditions.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There’s a lane closure in a busy area of downtown St. Petersburg that drivers have been dealing with for months – but they aren’t sure what the closure is for.
What You Need To Know
A middle lane is closed on 5th Ave South between 4th and 3rd streets in downtown St. Pete
Drivers say it’s been closed for months, but they weren’t sure why
FDOT officials now say its for a box culvert repair
A middle lane is closed on 5th Ave South between 4th and 3rd streets, right near St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Church employee Michelle Rego reached out to Real Time Traffic Expert Tim Wronka about the lane closure, which she says has been there since March.
“This has been up since then and there’s no apparent construction. And there’s no apparent workers here. There’s no apparent sinkhole or any reason for these to be up that you can see with the naked eye,” Rego said.
Rego has worked at the church for the past 15 years and says the growth in the area has already made traffic busier.
She says that just one lane being closed can create a lot of problems for drivers, especially those coming off of the interstate into downtown St. Pete.
“It makes it impossible, especially at those rush hour times. And if you want to make the left turn and negotiate your way all the way to the left lane, it’s next to impossible,” Rego said.
It turns out there is a reason for the closure.
FDOT officials say it’s for a box culvert repair, which is used to move water under the road. Work is expected to continue this week and the lane should reopen soon.
That’s welcome news to Rego, who had been wondering why the lane was closed.
“It seems weird,” Rego said. “I’m a religious watcher of Traffic Inbox and Bay News 9 in the morning. So I see it every day and think this may be something to ask Tim about.”
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Work is moving along on the Orange Belt Trail in Pasco County.
What You Need To Know
The Orange Belt Trail is a planned multi-use trail that will connect with other trails from Trinity to Trilby
It’s named for the old Orange Belt Railroad, which ran from St. Petersburg through Pasco County in the 1800s
Officials say the design of the western portion along Trinity Boulevard is nearly done, with construction expected to begin next year
Pasco County is currently studying how the trail will connect in east Pasco, from U.S. 41 to Dade City
It’s a planned multi-use trail that will connect with other trails from Trinity to Trilby.
It’s named for the old Orange Belt Railroad, which ran from St. Petersburg through Pasco County in the 1800s.
“The Orange Belt Trail began as a concept within the county to see if there was a way we could utilize this amazing corridor that exists,” said project manager Erin Swanson.
Swanson says the design of the western portion along Trinity Boulevard is nearly done, with construction expected to begin next year.
Pasco County is also currently studying how the trail will connect in east Pasco, from U.S. 41 to Dade City, where there are several options.
Map provided by Pasco County
“When done, it’s going to be amazing,” Swanson said. “It’s going to allow folks to travel through our really great county towns and cities, like San Antonio, St. Leo, Dade City and cycle all the way down to the Trinity area. It’s going to be really nice.”
The Orange Belt Trail will have connections to the Starkey Trail, Suncoast Trail, Withlacoochee Trail and also to Florida’s Coast to Coast Trail, which could make Pasco County even more of a biking destination.
Swanson says the study of the eastern connection of the trail should be done next year and the first portion along Trinity Blvd is expected to open in 2027.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,700 flights on Sunday as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air traffic across the nation would “slow to a trickle” if the federal government shutdown lingered into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season.
The slowdown at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports began to cause more widespread disruptions in its third day. The FAA last week ordered flight cuts at the nation’s busiest airports as some air traffic controllers, who have gone unpaid for nearly a month, have stopped showing up for work.
In addition, nearly 10,000 flight delays were reported on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air travel disruptions. More than 1,000 flights were canceled Friday, and more than 1,500 on Saturday.
The FAA reductions started Friday at 4% and were set to increase to 10% by Nov. 14. They are in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time and will impact all commercial airlines.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta stood to have the most cancellations Sunday, followed by Chicago O’Hare International, where wintry weather threatened. In Georgia, weather could also be a factor, with the National Weather Service office in Atlanta warning of widespread freezing conditions through Tuesday.
Traveler Kyra March finally arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson on Sunday after a series of postponements the day before.
