Date:
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Contact:
John McNutt, WSDOT Project Engineer, (360) 570-6752
Jamie Swift, WSDOT Communications, (360) 507-4261
OLYMPIA – Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond took control of an excavator this morning and deftly plowed a pile of dirt to kick off an I-5 widening project in Thurston County.
Hammond was joined by dignitaries from tribal, federal, state and local governments at a groundbreaking ceremony for the I-5 Grand Mound to Maytown project, which adds a third lane northbound and southbound on an often-congested eight-mile segment of I-5.
“Days like today illustrate we have a plan for relieving congestion and we are implementing that plan,” Hammond said.
This $88.4 million “nickel” project also flattens a curve near Maytown to improve safety and sight distance for drivers.
During construction, scheduled to last through fall 2010, the speed limit in the project area is reduced from 70 mph to 60 mph.
About 60,000 vehicles a day travel this stretch of freeway, about 20 percent of them freight trucks.
Hammond touched on the significance of this project as it relates to freight mobility.
“We need the lanes to keep freight moving and to keep our economy moving,” Hammond said.
Hammond referenced recent freeway shutdowns – I-90 snow and avalanche-danger closures and I-5 flood closures – and the severe economic blow absorbed by freight-related businesses. A study to be released by WSDOT later this month reveals the I-90 and I-5 shutdowns cost the industry nearly $75 million.
For project information online: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/GrandMoundtoMaytown/
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