Date:  Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Contact: Denys Tak, WSDOT Project Engineer, 1-800-545-1393 (Kelso)
Heidi Sause, WSDOT Communications, 360-905-2057 (Vancouver)

KELSO – After eighteen months of construction, crews working on the Talley Way interchange are gearing up to open the new, longer on-ramp from State Route 432 to southbound Interstate 5. But before that can happen, they’ll need to close an existing ramp and shift 1,400 daily drivers to a temporary detour route.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close and remove the existing ramp from Talley Way to eastbound SR 432 beginning July 5. Drivers heading to Carrolls and traffic traveling from Talley Way to northbound I-5 can use alternate interchanges to reach their destinations, or follow a signed detour onto westbound SR 432.

The detour adds roughly three minutes and 1.6 miles to commutes, and will be in place for approximately six weeks. If drivers choose to detour, they will:

• Merge onto westbound SR 432
• Take the exit to Dike Road
• Turn right onto Frontage Road
• Follow the off-ramp under the highway
• Remain on the loop ramp to reenter eastbound SR 432

While traffic is detoured, crews will pave the new ramp to southbound I-5 and complete paving on another new ramp from Talley Way to eastbound SR 432. Crews plan to open and shift traffic onto the new ramps in mid-August.

“We want to thank drivers in advance for their patience during this work,” said Project Engineer Denys Tak. “The new ramp to southbound I-5 is arguably the most important element of this entire project and we’re truly looking forward to opening it.”

The new ramps separate cross-over traffic, eliminate a dangerous weave and vastly improve the safety and efficiency of the interchange.

The $35 million I-5, SR 432 Talley Way Interchange project is funded primarily through the 2005 gas tax, and is on budget and schedule for completion in 2012.

View photos of project progress on the WSDOT Flickr site.

Stay up to date on construction and closures by visiting WSDOT’s travel alerts and construction update Web pages.


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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 511.

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