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“I was coming from Tampa and that flight got delayed, delayed, delayed. Then it was canceled and then rebooked. And so I had to stay at a hotel and then came back this morning,” she said.
The FAA said staffing shortages at Newark and LaGuardia Airport in New York were leading to average departure delays of about 75 minutes.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Michigan was mostly empty Sunday morning, with minimal wait times at security checkpoints as delays and cancellations filled the departures and arrivals boards.
Earlier Sunday, Duffy warned that U.S. air traffic could decline significantly if the shutdown persisted. He said additional flight cuts — perhaps up to 20% — might be needed, particularly if controllers receive no pay for a second straight pay period.
“More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day, the further they go without a paycheck,” Duffy told “Fox News Sunday.”
“As I look two weeks out, as we get closer to Thanksgiving travel, I think what’s going to happen is you’re going to have air travel slow to a trickle as everyone wants to travel to see their families,” Duffy said.
With “very few” controllers working, “you’ll have a few flights taking off and landing” and thousands of cancellations, he said.
“You’re going to have massive disruption. I think a lot of angry Americans. I think we have to be honest about where this is going. It doesn’t get better,” Duffy said. “It gets worse until these air traffic controllers are going to be paid.”
The government has been short of air traffic controllers for years, and multiple presidential administrations have tried to convince retirement-age controllers to remain on the job. Duffy said the shutdown has exacerbated the problem, leading some air traffic controllers to speed up their retirements.
“Up to 15 or 20 a day are retiring,” Duffy said on CNN.
Duffy said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth texted him with an offer to lend military air traffic controllers, but it’s unclear whether the staff is certified to work on civilian systems.
Duffy denied Democratic charges that the flight cancellations are a political tactic, saying they were necessary due to increasing near-misses from an overtaxed system.
“I needed to take action to keep people safe,” Duffy said. “I’m doing what I can in a mess that Democrats have put in my lap.”
Airlines for America, a trade group representing U.S. carriers, said air traffic control staffing-related delays exceeded 3,000 hours on Saturday, the highest of the shutdown, and that staffing problems contributed to 71% of delay time.
From Oct. 1 to Nov. 7, controller shortages have disrupted more than 4 million passengers on U.S. carriers, according to Airlines for America.
Traffic on eastbound Interstate Highway 80 in Fairfield was stopped on Saturday morning after the interstate was closed because of police activity on the Travis Boulevard overpass.
The California Highway Patrol said traffic was stopped in the eastbound lanes as of about 8:35 a.m. and asked drivers to take alternate routes.
The Fairfield Police Department also sent an advisory at that time asking drivers to avoid the Travis Boulevard overpass.
Live traffic data from Google maps showed traffic backed up to state Highway 12. West Texas Street and other side streets were seeing impacts as of about 9 a.m.
If you have upcoming travel plans anytime soon, you might notice fewer options on the airport’s departure board.
Airlines are scaling back flights at dozens of major U.S. airports to ease the pressure on air traffic controllers, who have been working unpaid and under intense strain during the ongoing government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration says the decision is necessary to keep travelers safe. Many controllers have been putting in long hours and mandatory overtime while lawmakers are at a standstill over how to reopen the government.
Major hubs like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are among those affected, and the ripple effects could mean more cancellations, longer delays and fuller flights for travelers across the country. The cutbacks will impact hundreds if not thousands of flights daily.
Here’s what to know about the FAA’s order — and what you can do if your plans are disrupted:
Is my airport on the list?
There’s a good chance it is. The list spans more than two dozen states.
It includes the country’s busiest airport — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia — and the main airports in Boston, Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco and Salt Lake City.
Multiple airports will be impacted in some metropolitan hubs, including New York, Houston, Chicago and Washington.
How long will this go on?
It’s hard to say. Even if the shutdown ends soon, the FAA has said it would not lift the flight restrictions until staffing at airport towers and regional air traffic centers makes it safe to do so.
