Date:
Monday, April 07, 2008
Contact:
Contacts: Dustin Terpening, WSDOT Communications, 360-757-5997
Marco Foster, WSDOT Engineering Manager, 360-757-5991
BELLINGHAM – The weekend-long lane closures of I-5 planned for April 11-14 in Bellingham have been delayed. The long-range weather forecast calls for rain, and crews need more time to complete prep work. All lanes of I-5 will be open this weekend.
Crews will continue working at night during the week to prepare for the first weekend-long lane closure, now planned for April 18-21.
“With the way the weather forecast is shaping up and the amount of work we have finished so far, we don’t want to chance it,” Engineering Manager Marco Foster said. “It’s difficult to pour concrete in the rain. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will get nicer.”
The weekend work will take up to four weekends to complete and is weather dependent.
During these 56-hour closures, crews will reduce I-5 to one lane in each direction from Samish Way (exit 252) to Sunset Drive (exit 255). Crews will close the lanes at 10 p.m. Friday and open them at 6 a.m. Monday. Drivers should prepare for significant delays.
During the I-5 work, crews will replace 212 broken concrete panels, pave four rough ramps and smooth bumpy transitions across bridges.
This section of road was built in the 1950s and is showing its age through settling, cracks and broken panels. It needs repairs to better meet the needs of the nearly 80,000 drivers who use it every day. The work will cost $4.5 million.
One good way to stay informed about lane closures is to sign up for e-mail updates at www.wsdot.wa.gov/northwest/emailupdates, and subscribe for Whatcom County.
All the project information will be available on the project Web site as well, www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/36thStToSlaterRdRepairs.
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