Project Facts
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This project will widen approximately three miles of I-5 from two lanes to three lanes, plus a fourth auxiliary lane in each direction between the Mellen Street interchange (Exit 81) and the Blakeslee Railroad Junction bridge in Lewis County. It will also reconstruct the Harrison Avenue interchange and several I-5 mainline bridges.
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This project will promote economic development in this area by improving freight mobility through Lewis County.
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Anticipated construction start date is 2011.
April 2008
- WSDOT is currently working on the project design and the environmental analysis.
Overview
This project will widen approximately three miles of I-5 from two lanes to three lanes, plus a possible fourth auxiliary lane, in each direction between the Mellen Street interchange (Exit 81) and the Blakeslee Railroad Junction bridge in Lewis County. It will also reconstruct the Harrison Avenue interchange and replace several I-5 mainline bridges.
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 also is the busiest commuter roadway in western Washington. There is currently a 40-mile long section of I-5 from the Toutle River Safety Rest Area in Cowlitz County to the Maytown interchange in Thurston County that is still only two lanes in each direction. As a result, congestion is a problem and even minor incidents can result in significant traffic backups. The area's mobility and safety problems are expected to grow with anticipated traffic volume increases.
Widening this segment of I-5 will help address these issues, improve traffic flow through Lewis County, and benefit freight mobility in this very important corridor.
The End Result
When finished, I-5 between the Mellen Street interchange and Blakeslee Junction will be a barrier-divided interstate with three general-purpose lanes in each direction, and a fourth auxillary lane between Mellen Street and Harrison Avenue. This project will reconstruct the I-5 Harrison Avenue Interchange at Exit 82, the I-5 bridges over the Skookumchuck River between Exits 81 and 82, and the I-5 bridge over the Blakeslee Railroad Junction and Reynolds Avenue.
Once completed, this project will encourage economic development in this area and 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 three miles of I-5 between the Mellen Street Interchange and the Blakeslee Railroad Junction.
- 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?
- 2006: Project Scoping, Public Involvement, and Environmental Documentation began.
- 2009: Right-of-Way Acquisition and Permit Acquisition begin
- 2012: Construction is scheduled to begin.
- 2015: 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, WSDOT introduced the project to the public and asked for ideas and suggestions. The May 9 open house focused on issues and options at the Mellen Street interchange. On December 5, 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.
If you would like to view the display boards from the December 2006 Open House, please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/MellentoGrandMound/
and click on the project display located under the left sidebar "Documents" header.
In June 2006, WSDOT convened a Sounding Board of representatives of local jurisdictions, major institutions and other stakeholders to provide input and community perspectives throughout the design phase.
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 available during the environmental and design phases of this particular 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 any 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 also 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
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.
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.
This project lies within the usual and accustomed areas of the Cowlitz and Chehalis Tribes. 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:
Clark County Area Engineer Kevin Miller
WSDOT Clark County Project Office
PO Box 1709
11018 NE 51st Circle
Vancouver, WA 98668-1709
Phone: 360-905-1565
E-mail: swClark@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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