Date:  Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Contact:
Neal Uhlmeyer, Project Engineer, 360-412-3420
Kelly Stowe, WSDOT Communications, 360-357-2789

LAKEWOOD – Whether your weekend itinerary includes watching the M’s at Safeco Field, listening to Merle Haggard sing “Okie from Muskogee” at Emerald Queen or getting your “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” on with Brooks and Dunn at the Tacoma Dome – if your return trip home includes traveling southbound I-5 through Tacoma and Lakewood, you can expect significant backups and delays.

Weather-permitting, crews close three lanes of southbound I-5 between 48th Street (milepost 131) in Tacoma and Gravelly Lake Drive (milepost 124) in Lakewood this weekend for concrete panel rehabilitation. The work hours are as follows:

• Friday, April 30 – two lanes of I-5 southbound close at 7 p.m. with three lanes closing by 11 p.m. All lanes reopen by 11 a.m. Saturday, May 1.
• Saturday, May 1 – two lanes closing at 7 p.m. with a triple-lane closure in effect by 11 p.m. All lanes reopen by noon, Sunday, May 2.

This work is part of a summer-long project that repairs and rehabilitates 25.5 miles of I-5 in Thurston and Pierce counties. To date, crews have replaced 108 of 295 panels and installed 5,466 of 56,000 dowel bars.

Drivers are encouraged to adjust their travel times or take alternate routes if at all possible. The best times to travel this weekend are Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

“This is the first extended work zone in Lakewood,” said Region Administrator Kevin Dayton, noting that drivers who adjust their travel times and take alternate routes really do make a difference. “With the help of motorists, we can minimize projected backups, similar to the three extended lane closures in Lacey.”

WSDOT had projected much longer delays during the weekend construction work in Lacey, however the impact was greatly reduced by people planning ahead and avoiding I-5 during scheduled lane closures.

Theses extended closures are necessary for crews to replace worn concrete panels and install dowel bars that help support the roadway.

This weekend’s lane closures are in addition to nightly work scheduled this week on northbound I-5 in Lacey and southbound I-5 in Tacoma and Lakewood. This week’s entire current work schedule can be found on the region’s weekly impact report at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/Olympic/Construction/or drivers can stay informed about this project by visiting www.tacomatraffic.com.

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