Date:
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Contact:
Jamie Swift, WSDOT Communications, (360) 357-2703
OLYMPIA – A recent speed-limit reduction to improve safety for motorists and workers while crews widen I-5 extends two more miles Friday morning to eliminate multiple speed changes that hamper traffic flow.
On May 12, WSDOT dropped the speed limit from 70 mph to 60 mph on a 12-mile stretch between the Lewis/Thurston county border and Tumwater (milepost 85.73 to 97.33).
After about a week of evaluating operations on the two-mile segment south of the Lewis/Thurston county border that remained a 70-mph zone, WSDOT, in coordination with the Washington State Patrol, has decided for the sake of consistency, safety and improved traffic flow that the speed limit should drop to 60 mph.
“This adjustment removes any chance for confusion about the speed limit from south Thurston County to Napavine in Lewis County, where the speed returns to 70 mph,” said WSDOT traffic engineer Steve Kim.
The speed reduction will be in place through fall 2010, when the I-5 widening project is scheduled to be complete.
The May 12 speed reduction coincided with the start of the I-5 Grand Mound to Maytown project, which adds a third lane northbound and southbound on an approximately eight-mile segment of freeway. That reduction stretched about two miles beyond the project limits on each end to give drivers time to slow down before entering the work area.
In addition to this Thurston County widening project, there is an I-5 project ongoing in Lewis County between Rush Road and 13th Street. This project also adds a third lane in each direction and is scheduled for completion next year.
For project information online: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/GrandMoundtoMaytown/ or www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/RushRd13thSt/
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