Installing drainage for the changes on I-5 near 38th Street require closing the ramp from 56th Street to northbound I-5 and the ramp from northbound I-5 to the State Route 16/38th Street area from 10 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m Friday and again from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday. Crews will pave the area, move barrier and restripe the shifted travel lanes. To reach westbound SR 16 during the ramp closure, drivers will continue northbound to Portland Avenue, turn left off I-5 and then left back onto southbound I-5 to reach westbound SR 16.
Once the ramps reopen Saturday morning, one lane of the northbound I-5 off-ramp to 38th Street and SR 16 will remain closed to allow crews can to complete drainage work for reconfigured off-ramp to SR 16 and 38th Street. The work is expected to last approximately two weeks.
New traffic patterns, also known as traffic ‘shifts,’ allow WSDOT to maintain the same number of travel lanes during construction projects. However, as traffic is shifted into a new configuration, drivers may need to pay extra attention. Whenever entering a work zone, follow the direction of the signs, message boards and flaggers. Nationally, 80 percent of work zone collisions result in death or injury to drivers and passengers. So Give ’em a Brake, but give yourself a “brake” too.
More detailed information on the I-5 project through Tacoma is available at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/piercecountyhov/I5_HOV_S48th_Pacific/ .
I-5 RAMP AND BRIDGE IMPACTS CONTINUE
One lane of the I-705 ramp to southbound I-5 remains closed due to narrowed I-5 lanes in the merge area. The I-705 ramp will also remain closed during the Yakima and Delin bridge construction to accommodate lane shifts necessary to complete this work. The ramp from South 38th Street to northbound I-5 is closed. Closing the ramp allows crews to efficiently construct the wall and bridge needed to realign the ramp and to construct the new Yakima and Delin bridges.
The Yakima/Thompson bridge over I-5 closed April 10. The G/Delin bridge over I-5 closed May 1. The Tacoma Avenue bridge over I-5 closed May 3. Alternate routes during the closures include M Street and Pacific Avenue.
In fall 2007, WSDOT will reopen the Yakima/Thompson bridge and a combined Tacoma Avenue/G/Delin bridge. These structures will be rebuilt to accommodate widened I-5 lanes and improve traffic flow on the city streets. The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2008.
SR 512 SAFETY REPAIRS THIS WEEK
WSDOT and its contractor, Tucci & Sons Inc. of Tacoma, will begin work today to pave SR 512 from 104th Street to SR 167. The 45 working-day project will consist of mostly nighttime traffic impacts. For the week of May 15, pavement repairs will cause lane closures on eastbound and westbound SR 512, along with a ramp closure at Pioneer Avenue. Work hours are 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday.