“It’s going to take time to work through this,” said Michael Johnson, president of Ensemble Travel, an association of travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada.
That’s why, he said, it’s important to plan ahead — whether you’ve already booked flights or you’re just starting to make holiday travel plans.
Know before you go
Airlines say they will let their customers know if their flight is called off.
Still, it doesn’t hurt to check your airline’s app or a flight-tracking site for updates before you leave for the airport. It’s better to be stuck at home or in a hotel than stranded in a terminal.
My flight was canceled. Now what?
“Take a deep breath. Don’t panic,” Johnson said. “There are options available. They may not be ideal, and they may be inconvenient, but you have options.”
If you’re already at the airport, it’s time to get in line to speak to a customer service representative. While you’re waiting, you can call or go online to connect to the airline’s reservations staff. It can also help to reach out on the social platform X because airlines might respond quickly there.
Now might also be the time to consider if it makes sense to travel by train, car or bus instead.
Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, said the shutdown is different from when a single airline is having problems and travelers can just pick another carrier.
“The longer the shutdown drags on, it’s unlikely that there will be one airline running on time if the rest of the them are failing,” Potter said.
Can I get a refund or compensation?
The airlines will be required to issue full refunds, according to the FAA. However, they aren’t required to cover extra costs like meals or hotel stays — unless the delay or cancellation was within their control, according to the Department of Transportation.
You can also check the DOT website to see what your airline promises for refunds or other costs if your flight is disrupted.
Should I just stay home for the holidays?
Not necessarily. You might just need a little more planning and flexibility than usual.
A travel adviser can help take some stress off your plate, and travel insurance may give you an extra safety net.
Johnson also warned that flights could sell out fast once the shutdown ends.
“There will be a flurry of booking activity,” he said. “So try to get ahead of it and make sure that you’re protected.”
Booking an early flight can also help, says Tyler Hosford, security director at risk mitigation company International SOS. If it gets canceled, you still “have the whole day” to sort things out.
Other tips
Travel light. Limiting baggage to a carry-on means one less airport line to deal with, and if your plans change unexpectedly, you’ll already have everything with you.
Give yourself extra time at the airport, especially if you’re an anxious flyer or traveling with young children or anyone who needs extra help getting around.
And be nice. Airline agents are likely helping other frustrated travelers, too, and yelling won’t make them more willing to help. Remember, the cancellations aren’t their fault.
“An extra ounce of kindness to yourself and to others at this time of year, with all of the disruptions, will go a long way,” Johnson said.
Traffic is backed up on SW 117th Ave. in Miami-Dade County on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, after a MDSO deputy was shot.
DAVID GOODHUE
dgoodhue@flkeysnews.com
The shooting of a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy led to traffic chaos during the Friday afternoon rush hour.
The agency said in an X post: “One of our Kendall District Deputies was shot during an altercation. He was transported to a local hospital. We ask for your prayers.”
Deputies announced Southwest 120th Street and the Florida Turnpike is closed near where the shooting occurred at Southwest 122nd Avenue and 120th Street. Southwest 122nd Avenue is also closed from Southwest 120th to 128th Streets. Southwest 128th Street is closed from Southwest 122nd to 125th Avenues.
Traffic is backed up near where an MDSO deputy was shot in southwest Miami-Dade County on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. CBS News Miami
Traffic was backed up on SW 117th Ave. and other roads.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 6:39 PM.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it was taking the extraordinary step of reducing air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning Friday morning to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers exhibit signs of strain during the ongoing government shutdown.
The cutback stands to impact thousands of flights nationwide because the FAA directs more than 44,000 flights daily, including commercial passenger flights, cargo planes and private aircraft. The agency didn’t immediately identify which airports or cities will be affected but said the restrictions would remain in place as long as necessary.
“I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said at a news conference.
Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began Oct. 1, and most have been on duty six days a week while putting in mandatory overtime. With some calling out of work due to frustration, taking second jobs or not having money for child care or gas, staffing shortages during some shifts have led to flight delays at a number of U.S. airports.
