Date:  Thursday, May 20, 2010

Contact:
Rumina Suafoa, WSDOT Project Engineer, 253-534-3101
WSDOT Communications, 360-357-2789

Note schedule changes in bold.

FIFE – Drivers can expect nighttime lane closures on I-5 in Fife beginning tonight, May 20 as crews prepare to shift traffic onto new pavement. WSDOT recently completed widening in the inside freeway median for future HOV lanes that will help ease I-5 congestion.

“Motorists have been extremely patient with the ongoing work as this widening project moves forward, and we thank them for that,” said WSDOT Region Administrator Kevin Dayton. “We are confident they will continue to be good neighbors to our crews on I-5, slowing down and paying attention when traveling through this active construction zone.”

Crews are removing barrier and pavement markings this week as they prepare to restripe the roadway and shift I-5 lanes into the median from the Pierce-King County line to 70th Avenue East. Shifting I-5 traffic into the median area allows widening work to begin on the outside shoulder.

Weather-permitting, crews close lanes in both directions of I-5 between 70th Avenue East and the Pierce-King county line, overnight Thursday, May 20 through Sunday, May 23:

• 9 p.m. Thursday, May 20 to 5 a.m. Friday, May 21 – two lanes closed southbound I-5
• 8 p.m. Friday, May 21 to 5 a.m. Saturday, May 22 – two lanes closed northbound I-5
• 8 p.m. Saturday, May 22 to 10 a.m. Sunday, May 23 – two lanes closed northbound I-5 
• 8 p.m. Sunday, May 23 to 5:30 a.m. Monday, May 24 – two lanes closed southbound I-5

The northbound I-5 shift takes place overnight Saturday, May 22 and the southbound I-5 shift on overnight Sunday, May 23. After each shift complete, motorists will encounter reduced lane and shoulder widths within the project limits.

This construction contract was awarded to Tri-State Construction, Inc. for $31 million in July 2009 and is funded primarily by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The project adds carpool lanes on northbound and southbound I-5 from the King County line to the Port of Tacoma Road interchange in Fife, about three miles in each direction. Construction began in August 2009 and is scheduled for completion in late 2011.

For more information, please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/PiercecountyHOV/I5_PortTacomatoKing/.

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