Project Facts
- Most of the pavement between downtown Seattle and Northgate was constructed between 1963 and 1965.
- This pavement had a design lifespan of 20 years.
- Drivers can expect weekend and nighttime closures during the work.
June 2008
- We have begun design work.
- Construction will begin in early 2009 and will be complete by the end of the year.
The pavement on I-5 in King County is more than 40 years old, twice its planned design life. To extend the life of the freeway we will replace deteriorating concrete and grind down the worst areas of uneven pavement on northbound and southbound I-5 between the Boeing Access Road in South Seattle and the King/Snohomish County line and in the I-5 express lanes.
This is only an interim fix to address the worst of the worst problems. The entire roadway surface except for bridge decks needs to be replaced.
Why is WSDOT
repairing and replacing pavement on I-5 between the Boeing Access Road and the King/Snohomish County line?
The concrete on this portion of I-5 is in need of repair or replacement. Forty year of wear and tear and other factors have resulted in extensive cracking, and studded tires have created wheel ruts. Due to its age and heavy use, the damaged concrete creates a rough driving surface.
In addition to replacing about 440 concrete panels and grinding the existing pavement, crews will repave the NE 50th St. on-ramp. We also will replace signs, guardrail and impact attenuators.
The End Result
The concrete panel replacement and pavement grinding will create a smoother driving surface with improved traction.
Project Benefits
• Safety. The new, smoother road surface will improve driver safety in the areas we are working on by improving traction and eliminating holes or cracks in the roadway.
• Pavement Lifespan. This project extends the freeway's lifespan, buying precious time until we can replace all of the roadway pavement.
What is the project timeline?
- October 2008: This project will be advertised to contractors.
- Early 2009: Construction begins
- Late 2009: Project completion
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Please contact us with your questions or concerns.
Sign up to receive e-mail updates about this and other projects on I-5.
Environmental Protection
WSDOT will make every effort to assess and avoid or minimize the environmental effects of this project.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
The new, smooth driving surface will eliminate rutting and cracks and improve traction and driver safety. Replacing the concrete panels will reduce the chance of the pavement breaking apart.
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. For more information, visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources:
- 2003 Gas Tax (Nickel Funding) - $21 million
- Total funding from all sources - $21 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Jim Farris
WSDOT Design Office
Phone: 206-716-1163
E-mail: FarrisJ@wsdot.wa.gov
Greg Phipps
WSDOT Communications
Phone: 206-440-4702
E-mail: PhippsG@wsdot.wa.gov
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