A bridge structural repair near Olympia, Wash. over the next two weekends is expected to cause traffic problems due to ramp and lane closures. The Washington Department of Transportation is warning drivers to avoid the Interstate 5 in Olympia if possible.

Over the weekends of Sept. 12 and 19, contractors will be working to replace a 171 foot long bridge expansion joint spanning the Interstate 5 and U.S. 101 interchange.

“The Interstate 5/ U.S. 101 interchange is one busy interchange and it’s a tough place to work,” said Ricky Bhalla, a WSDOT engineer. “We need drivers to change their normal driving habits to help prevent miles of backups over the next two weekends.”

The Washington Department of Transportation expects that drivers will face lengthy backups and delays due to a lack of convenient alternative routes. Traffic models show backups reaching as much as 14 miles long with the heaviest congestion expected on southbound Interstate 5.

For more visit the Washington State DOT website.

0 Comments