Project Title & Location
I-5 HOV - South 48th Street to Pacific Avenue, Tacoma

Project Description
Improves safety on I-5, from 38th Street to I-705 by adding a collector-distributor lane for safer merges on and off the freeway.

Contractor/Consultant
Kiewit Pacific Co.

Recent Progress

The structural earth wall along the new collector-distributor and soldier pile wall along SB I-5 have been completed.  Work is progressing on the remaining noise barriers and retaining walls. 

Paving of the new ramps and collector-distributor (CD) has begun.  This is required to shift the NB I-5 traffic onto the CD for the next phase of bridge removal.  The decks for the new bridges along this CD have already been completed.

Design Construction Impacts

The Project Office and Contractor have worked through issues regarding soil stability during soil nail wall construction and drainage tie-ins to the City of Tacoma system.  There is still the potential for unknown utility conflicts with the remaining work.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance
Noise barrier walls are being constructed to minimize the effects of traffic noise on adjacent residences and schools.

Storm water detention ponds have been constructed for use as part of the contractor’s temporary erosion control measures. They will later be modified for permanent water quantity and quality treatment to accommodate the widened roadway.

Water quality monitoring is critical to ensure that turbidity and pH thresholds are not exceeded at discharge points. 

To ensure compliance with all permits and regulations, on-site meetings are conducted with the Department of Ecology bi-monthly and with the City of Tacoma quarterly.

Impacts to Traffic

Northbound and southbound lanes have been shifted toward the median to accommodate the drainage and wall work along the outside shoulders. This lane configuration will remain the same until late fall when the lanes are shifted for the next phase of bridge removal for the Yakima, Delin, and Tacoma Avenue bridges.

The bridges were closed in Spring 2006. The Yakima and Delin bridges are scheduled to be reconstructed and opened to traffic by fall 2007.  M Street will remain open during the closures of these bridges.

Motorists can continue to expect periodic nighttime lane closures on northbound and southbound I-5 throughout the project limits.

Electronic message signs and highway advisory radios (HARs) will be deployed throughout the area to alert travelers about traffic conditions and lane closures during construction.

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)

Nickel funds included in above costs

2005 Transportation Partnership Account