Bedford, citing increased staffing pressures and voluntary safety reports from pilots indicating growing fatigue among air traffic controllers, said he and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy did not want to wait until the situation reached a crisis point.
“We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating,” Bedford said. “The system is extremely safe today and will be extremely safe tomorrow. If the pressures continue to build even after we take these measures, we’ll come back and take additional measures.”
He and Duffy said they would meet with airline executives later Wednesday to determine how to implement the reduction in flights before a list of the affected airports would be released sometime Thursday.
Airlines and passengers wait for information
United, Southwest and American all said they will try to minimize the impact on consumers as they cut their schedules to comply with the order.
Calls to the customer service hotlines at United and American were answered within a few minutes Wednesday afternoon, suggesting anxious passengers were not swamping the airlines with questions about the status of their upcoming flights.
An United Airlines flight arrives at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
An United Airlines flight arrives at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
In a letter to employees, United CEO Scott Kirby promised to focus the cuts on regional routes and flights that don’t travel between hubs. He said the airline will try to reschedule customers when possible and will also offer refunds to anyone who doesn’t want to fly during this time, even if their flight isn’t canceled.
“United’s long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted by this schedule reduction direction from the FAA,” Kirby said. “That’s important to maintain the integrity of our network, give impacted customers as many options as possible to resume their trip, and sustain our crew pairing systems.”
Airline industry analyst Henry Harteveldt, who is president of Atmosphere Research Group, said he thinks the government may have bungled this announcement by not meeting with airlines first and giving them more time to adjust schedules made months in advance.
“To tell airlines you’ve got 48 hours to rebuild your schedules at 90% of what you’ve got isn’t much time, and it’s going to result in a lot of chaos,” said Harteveldt, who was waiting to hear if his own flight from San Francisco to Dallas on Saturday would be canceled. He added that the Trump administration may be using aviation safety “to force the two sides in Washington back to the negotiating table to resolve the shutdown.”
AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz advised travelers to watch for flight updates on the airline’s app and airport social media accounts. She also recommended allowing plenty of time at the airport before a scheduled flight.
“It’s frustrating for travelers, because there’s not much you can do. At the end of the day, you either fly or you don’t,” she said.
The cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upward of 268,000 seats combined, according to an estimate by aviation analytics firm Cirium. For example, O’Hare International Airport in Chicago could see 121 of its 1,212 flights currently scheduled for Friday cut if the FAA distributes the reductions equally among impacted airports, Cirium said.
Data shows worsening weekend staffing
The FAA regularly slows down or stops flights from taking off toward an airport for a number of reasons, including weather conditions, equipment failures and technical problems. Staffing shortages also may lead to slowed or halted departures if there aren’t enough controllers and another facility can’t absorb some of the work load.
Last weekend saw some of the worst staffing shortages of the shutdown, which became the longest on record early Wednesday.
From Friday to Sunday evening, at least 39 different air traffic control facilities announced there was some potential for limited staffing, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans sent through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system. The figure, which is likely an undercount, is well above the average for weekends before the shutdown
During weekend periods from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, the average number of airport towers, regional centers overseeing multiple airports and facilities monitoring traffic at higher altitudes that announced the potential for staffing issues was 8.3, according to the AP analysis. But during the five weekend periods since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, the average more than tripled to 26.2 facilities.
Travel industry joins unions in urging shutdown’s end
Major airlines, aviation unions and the wider travel industry have urged Congress to end the shutdown.
Wednesday’s announcement came on the heels of Duffy warning a day earlier that there could be chaos in the skies next week if the shutdown drags on long enough for air traffic controllers to miss their second full paychecks next Tuesday.
Duffy said the FAA wanted to take a proactive approach instead of reacting after a disaster. He pointed to all the questions that arose after the deadly midair collision in January between a commercial jet and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport about why FAA didn’t recognize the risks and act sooner.
“We learned from that. And so now we look at data, and before it would become an issue, we try to assess the pressure and try to make moves before there could be adverse consequences,” Duffy said. “And that’s what’s happening here today.”
