Date:  Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Contact: Chris Tams, WSDOT Project Engineer, 360-759-1310 (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, 360-905-2058 (Vancouver)

Southbound I-5 will be reduced to two lanes for the duration of the project

WOODLAND – Construction begins the night of Sunday, July 19 on a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) project to repair a bridge that carries southbound I-5 over the North Fork Lewis River.

The I-5, North Fork Lewis River Bridge – Southbound Expansion Joint replacement project was awarded in May to Mowat Construction of Woodinville, with a winning bid of $329,023.40. The project replaces a deteriorating expansion joint and repairs damaged asphalt on the southbound I-5 North Fork Lewis River Bridge (mile posts 19.83 to 20.08).

Southbound I-5 will be reduced to two lanes throughout the duration of this project, with occasional night time double-lane closures. Crews will install concrete barrier on the interstate to protect the work area, and the open lanes will be narrowed to 11 feet. Bicycle facilities will be available throughout construction.

Once construction begins, the speed limit in the project area will be reduced from 70 mph to 60 mph, effective at all times. This will help increase safety for drivers and workers alike as construction activities will occur on the bridge, close to high volumes of traffic.

When completed, this project will provide drivers with a safer, smoother ride on the North Fork Lewis River Bridge and reduce maintenance costs associated with continuous repairs to a deteriorating bridge joint.

The southbound I-5 North Fork Lewis River Bridge was built in 1940 and carries an average of 34,000 vehicles per day. It is inspected every other year, and its most recent inspection was performed in April 2008.

For weekly updates on this and all other traffic impacts in the region, please visit the WSDOT Southwest Region Weekly Travel Advisory Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthWest/Construction. 

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WSDOT's mission is to keep people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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