Date:
Friday, January 18, 2008
Contact:
Chris Tams, Project Engineer, (360) 759-1310 (Vancouver)
Susan Fell, Assistant Project Engineer, (360) 759-1312 (Vancouver)
Sylvia Ross, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)
VANCOUVER – Final girder installations will take place on the I-5, SR 502 Interchange project, announced the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Motorists should expect lane closures on I-5, as well as possible delays between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. each day, starting on January 21, at 9 p.m. and concluding on January 25 at 5 a.m.
Beginning at 11 p.m. on the evening of January 21 and January 22, all northbound lanes of I-5 will be closed and northbound motorists will be diverted into the southbound lane in the vicinity of the new bridge. Traffic will be returned to the northbound lanes past the bridge construction work zone. Over the two day period, the northbound right lane and the southbound left lane of the freeway will be closed continually. Additionally, during both nights, the northbound side of the Gee Creek rest area will be closed starting at 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning.
Beginning at 11 p.m. on the evening of January 23 and January 24, all southbound lanes of I-5 will be closed and southbound motorists will be diverted into the northbound lanes in the vicinity of the new bridge. Traffic will be returned to the southbound lanes past the bridge construction work zone. Over the two day period, the southbound right lane and the northbound left lane will be closed continually. Additionally, during both nights, the southbound side of the Gee Creek rest area will be closed starting at 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning.
The final girders will run between the median and the outside bridge spans. Lane closures are necessary so crews can safely install the girders directly above the highway. The newly installed bridge girders will span I-5 for the new SR 502 Interchange.
Throughout the week of January 14, contractor crews began the installation process by first delivering the girders, then installing them over the spans in the median between the north and southbound lanes. Once the girder installation is complete, crews will begin constructing the bridge deck.
All traffic impacts will take place in the I-5, SR 502 Interchange construction zone, located north of the NE 179th Street/ Fairgrounds Exit.
Advanced warning signs will be posted. Motorists are asked to please pay attention to the warning signs. Motorists are also reminded that all traffic fines are doubled within a construction work zone when workers are present (RCW 46.61.527).
To learn more about the I-5, SR 502 Interchange, please visit the project Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR502/Interchange.
For weekly updates on this and all other traffic impacts in the region, please visit the WSDOT Southwest Region Weekly Travel Advisory Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthWest/Construction.
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