___
Yamat reported from Las Vegas, and Funk from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press journalist Christopher L. Keller in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed.
TAMPA, Fla. — Officials from the City of St. Pete Beach are considering tolling tourists to help pay for what the mayor calls necessary repairs to infrastructure across the city.
What You Need To Know
City of St. Pete Beach officials say they’re due for $200 million in infastructure improvements, without the budget to fix it
To alleviate the burden and keep taxes on residents low, the mayor is proposing tolling all visitors $1 along Gulf Boulevard
Mayor Adrian Petrila says he’s been in contact with FDOT, which says they’re willing to divest Gulf Boulevard to the city
It may be a bit more expensive next time you go and enjoy St. Pete.
“I have to say I’m absolutely horrified,” said Lauren Chezaud, owner of Café Soleil.
She says the still-recovering community is in desperate need of tourists — and their dollars. But she doesn’t think a proposal to toll visitors is the answer; she’s convinced people may just avoid the area.
“The beach should belong to people. It’s already difficult for families to come spend a day on the beach. It costs them a lot for parking. But to add an extra fee for them to go enjoy the beach or go for a swim — it’s just totally crazy,” Chezaud said.
St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila proposed an idea Monday to start tolling visitors to help pay for what he calls — much-needed infrastructure improvements.
“Turns out all the things we were told were fine were not actually fine. And we’re 20 years behind on maintenance and infrastructure,” Petrila said in Monday’s commissioners’ meeting.
The mayor says he’s been in touch with FDOT, who he says is “more than happy” to transfer ownership of Gulf Boulevard to the city.
Once, and if, that happens, the city wants to start charging $1 to every car coming onto the island to help pay for the renovations. Residents and workers, the mayor says, would be exempt
According to the mayor, this work has to be done, and on Monday it seemed the only options were this toll or hiking taxes on residents.
Petrila believes the city would be able to raise $11 million annually through tolls. That, along with increased parking enforcement, will help ease the burden.
“We would be funding the infrastructure and the needs that we desperately have in our community without adding a greater burden to the residents. We wouldn’t be adding more cars. We wouldn’t be adding more additional cost to our residents,” said Petrila.
But business owners aren’t sold.
“Looking at what’s gone on the last couple years, and we can go further past that, but poor timing,” Matthew Dahm, owner of Mastry’s Brewing Company, said.
Dahm also believes this would keep customers away.
He’s asking the city to focus on positive ways to encourage visitors that would help the businesses that made it through last year’s storms.
“I just don’t think it floats. You see it all the time: 30% of our tax base comes from tourism. So now you’re going to tell 30% of that not to come out here anymore,” said Dahm.
At this point, the plan is just that: a plan. It’s unclear exactly where these toll booths would be placed or how soon FDOT could transfer ownership to the city.
Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to FDOT to learn more about this proposal and to learn more about the discussions with the city, but they didn’t respond.
Street construction closes lanes on East Lancaster in Fort Worth on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.
Christopher Torres
ctorres@star-telegram.com
If sitting in traffic feels like it’s eating up more of your week than ever, you’re not imagining it.
A new report from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute found that Dallas-Fort Worth drivers spent an average of 69 hours sitting in congestion in 2024, the highest total since 2019, before the pandemic changed how and when Texans traveled.
Researchers say North Texas traffic is worsening as more people move to the region and return to in-person work.
The report found that while many cities are still catching up to pre-pandemic traffic levels, Dallas-Fort Worth’s congestion has already surpassed where it was before COVID-19.
Here’s what to know:
How many hours did DFW drivers lose to traffic in 2024?
Researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute say DFW’s traffic delays add up to almost three full days of wasted time each year for the average commuter.
Instead of moving freely on highways like I-35, I-20, and U.S. 75, drivers are spending more time idling in slow moving lanes as the population keeps growing.
The Urban Mobility Report measures “delay time” as the difference between how long a trip should take at normal speeds and how long it actually takes in congestion.
