Project news

• Work on this project will begin in spring 2021
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Needs & benefits

In spring 2021, our contractors will begin a two-year restoration project on southbound I-5 between I-90 and Spokane Street. This is one of more than restoration 20 projects planned to rehabilitate the I-5 corridor in King County in the next 10 years. This two-year rehabilitation project requires up to  16 weekends of southbound lane reductions in 2021 and 2022 to:

• Replace five expansion joints on I-5 between I-90 and Spokane Street
• Replace an expansion joint on westbound I-90 over I-5
• Rehabilitate 1.25-miles of the interstate between I-90 and Spokane Street

Expansion joints, which run across the width of the freeway, allow elevated sections of highway to expand and contract with weather conditions and to flex under the weight of heavy vehicles. These joints generally are replaced a half at a time to lessen the effects on traffic. We are working closely with partner agencies in Seattle to determine which weekends this replacement work will happen. Crews need about 55 hours for each replacement to chip out the old joint, place the new one and allow concrete around the joint to cure.

The 1.25-mile section of southbound I-5 that will be repaved hasn’t been rehabilitated in nearly 55 years. Decades of traffic have created deep tire grooves which can create spaces for pooled water to collect, causing cars to slide. This pooled water can also freeze, creating pockets of ice on the road. Removing the higher parts of the old concrete and repaving it with a polyester concrete will eliminate these deep grooves, create a uniform surface and extend the expected lifespan of the highway.

Timeline

• November 2020: Project advertised for competitive bidding.
• January 2021: Contract awarded to CA Carey Corp.
• Spring 2021: Work will begin.
• Fall 2022: Work to be complete.

Funding

The total estimated cost of this project is $33.2 million, from state and federal funding sources.