Overview
This project series improves a total of seven miles of I-5 between Mellen Street (Exit 81) in Lewis County and just south of the Grand Mound interchange (Exit 88) in Thurston County.
The I-5 Mellen Street to Grand Mound Project will be constructed in two separate stages:
I-5, Blakeslee Junction to Grand Mound
This project widened four miles of I-5 from two to three lanes in each direction between the Blakeslee railroad junction in Lewis County (milepost 83.5) and just south of the Grand Mound interchange (Exit 88) in Thurston County. Construction began in June 2010, the new lanes were open to traffic in November 2011, and the project was complete in February 2013.
I-5, Mellen Street to Blakeslee Junction
This project improves safety and mobility for all vehicles traveling on this section of I-5 by constructing Collector Distributor (CD) lanes (pdf 141 kb) between Mellen Street and Harrison Avenue, improving the Mellen Street interchange and re-aligning and straightening I-5 at Blakeslee curve.
Why is WSDOT building this project?
I-5 is the most significant freight freeway on the West Coast. The interstate links markets in Canada, the United States and Mexico, and is critical to the regional, state and national economy.
WSDOT is investing $390 million from the 2003 and 2005 gas-tax packages in four projects – including this project series – to improve traffic flow and safety along 18 miles of I-5 in Lewis and Thurston counties. By widening and improving the interstate corridor, these projects will help reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and reduce the chance for collisions caused by traffic backups and merging conditions.
The End Result
Project Benefits
What is the project timeline?
Funding
2005 Gas Tax (TPA): $152,056,000
Pre-Existing Funds (PEF): $881,000
Total: $152,938,000
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Chuck Meade
WSDOT Project Engineer
360-740-8600
swChehalis@wsdot.wa.gov
or
Bart Treece
WSDOT Communications
360-905-2058
TreeceB@wsdot.wa.gov
View video of the "finished" I-5, Mellen to Blakeslee Junction project.