Using that data, researchers found DFW drivers spent about 7 percent more time stuck in traffic than in 2019.
How does traffic in North Texas compare to other parts of the state?
Dallas-Fort Worth ranked among the most congested metro areas in Texas, alongside Austin and Houston.
In nearby cities, drivers are also spending more time on the road.
According to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s data, McKinney drivers lost about 57 hours in 2024, up from less than 20 hours just five years ago.
Denton drivers averaged 37 hours in traffic, up from about 32 hours in 2019.
What’s causing the rise in DFW traffic delays?
Experts point to a mix of factors: more commuters returning to in-person work, rising freight traffic from the region’s growing industrial hubs, and population growth that’s outpacing road expansion.
Researchers say congestion has grown faster in smaller cities as new housing developments and warehouses pop up across North Texas suburbs.
Even though more people work remotely than before the pandemic, DFW’s midday traffic has gotten heavier. Thursday evenings are now just as congested as Fridays, according to data.
How much money are drivers losing while sitting in traffic?
All those wasted hours come at a cost. The report estimates that the average DFW commuter lost about $1,600 in 2024 due to fuel cost and lost time.
Researchers calculated the value of time using average wages. Every hour spent in traffic costs about $24 per person, or $36 per vehicle.
For truck drivers, those costs climb even higher, with commercial delays averaging $80 an hour in lost time and expenses. When multiplied by the region’s millions of commuters, the financial impact is staggering.
Researchers estimate that traffic congestion cost the Dallas-Fort Worth area billions of dollars in 2024, combining personal losses, business costs, and wasted fuel.
Why does this matter for North Texas commuters?
Traffic doesn’t just slow down commutes, it affects local economies.
When trucks and delivery vehicles sit idle on highways, the costs trickle down to consumers and businesses.
The study also found that travel patterns have shifted since 2020. Peak traffic hours are still around 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., but congestion now spreads throughout the day.
That means errands, school pickups, and lunch breaks all take longer than they used to.
What’s next for DFW traffic relief?
The Texas Department of Transportation is working on major projects through its Texas Clear Lanes program to help ease congestion in large metros like Dallas-Fort Worth.
Several key efforts are underway:
TxDOT says these projects are part of a long-term plan to reduce hours lost in traffic and improve reliability on major routes across the region.
Still, researchers warn that population growth, freight demand, and daily driving habits will likely shape North Texas traffic more than construction alone.
This story was originally published November 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM.
Tiffani is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions about life in North Texas. Tiffani mainly writes about Texas laws and health news. Support my work with a digital subscription
Traffic was heavily backed up on U.S. Highway 1 (Claude E. Pope Memorial Highway) in New Hill, Wake County due to a crash Wednesday.
According to traffic alerts, the shoulder of US-1 North near Exit 92, near Apex and N.C. Highway 540, was closed due to a crash. As of 1:30 p.m., the scene is cleared and the right shoulder has reopened.
WRAL is working to learn more about how the crash happened and if there were any injuries.
Air traffic controllers missed their paychecks Tuesday because of the ongoing government shutdown, and that has Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the head of the controllers’ union concerned that flight delays could multiply as increasingly stressed-out controllers call out sick.
Recent absences have led to a number of isolated delays around the country because the Federal Aviation Administration was already extremely short on controllers prior to the shutdown. The FAA restricts the number of flights landing and taking off at an airport anytime there is a shortage of controllers to ensure safety.
There’s no way to predict when or where delays might happen because even a small number of absences can disrupt operations at times. Sometimes the delays are only 30 minutes, but some airports have reported delays more than two hours long — and some have even had to stop all flights temporarily.
So far, most of the delays have been isolated and temporary. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said that normally about 20% of all flights are delayed more than 15 minutes for a variety of reasons.
The data Cirium tracks shows there has not been a dramatic increase in the total number of delays overall since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. Nearly 80% of the flights at a sample of 14 major airports nationwide have still been on time this month.
