Date:
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Contact:
Susan Babic, WSDOT Traffic Control Supervisor, (253) 983-7597
Jamie Swift, WSDOT Communications, (360) 357-2703
TACOMA – Rail-removal work on three soon-to-be-demolished bridges over I-5 requires lane restrictions on the freeway to keep motorists clear of falling debris.
9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 – 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 4
Crews will close all but the far-right lane of northbound I-5 between the SR 16 curve and I-705. The ramp from eastbound SR 16 to northbound I-5 also will be closed. Drivers will be detoured to 56th Street, then back to I-5. Poor weather conditions may postpone the work.
9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4 – 5 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5
Crews will close all but the far-right lane of southbound I-5 between the SR 16 curve and I-705. The on-ramps from Pacific Avenue, the SR 7 extension and southbound I-705 also will be closed. Drivers will be detoured to the Portland Avenue on-ramp. Poor weather conditions may postpone the work.
WSDOT is working with the City of Tacoma on this two-night job in which crews will remove side rails from the Tacoma Avenue, Yakima Avenue and Delin Street bridges. The rails will be used on other road projects.
The three city bridges will be demolished to make room for WSDOT’s I-5 widening through downtown. The first stage of bridge demolition is already complete, and the second phase is tentatively scheduled for January. WSDOT will replace the three bridges with two new bridges built to modern standards, with sidewalks, space for bicylists, and wider lanes and shoulders.
The freeway widening project between South 48th Street and Pacific Avenue addresses one of the highest accident locations in the state. New northbound collector-distributor lanes will eliminate much of the weaving traffic at the SR 16 curve and reduce congestion between the Tacoma Mall and the Tacoma Dome. This "Nickel" project also creates space for future HOV lanes.
The widening project is scheduled for completion in spring 2008. For more information about the I-5, South 48th to Pacific Avenue project, go to http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/PierceCountyHOV/I5_HOV_S48th_Pacific/.
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