Washington Department of Transportation crews will be completing nighttime work on Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 through this fall.
The nighttime work will heavily address the bumpy ride on southbound Interstate 5 near the interstate’s split just north of Salmon Creek between Northeast 179th Street to Interstate 205. The project’s work times will be from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. with upwards of three lanes closed during the work time.
WSDOT stated in a press release that the work is weather dependent and subject to be rescheduled at any time. The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph to improve safety for crews and motorists.
The $7 million project includes the replacement of roughly 100 concrete panels, 54 already replaced during the summer of 2022, along both directions of Clark County’s portion of Interstate 205, from the Glenn Jackson Bridge to the split with Interstate 5, where concrete panels will be replaced in southbound lanes between Northeast 179th Street to Interstate 205. Along with concrete panels, bridge joints will also be rehabilitated on several I-205 bridges, which is included in the $7 million project budget.
“We recently negotiated a change order to add an additional 42 panels, which will be replaced beginning (this) week,” Sarah Hannon-Nein, WSDOT Southwest Region Communications spokesperson, stated in an email. “Most of these added panels are located along I-5 southbound between 179th and the I-5/I-205 split.”
Hannon-Nein stated the life expectancy of the concrete panels can last at least 10 years. The existing panels on Interstate 205 are around 50 years old; the existing panels between Northeast 179th Street and the interstate split are around 70 years old. That, she stated, is about as long as WSDOT expects the panels to last before they wear into their current bumpy state.
“Our goal for the additional panel replacement work is to repair the highway until we have funding for a full reconstruction project, which is currently programmed (funded) for I-5 southbound between 179th and the I-5/I-205 split for construction during the summer of 2025,” Hannon-Nein stated.
Work zone speed limits will only be in effect while the nighttime work is actively taking place. Work will not take place on event nights.
WSDOT has received questions and comments regarding the condition of the highway along the routes under construction, but the work was already scheduled and contingent upon recently approved funding, Hannon-Nein stated.
To check for traffic alerts and updates before one hits the road, visit wsdot.com/Travel/Real-time/Map/ or use the WSDOT mobile app. People interested in project updates can sign up for email updates at public.govdeliv ery.com/accounts/WADOT/sub scriber/new.
