Those heading on northbound Interstate 5 south of Woodland should expect significant delays later this month as contractors for the Washington State Department of Transportation begin bridge work on one of the North Fork Lewis River bridges.
On July 24, WSDOT announced the beginning of work on I-5 over the North Fork would begin in August. Beginning with nighttime lane closures, traffic will eventually shift to two narrow lanes on the northbound span with reduced speed limits.
The department alerted drivers to expect “extremely long backups and significant delays,” a WSDOT news release stated.
“We understand reducing three travel lanes down to two narrow lanes will cause substantial backups and significantly increase travel times,” WSDOT Project Engineer Susan Fell said in the release. “However, this construction staging approach prioritizes safety, efficiency and prompt execution of the work.”
The northbound bridge was built in 1968. Both northbound and southbound bridges see about 41,000 vehicles cross daily, according to information from WSDOT.
“Given the deteriorating condition of this bridge deck and its importance as a crucial West Coast connection on I-5, this project is vital to enhance structural integrity, maintain smooth travel for commuters and goods and, when complete, will minimize the need for emergency bridge closures.” Fell said.
The lane closures were initially expected to begin Aug. 1, though the start was delayed. The first phase of nighttime lane closures, followed by the lane shift, are expected to begin by mid-August, WSDOT spokesperson Sarah Hannon-Nein said.
When they begin, closures are expected to last two months. In addition to lane closures, the speed limit will also be reduced to 60 mph in the work zone and 45 mph along the bridge.
Delays will vary depending on the time of day and day of the week, WSDOT stated in the release. The department expects the most significant delays on Friday evenings, which could be longer than 50 minutes and backups of seven miles or more.
Other than painting in 2013, the northbound bridge hasn’t had any “programmed” repairs, according to WSDOT. There have been “frequent, emergency” repairs to the deck in the past several years to patch up holes.
Those emergency repairs mean no heads-up for motorists, which leads to significant backups. Those repairs have also grown more frequent, the department stated.
The project has an emphasis on worker safety following a “safety re-set” by WSDOT last year, according to information from the department. The project will feature a temporary barrier placed to separate workers and traffic. One half of the bridge will be worked on at a time.
Apart from safety, having a protected work zone allows for around-the-clock work, leading to a shorter project time, according to WSDOT.
To help traffic flow, crews will use a “Smart Work Zone” system, the release stated. Temporary reader board signs will be placed about every mile leading up to the work zone to give drivers a heads-up on the conditions ahead and when to merge.
“We encourage drivers to be patient and stay on I-5 and not to take alternate routes,” WSDOT stated in their project information. “The local roads do not have the capacity for high volumes of traffic and some loads may not be able to get through.”