Though a two-hour-long staffing-related ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport made national news on Sunday, a major thunderstorm in Dallas that day had a bigger impact on flights when only about 44% of flights were on time. Cirium said 72% of the flights out of LAX were still on time Sunday.
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But Duffy and the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association Nick Daniels have continued to emphasize the pressure that controllers are feeling. They say the problems are likely to only get worse the longer the shutdown continues.
“Air traffic controllers have to have 100% of focus 100% of the time,” Daniels said Tuesday at a news conference alongside Duffy at LaGuardia Airport in New York. “And I’m watching air traffic controllers going to work. I’m getting the stories. They’re worried about paying for medicine for their daughter. I got a message from a controller that said, ‘I’m running out of money. And if she doesn’t get the medicine she needs, she dies. That’s the end.’”
Controllers gathered outside 20 airports nationwide Tuesday to hand out leaflets urging an end to the shutdown as soon as possible. Worrying about how to pay their bills is driving some to take second jobs to make ends meet.
The number of controllers calling in sick has increased during the shutdown both because of their frustration with the situation and because controllers need the time off to work second jobs instead of continuing to work six days a week like many of them routinely do. Duffy has said that controllers could be fired if they abuse their sick time, but the vast majority of them have continued to show up for work every day.
Air traffic controller Joe Segretto, who works at a regional radar facility that directs planes in and out of airports in the New York area, said morale is suffering as controllers worry more about money.
“The pressure is real,” Segretto said. “We have people trying to keep these airplanes safe. We have trainees — that are trying to learn a new job that is very fast-paced, very stressful, very complex — now having to worry about how they’re going to pay bills.”
Duffy said the shutdown is also making it harder for the government to reduce the longstanding shortage of about 3,000 controllers. He said that some students have dropped out of the air traffic controller academy in Oklahoma City, and younger controllers who are still training to do the job might abandon the career because they can’t afford to go without pay.
“This shutdown is making it harder for me to accomplish those goals,” Duffy said.
The longer the shutdown continues, pressure will continue to build on Congress to reach an agreement to reopen the government. During the 35-day shutdown in President Donald Trump’s first term the disruptions to flights across the country contributed to the end of that disruption. But so far, Democrats and Republicans have shown little sign of reaching a deal to fund the government.
Flight delays continued at U.S. airports Sunday amid air traffic controller shortages as the government shutdown entered its second month, with Newark airport in New Jersey experiencing delays of two to three hours.
New York City’s Emergency Management office said on X that Newark delays often ripple out to the region’s other airports.
Travelers flying to, from or through New York “should expect schedule changes, gate holds, and missed connections. Anyone flying today should check flight status before heading to the airport and expect longer waits,” the social media post added.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago O’Hare were also seeing dozens of delays and one or two cancellations, along with major airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver and Miami, according to FlightAware.
As of Sunday evening, FlightAware said there were 4,295 delays and 557 cancelations of flights within, into or out of the U.S., not all related to controller shortages. In July, before the shutdown, about 69% of flights were on time and 2.5% were canceled.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been warning that travelers will start to see more flight disruptions the longer controllers go without a paycheck.
“We work overtime to make sure the system is safe. And we will slow traffic down, you’ll see delays, we’ll have flights canceled to make sure the system is safe,” Duffy said Sunday on CBS’S “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
He also said he does not plan to fire air traffic controllers who don’t show up for work.
“Again when they’re making decisions to feed their families, I’m not going to fire air traffic controllers,” Duffy said. “They need support, they need money, they need a paycheck. They don’t need to be fired.”
Earlier in October, Duffy had warned air traffic controllers who had called in sick instead of working without a paycheck during the shutdown risked being fired. Even a small number of controllers not showing up for work is causing problems because the FAA has a critical shortage of them.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday on X that nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks.
Staffing shortages can occur both in regional control centers that manage multiple airports and in individual airport towers, but they don’t always lead to flight disruptions. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, flight data showed strong on-time performance at most major U.S. airports for the month of October despite isolated staffing problems throughout the month.
Before the shutdown, the FAA was already dealing with a long-standing shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers.
