Date:
Monday, October 02, 2006
Contact:
Casey Liles, Area Engineer, (360) 905-1537 (Vancouver)
Chris Edwards, Assistant Area Engineer, (360) 905-1501 (Vancouver)
Sylvia Ross, WSDOT Communications, (360) 902-2058 (Vancouver)
Alissa Bateman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2078 (Vancouver)
VANCOUVER – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reopened I-5 to traffic at 2 a.m. Monday morning, after completing the final paving for the I-5 Widening Project. This project, now functionally complete for motorists, was completed on time. In celebration of project completion, WSDOT will be holding a ribbon cutting event Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. The event will take place at the NE 129th Street overpass in the Salmon Creek area. The public is invited to attend.
“I would like to thank motorists for their patience during the closure of I-5 over this past weekend and for their patience throughout the project. The weekend closure was successful and crews completed the final work. Motorists are now enjoying the safer, wider interstate,” said Casey Liles, Vancouver Area Engineer.
Over this past weekend, Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, crews successfully completed grinding, paving, striping and signing work. Motorists are now benefiting from increased capacity and congestion relief on I-5 between NE 99th Street and NE 134th Street. This project widened the interstate from two to three lanes in each direction, plus an auxiliary lane. As part of this project, the NE 129th Street overpass and the Salmon Creek/NE 117th Street bridges were also replaced with ones that meet current design, safety and seismic standards. The I-5 Widening Project was funded by the 2003 Nickel Account.
The speed limit has returned to 60 mph, from the 50 mph speed limit that was in place during construction.
This project was the fourth stage in improving the interstate. This project and the earlier projects have helped to reduce congestion and improve safety on this heavily traveled section of I-5. Earlier phases included the 99th Street interchange, and the widening from Burnt Bridge Creek to 78th Street, which included two phases fused into one project.
Landscaping and permanent striping will be completed in the spring, when conditions are favorable.
To learn about this project or the upcoming ribbon cutting ceremony visit the project Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/SalmonCreektoi205/ or call the Vancouver Area Engineering Office at (360) 905-1500.
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Editor’s Note: Project Engineer Casey Liles and Regional Administrator Don Wagner will be available after the ribbon cutting event for interviews. To arrange for an onsite interview, contact Sylvia Ross at (360) 905-2058 or Alissa Bateman at (360) 905-2078.
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