WSDOT Traffic Alert: Plan ahead for Interstate 5 Closures in Lakewood This Weekend

Here's a press release from the Washington State Department of Transportation: Bottom line is stay away from Interstate 5 southbound during the evenings and morning between Friday through Sunday. Crews will be closing three lanes of the freeway, which is sure to cause a huge backup.

If weather cooperates, drivers can expect triple-lane closures of southbound I-5 Friday June 17, through Sunday, June 18 while crews make repairs to the I-5 Clover Creek Bridge located just south of Bridgeport Way.

 Crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close three southbound lanes of the freeway from 9 p.m. Friday, June 17 to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18, and again from 9 p.m. Saturday, June 18 to 10 a.m. Sunday, June 19. The overnight lane restrictions are necessary for WSDOT and its contractor to safely replace the concrete bridge approach slabs.

 Last weekend, crews worked on northbound I-5 at the Clover Creek Bridge. Backups Sunday reached 15 miles from Lacey to Lakewood due to typical summer Sunday traffic volumes combined with the construction closures and a rolling slowdown for maintenance work in the same area.

 “We thank drivers for their patience last weekend,” said Jon Deffenbacher, project engineer. “The backups we saw last weekend are a good indicator of how quickly things can back up on I-5. We ask drivers to check the flow maps and cameras on the Web before they head out this weekend and decide whether or not to delay their trips.”

Drivers can “know before they go” by dialing 511 or by visiting www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic.

 To learn more about this $650,000 project and how to stay informed via Twitter or through email updates, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/CloverCreekBridge.