SEQUIM – Many thousands of people will attend this weekend’s Sequim Lavender Festival, which begins on Friday, and with it comes the annual traffic snarls and slowdowns along Highway 101.

In 2017, DOT traffic engineers performed a count showing Lavender Festival attendance brings an additional 3,000 vehicles to the area, on average, per day.

The most notorious backup year after year is in front of the lavender farm east of Sequim near Knapp Road. It’s the first farm that westbound drivers see on their way to town, and many hit the breaks on the two-lane highway to try and make a left turn, sometimes backing up traffic for miles.

Sheriff Bill Benedict explains what the problem is in his view.

State Trooper Chelsea Hodgson says they would probably not have anyone posted up there. She says the state Department of Transportation might have for more information.

Tina Werner with WSDOT was asked if there were plans for that area this weekend.

We asked Werner if she be more specific about the issues raised by the Sheriff.

Real-time traveler information is available on the WSDOT mobile app and by following the WSDOT region Twitter account.

Photo: Davis Bartus