Washington State Department of Transportation officials this week are urging commuters to consider buses, bikes, rail transit — even taking a vacation — in order to avoid what is expected to be a record back-up on Interstate 5 during a 19-day construction project.

Construction work on northbound I-5 between Spokane Street and I-90 will require around-the-clock lane closures from 10 p.m. Fri., Aug. 10 through Weds., Aug. 29. Crews will close several lanes of northbound I-5, leaving only two or three lanes open to traffic. The closures will have significant effects on traffic in the Puget Sound area. Some officials have reported that backups could stretch some 35 miles between Seattle and Tacoma.

More than 260,000 cars travel this stretch of freeway daily. Crews will repave 1.13 miles of northbound I-5 between Spokane Street and I-90 near downtown Seattle, and replace or repair deteriorating expansion joints that connect concrete freeway deck slabs. Only two to three lanes will be open to traffic at all times.

I-5 from Spokane Street to the I-90 interchange is an elevated bridge that is more than 40 years old. Aged and worn expansion joints and pavement pose a risk to drivers unless they are rehabilitated. Steel rebar is exposed in some areas and the expansion joints are under stress from heavy traffic. To help protect drivers and extend the life of the freeway, WSDOT will replace the expansion joints on the northbound bridge and resurface the northbound lanes. It will also repair the expansion joints on the southbound bridge.

On Monday, WSDOT opened a telephone hotline at (206) 440-4704 for questions and comments about the project. This week, staff will answer the hotline between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. from Aug. 10 until the construction is complete.
According to WSDOT officials, the new, smoother road surface will eliminate cracks and potholes. It will also minimize the risk of expansion joint failure, which poses a risk to drivers.

The resurfaced northbound lanes of I-5 from Spokane Street to I-90 will also make the ride smoother and quieter and will enhance traction. The improvements will reduce vehicle wear, extend pavement life, and reduce the risk of disruptive emergency freeway closures.

The new pavement and improved expansion joints are expected to last more than 25 years.

This project is funded by the 2005 Gas Tax (Partnership Funding – $15.32 million) and existing funds ($148,500).

Planning and design on the project began two years ago. In January, WSDOT began broad community and public outreach on the upcoming project. In May, the contract was awarded to Concrete Barrier Inc. of Mukilteo.

For more information, visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/SpokaneStreetBridgeRepair/default.htm .