Date:  Friday, May 28, 2010

Contact: Colin Newell, Chehalis Area Engineer, (866) 713-2412 toll-free (Chehalis)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)

CENTRALIA – WSDOT begins construction June 2 on a $36.6 million I-5 widening project in north Lewis County. The I-5, Blakelsee Junction to Grand Mound project is the third in a series of four I-5 safety and mobility projects to be constructed between Rush Road in Lewis County and Maytown in Thurston County.

“With the start of this project, 16 of 18 miles of I-5 improvements in this area will either be under construction or completed,” said Southwest Acting Region Administrator Bart Gernhart. “We’re excited to continue delivering the safety and mobility improvements citizens and the legislature entrusted to us with the 2003 and 2005 transportation packages.”

Tri-State Construction of Bellevue is the contractor on the project with a construction bid of $19.7 million, 29 percent below WSDOT’s estimate.

Drivers next week can expect daytime shoulder closures and rolling slowdowns while the contractor installs signs and moves equipment into the work zone. Throughout the life of the project, drivers will encounter night time single-lane closures and lane shifts on both directions of I-5. The project is expected to be complete in 2012.

The 2005 gas tax funded I-5, Blakeslee Junction to Grand Mound project widens four miles of I-5 from two lanes to three in each direction between the Blakeslee Railroad Junction and the US 12 interchange at Grand Mound (mileposts 83.5 to 88). Widening I-5 helps increase safety and mobility for nearly 55,000 drivers traveling this section of interstate daily.

Work on the adjacent I-5, Grand Mound to Maytown widening project in south Thurston County will also impact drivers this summer with nightly lane closures Mondays through Thursdays. The project is scheduled for completion this fall. For more information, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/grandmoundtomaytown/.

WSDOT is investing a total of $390 million on I-5 in Lewis and Thurston counties through four projects funded by the 2003 and 2005 gas tax packages. The projects widen I-5, build new interchanges and improve safety along 18 miles of interstate corridor.

The fourth and final project in this series – I-5, Mellen Street to Blakeslee Junction – is scheduled to begin construction in 2012.

For more information on the I-5, Blakeslee Junction to Grand Mound project, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/mellentograndmound/phase1/. 

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WSDOT's mission is to keep people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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