Date:  Thursday, September 30, 2010

Contact: Chris Tams, WSDOT Project Engineer, (360) 759-1310 (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)

RIDGEFIELD – Drivers on Interstate 5 will encounter nighttime closures of all lanes, one direction at a time, next week when crews use an excavator with a giant pincer-like extension to demolish the old State Route 501 bridge spanning the interstate.

Crews on Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) I-5, SR 501 Ridgefield Interchange project will keep freeway traffic flowing during the closures by detouring up to 600 vehicles an hour through the new SR 501 interchange on- and off-ramps.

Scheduled closures in the area of the interchange include:

I-5
   • Oct. 4-7: Up to two lanes closed on I-5 in both directions between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
   • Oct. 4-5: All lanes of northbound I-5 will be closed from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.
   • Oct. 6-7: All lanes of southbound I-5 will be closed from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.

SR 501
   • Oct. 4-7: All lanes of SR 501 at I-5 will be closed while interstate traffic detours over the on- and off-ramps, from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. each night. Drivers will be able to make right turns onto and off of the SR 501 ramps.

All lanes of I-5 and SR 501 will reopen by 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8. Alternate routes during closures include the SR 502 interchange (Exit 11) or La Center Road (Exit 16).

The I-5, SR 501 Ridgefield Interchange project improves safety and mobility on state and local roads by building a wider bridge to take SR 501 over I-5 and improving the I-5 on-ramps. Construction on the $28 million, stimulus-funded project began in August 2009.

Washington State is administering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a Web site, www.recovery.wa.gov, so every Washingtonian can see where tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results.

To avoid construction-related delays, check the latest information about construction updates and lane-closure status online with WSDOT’s Southwest Region Weekly Construction Advisory, the Travel Alerts page and the Traffic page to see current conditions.

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WSDOT keeps 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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