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Project Facts
April 2008
- WSDOT is working on the environmental documentation and preliminary project design.
Overview
During the 2005 Legislative session, $197 million in gas tax revenue was approved to complete the I-5, Mellen Street to Grand Mound project in the state's Transportation Partnership Funding Package. WSDOT is currently moving forward into the environmental analysis and preliminary design phase. As a result of this project and two others -- Rush Road to 13th Street and Grand Mound to Maytown, 18 miles of I-5 will be widened.
This project will widen a total of seven miles of I-5 between Mellen Street in Lewis County and just south of the Grand Mound interchange (Exit 88) in Thurston County from two lanes in each direction to three lanes in each direction. It will also reconstruct several bridges and the Harrison Avenue interchange.
Funding to rebuild the Mellen Street interchange is not available at this time.
WSDOT has developed improvements at Mellen Street that will provide reliable access to the hospital and community college. These improvements will begin construction in 2009.
WSDOT is also currently working on two more I-5 widening projects in this area: Rush Road to 13th Street in Lewis County and Grand Mound to Maytown in Thurston County. Altogether, these three projects will widen and improve approximately 18 of the 40 miles of I-5 that are still only two lanes in each direction between Exit 52 (Toutle Park Road) in Cowlitz County and Maytown in Thurston County.
It is proposed to construct the I-5 Mellen Street to Grand Mound Project in three separate stages as follows:
I-5, Blakeslee Junction to Grand Mound
This project will widen four miles of I-5 from two lanes to three lanes in each direction between Blakeslee Junction in Lewis County (milepost 83.5) and just south of the Grand Mound interchange (Exit 88) in Thurston County. Construction of this project will begin in 2009. This project will connect to an adjacent I-5 widening project to the north, "Grand Mound to Maytown," which is scheduled to begin in 2008.
Mellen Street Interchange Improvements
This project will add two lanes on Mellen Street beneath the existing I-5 Mellen Street Bridge. It will also make improvements to the frontage road and freeway ramp intersections. Construction will begin in late 2009.
I-5, Mellen Street to Blakeslee Junction
This project will widen approximately three miles of I-5 from two lanes to three lanes, plus allowing for a future potential fourth “auxiliary” lane, in each direction between the Mellen Street interchange (Exit 81) and the Harrison Avenue interchange in Lewis County. This project will also upgrade the existing Harrison Avenue interchange and replace the Blakeslee Junction Bridge over the railroad tracks and the Skookumchuck River bridges. Construction will begin in 2012.
Why is WSDOT
building this project?
I-5 is the most significant freight freeway on the West Coast, linking markets in Canada, the United States and Mexico and is critical to the regional, state and national economy. It is also the busiest commuter roadway in western Washington. Currently, a 40-mile long section of I-5 is only two lanes in each direction - from the Toutle River Safety Rest Area in Cowlitz County to the Maytown interchange in Thurston County. As a result, congestion is already a problem and even minor incidents can result in significant traffic backups. Safety problems and congestion are expected to grow as traffic volumes increase in the future.
Widening I-5 in this area will help address these potential safety issues, improve traffic flow through Lewis County, and benefit freight mobility in this very important corridor.
The End Result
I-5, Blakeslee Junction to Grand Mound: When finished, I-5 between Blakeslee Junction in Lewis County and just south of the Grand Mound interchange (Exit 88) in Thurston County will be a barrier-divided interstate with three general-purpose lanes in each direction.
Mellen Street Improvements: Two turn lanes will be added on Mellen Street. When finished, improvements will include reduced backups onto I-5 and improved emergency access to the hospital.
I-5, Mellen Street to Blakeslee Junction: When finished, I-5 between the Mellen Street interchange and Blakeslee Junction will be a barrier-divided interstate with three general-purpose lanes. This project also will reconstruct the Harrison Avenue Interchange at Exit 82 and the I-5 bridges over the Blakeslee Railroad Junction and the Skookumchuck River between Exits 81 and 82. Construction will begin in 2012.
When completed, this project will improve mobility and safety for all vehicles traveling on this section of I-5.
Project Benefits
- Mobility: This project will increase roadway capacity and improve traffic flow through Lewis County by widening approximately seven miles of I-5 between the Mellen Street Interchange (Exit 81, Lewis County) and just south of the Grand Mound Interchange (Exit 88, Thurston County).
- Safety: As traffic levels increase on this section of I-5, safety problems are expected to grow. Widening the interstate will help address these potential problems.
- Economic: This project will encourage economic development in this area by improving freight mobility through Lewis County.
What is the project timeline?
WSDOT started development of project scope and began the environmental documentation and preliminary project design.
I-5 - Blakeslee Junction to Grand Mound
2009: Construction is scheduled to start.
2011: Construction is scheduled to be completed.
Mellen Street Improvements
2009: Construction is scheduled to start.
2010: Construction is scheduled to be completed.
I-5 - Mellen Street to Blakeslee Junction
2011: Construction is scheduled to start.
2014: Construction is scheduled to be completed.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Three public open houses were held in 2006 to solicit feedback from the public. On March 7, 2006, WSDOT introduced the project to the public and asked for ideas and suggestions. The May 9, 2006 open house focused on issues and options at the Mellen Street interchange. On December 5, 2006, WSDOT provided an update on the project, presented proposed improvements to I-5 as it is widened between Mellen Street and Grand Mound, and asked for comments from the public on alternatives to improve the Mellen Street interchange.
To view the display boards from the December 2006 Open House, click on the project display located under the left sidebar "Documents" header.
Public involvement efforts related to this project first began in 1992, when WSDOT started work on the I-5, Toutle Park Road to Maytown Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Multiple open houses and public meetings were held in August 1992, April 1994 and January 1997 as part of the development of the EIS. The project did not move forward at the time due to a lack of funding at the state level.
Additional public involvement opportunities will be scheduled during the environmental and design phases of the project, so that residents and property owners can review and contribute to the project's plans prior to construction. WSDOT will keep the public informed about the progress of this project and public involvement opportunities through mailings, this Web page and the local media.
For the latest public involvement meetings in southwest Washington, visit the Southwest Region's Public Involvement page.
Environmental Protection
WSDOT makes every effort to assess and minimize environmental impacts from our projects. In 2003, WSDOT completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the I-5 corridor between Toutle Park Road in Cowlitz County and Maytown in Thurston County. This EIS evaluated alternatives for widening this section of I-5 to a six-lane divided highway; improving, widening or replacing various interchanges, bridges and overcrossings in the area; relocating frontage roads; and other improvements.
In addition, specific environmental impacts related to construction will be analyzed and, if necessary, WSDOT will develop an appropriate plan for mitigation of impacts as part of its usual environmental documentation and permitting processes.
For environmental information specific to this project, please contact Becky Michaliszyn at (360) 905-2174, or e-mail michalb@wsdot.wa.gov.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
Widening I-5 in this area will address and improve growing safety concerns as traffic levels increase on this section of I-5.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
WSDOT has initiated consultation with appropriate tribal governments and will continue to consult with the tribes throughout the process.
For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison website.
Financial Information
The total estimated budget for all three projects is $197 million.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Area Engineer Colin Newell
WSDOT Chehalis Project Office
1411 Rush Road
Chehalis, WA 98532
Phone: 360-740-8600, or toll-free 1-866-713-2412
E-mail: swChehalis@wsdot.wa.gov
or
Communications Manager Sylvia Ross
WSDOT Southwest Region
PO Box 1709
Vancouver, WA 98668-1709
Phone: 360-905-2058
E-mail: RossSy@wsdot.wa.gov
or access our project feedback form.
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