Date:  Monday, July 07, 2008

Contact: Denys Tak, Project Engineer, (800) 545-1393 (toll-free)
Sylvia Ross, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)

KELSO – A project to pave and provide safety improvements to I-5 from Castle Rock to SR 505 will begin on July 10 announced the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Motorists on I-5 will experience some traffic impacts, mainly at night time.

The contract was awarded on May 27, 2008 to Morse Brothers of Harrisburg, Oregon doing business as Knife River. The project will make safety improvements and pave sections of I-5 between Castle Rock (milepost 50.12) and Winlock vicinity (milepost 65). Crews will repave the roadway to build pavement depth and increase the life of the pavement, as well as provide a smoother, safer ride for motorists. Crews will also stabilize loose concrete panels underneath the existing asphalt on I-5, near Toutle Hill.

Safety improvements, such as guardrail upgrades, relocating luminaries, updating permanent signs, striping and delineation to further improve this section of the corridor will also be part of this project

Due to heavy daytime traffic through the project area, a majority of the work will be completed at night. Single lane closures are to be expected both day and night with restrictions placed on certain hours of the day. Double lane closures will take place at night in some areas, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. In areas where I-5 has two lanes in each direction, single-lane closures will also be restricted to night time hours.

Construction is expected to last through the fall. For weekly updates on this and all other state traffic impacts in the region, please visit the WSDOT Southwest Region Weekly Travel Advisory Web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthWest/Construction/default.htm. The traveling public can also get the latest travel information by calling 5-1-1 from most phones.

For more information about this project, please contact WSDOT’s Kelso Area Engineering Office by phone (800-545-1393), by e-mail (swKelso@wsdot.wa.gov), or visit the project Web page at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/CastleRockToSR505Paving.

Advance warning signs will be placed ahead of the construction area, and motorists are asked to observe and adhere to the posted speed limits when driving through the work zone. Motorists are also reminded that all traffic fines are doubled within a construction work zone when workers are present (RCW 46.61.527).

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Drivers can now get real time traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. This new traveler information system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that managed 4.6 million calls each year. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction, mountain pass condition, and state ferry system information, as well as toll free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.

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