A navigation glitch has been steering semi-trucks off the freeway and straight onto McDonald Avenue in DuPont, rattling neighbors and leaving behind bent signs and banged-up parked cars. The trouble started after ramp and roundabout work nearby shifted traffic patterns, and some truck drivers ended up threading 18-wheelers through tight neighborhood corners. City crews have since rolled out new "No Trucks" signs and are leaning on warehouse operators and navigation providers to keep the heavy rigs on designated freight routes.
How drivers ended up on narrow residential streets
Residents say the surprise visits from big rigs are more than a nuisance. Judy Norris told KOMO, "They're monstrous." The station reported multiple crashes involving semis and parked vehicles, including one incident where a trucker spent more than two hours trying to complete a sharp turn, taking out a sign and hitting cars in the process.
City officials say construction upended local routing
The City of DuPont says Washington State Department of Transportation crews closed Exit 119 for night work on an overpass and roundabout between May 26 and June 4, and the city temporarily lifted a 14,000-pound limit on Center Drive so trucks could still reach nearby warehouses, according to a City of DuPont news release. The release notes that some GPS navigation systems then began funneling trucks onto McDonald Avenue. In response, city staff say they have coordinated with businesses and trucking operators, added wayfinding signs, and installed "No Trucks" placards to discourage those detours.
WSDOT project context
The routing mess comes out of the larger I-5 Mounts Road–Steilacoom-DuPont Road corridor improvements project, which includes a new interchange, overpass, and roundabout at Exit 119. Washington State Department of Transportation scheduled overnight ramp closures and paving to finish that work earlier this month. WSDOT notes crews wrapped up final paving and striping on the roundabout and nearby ramps as part of the corridor upgrades.
Why navigation apps send trucks the wrong way
Commercial navigation systems typically chase the fastest or shortest route and do not always account for local weight limits, height clearances, or residential restrictions, which can push heavy trucks onto streets built for passenger cars. Industry guidance recommends truck-specific route planning and dedicated truck-navigation apps that flag those limits, and describes those tools as a key way for fleets and local governments to reduce this kind of routing trouble, according to trucker route guides.
What officials and businesses are doing now
DuPont officials say they are in daily contact with warehouse operators and trucking firms, according to the City of DuPont. KOMO reports the city has also been working with Amazon and other businesses so fleet drivers stick to approved routes. City crews have put up additional signs off Exit 118 and along Wilmington Road to steer trucks back to the highway and away from residential blocks.
For now, city staff say they will keep an eye on neighborhood streets, tweak signage as needed, and urge companies to update in-cab routing. Residents are asked to report problem truck traffic to the police non-emergency line or through the city’s online contact page. Frustration in the neighborhoods remains high, and officials say the whole episode is a reminder of how quickly digital maps can rewrite real-world traffic patterns when major construction reroutes the usual flow.
