Date:
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Contact:
Howard Diep, Project Engineer, (253) 589-6100
Jamie Swift, WSDOT Communications, (360) 357-2703
TACOMA – Bridge-demolition work scheduled to begin the third week of January requires shifting traffic – as many as 100,000 vehicles a day – off the existing northbound lanes of Interstate 5 to keep motorists clear of falling debris.
Northbound drivers will merge to the right starting just north of the State Route 16 curve, onto new lanes being built as part of WSDOT’s ongoing I-5 widening project. Near the Tacoma Dome, drivers will merge back to the left and onto the regular I-5 lanes.
During the shift, the eastbound SR 16 ramp to northbound I-5 will be narrowed from two lanes to one.
The detour will remain through the fall of 2007. The final stage of demolition, slated to start in February, diverts southbound traffic into the existing northbound lanes.
Removing the three city bridges at Yakima Avenue, Tacoma Avenue and Delin Street allows crews to widen the freeway to accommodate HOV lanes. WSDOT closed the three overpasses last spring and completed the first phase of demolition. Two new bridges will be built in their place. In the fall, WSDOT will reopen the Yakima/Thompson bridge and a combined Tacoma Avenue/G/Delin bridge.
The new northbound lanes being used for the temporary detour are a key component of WSDOT’s I-5, 48th Street to Pacific Avenue project, which widens the freeway through downtown Tacoma, reducing congestion, enhancing safety and creating space for future carpool lanes. Completion of the project is scheduled for spring 2008.
Upon completion of the project, the new lanes being used as a detour will serve as collector-distributor lanes that will ease the weaving traffic among drivers merging onto northbound I-5 from SR 16 and 38th Street, and exiting northbound I-5 to downtown Tacoma. The improved lane configuration is expected to reduce collisions on this 1.5-mile stretch of freeway.
Project Web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/PierceCountyHOV/I5_HOV_S48th_Pacific/.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Media members who wish to get an up-close look at the demolition work, or would like to drive the detour route prior to its opening, should contact Jamie Swift, 360-357-2703 or swiftj@wsdot.wa.gov.
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