Prepare — development work will affect each ends of I-5 in Pierce County this summer season
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Get able to hit the brakes. Two big development initiatives at each ends of Interstate 5’s route by way of Pierce County will affect site visitors this summer season, in response to the state Division of Transportation (WSDOT).
Close to the King County line, the state Route 167 Completion Venture is constructing a toll highway between I-5 and state Route 509. As a part of that undertaking, a brand new bridge must be constructed over I-5 and one other demolished.
A number of miles north of the Thurston County line, new HOV (excessive occupancy car) lanes and interchanges are under construction close to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Toll Street girders
The tolled expressway beneath development that may hyperlink I-5 with the Port of Tacoma in 2026 has been impacting drivers on floor streets alongside the 2-mile-long route for greater than a 12 months.
The $376 million undertaking will finally join with the present finish of SR 167 at North Meridian Avenue as a part of WSDOT’s $2.38 billion Puget Sound Gateway Program.
In late summer season or early fall, the undertaking would require full in a single day closures of I-5 in each instructions as crews set girders for a brand new bridge over the interstate and demolish the outdated seventieth Avenue bridge, in response to WSDOT. The closures will happen over 4 consecutive weekends. I-5 will shut between state Route 18 and 54th Avenue East. Ramps can even be closed.
In the course of the first two weekends, 15 223-feet-long girders that may span all northbound and southbound lanes of I-5 shall be put in place.. The girders will assist the bridge that carries the brand new SR 167 expressway over I-5.
In the course of the second two weekends, crews will demolish the decommissioned seventieth Avenue bridge over I-5.
New bridges wanted for the undertaking are being constructed over Hylebos Creek simply north of the Fife curve. They’ve been sending drivers on swerving paths since early 2023.
The internal parts of the bridges are full. Since December, crews have been constructing the outer parts. The brand new extra-wide bridges are wanted for ramps to and from the expressway which is able to merge and diverge within the space of the bridges.
As site visitors is moved again on to the brand new bridges, occasional lane closures will happen for lane striping, WSDOT stated. The bridges needs to be utterly completed in summer season with the creek flowing under them.
HOV lanes
Close to JBLM, crews are rebuilding the Steilacoom-DuPont Street (Exit 119) interchange and lengthening I-5’s HOV lanes to Mounts Street. The $233 million undertaking started in 2023 and shall be accomplished in 2026.
The excellent news is that a lot of the daytime work is being accomplished adjoining to I-5 and won’t affect site visitors. Nevertheless, drivers within the wee hours ought to anticipate to see shifted lanes, in a single day lane and ramp closures, lowered velocity limits and potential long-term ramp closures.
Nighttime closures will start instantly following Memorial Day weekend.
Two lanes of northbound I-5 at Steilacoom-DuPont Street will shut 10:30 p.m. to three:30 a.m. nightly, Tuesday by way of Thursday to Might 31.
One lane of southbound I-5 between Middle Drive and Berkeley Road will shut 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. nightly, Tuesday by way of Thursday to Might 31 and 9:30 p.m. to eight a.m. every Friday evening to Might 31.
Crews will shut northbound and southbound I-5 on- and off-ramps at Mounts Street, Middle Drive, Steilacoom-DuPont Street, and forty first Division Drive at evening. The ramps will shut no sooner than 7 p.m. and can reopen by 4:30 a.m. the subsequent morning.
WSDOT reminds drivers to decelerate, put down cell telephones and preserve their eyes on the highway in development zones.
With development season upon us, The Information Tribune will study the state of Pierce County’s roads and streets over the subsequent a number of weeks as a part of its Within the Highlight initiative.
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