Date:  Friday, January 28, 2011

Contact:
Kelly Stowe, WSDOT Communications, 360-357-2716
MaryLou Nebergall, Project Engineer, 360-570-6752

ROCHESTER – Work is in full swing on a $25 million interchange project at Interstate 5 and US 12 in Grand Mound that will improve traffic flow and reduce the potential for collisions for the 15,000 drivers who use the interchange daily.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and its contractor, Tri-State Inc., are building new bridges over I-5 and nearby railroad tracks and rebuilding the interchange from loop ramps to a “diamond” configuration. The project is funded by the 2003 nickel gas tax.

Support structures for the new bridges will be built just to the north of the current interchange and away from traffic, minimizing delays for drivers. However, drivers will notice frequent shoulder closures and occasional ramp and lane closures on both I-5 and US 12 until construction is done in mid-2012.

More information about the project is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/grandmoundstage2/.

The Grand Mound interchange improvements are the second phase of an improvement plan that includes a nearly completed $89 million project, also funded by the nickel gas tax, to widen four miles of I-5 from four to six lanes between Grand Mound and the Blakeslee Junction near Centralia.

Improving I-5 in this area addresses potential safety issues and improves traffic flow through Lewis and Thurston counties. It also benefits freight mobility in the important I-5 transportation corridor.

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