Project news

• WSDOT anticipates ramp meters will be operational by early spring.
• These ramp meters are located at four on-ramps between Lacey and Olympia. They join other ramp meters serving the I-5 corridor in the Puget Sound region.

Needs & benefits

Multiple vehicles merging onto the highway at the same time contributes to southbound I-5 congestion between Lacey and Olympia. A platoon of merging vehicles will cause drivers using I-5 to change lanes or slow down. This has a cumulative affect similar to damming a river that contributes to congestion.

Ramp meters pace the flow of merging traffic. A short wait at a traffic signal on the on-ramp helps break up the platoon of vehicles. When vehicles enter the highway in controlled intervals, those vehicles are less likely to disrupt highway flow.

Overall, highway drivers increase their average highway speeds and shorten overall highway travel times. Ramp meters also help reduce the potential for collisions when multiple vehicles merge onto the highway at the same time.

Timeline

March 2019 - Project advertised for bidding
April 2019 - Project awarded private contractor
Spring 2019 - Construction began
Spring 2020 - Project complete