November 2009
- WSDOT is currently working on the project design and Right-of-Way acquisition for this project.
Overview
The legislature approved $211 million in funding to complete the I-5, Mellen Street to Grand Mound project. WSDOT is currently working on environmental permitting and project design.
This project will improve a total of seven miles of I-5 between Mellen Street (Exit 81) in Lewis County and just south of the Grand Mound interchange (Exit 88) in Thurston County. Collector Distributor (CD) lanes (.pdf 141kb) will be constructed from Mellen Street to Harrison Avenue (Exit 82), and the Mellen Street and Harrison Avenue interchanges will be improved. Additionally, the I-5 corridor will be widened from two lanes in each direction to three lanes in each direction from Harrison Avenue to the Grand Mound Interchange.
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.
The I-5 Mellen Street to Grand Mound Project will be constructed in two 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 the Blakeslee railroad junction in Lewis County (milepost 83.5) and just south of the Grand Mound interchange (Exit 88) in Thurston County. Construction of Phase 1 will begin in 2010.
I-5, Mellen Street to Blakeslee Junction
This project will improve safety and mobility for all vehicles traveling on this section of I-5 by constructing CD lanes (.pdf 141kb) from Mellen Street to Harrison Avenue, improving the Mellen Street interchange and re-align I-5 at Blakeslee curve.
The start of construction for the I-5, Blakeslee Junction to Grand Mound project has been moved from summer 2009 to spring 2010. This decision was driven by several factors.
The I-5, Grand Mound to Maytown project - currently under construction - will widen seven miles of I-5 from four to six lanes. It is scheduled for completion in 2010. This project is immediately north of the Blakeslee to Grand Mound project, which will widen four miles of I-5 from four to six lanes. There is a substantial overlap between the two projects, which occurs immediately south of the Grand Mound interchange. Addressing this overlap has long been a challenge.
The start date for the I-5, Blakeslee Junction to Grand Mound project has been moved to spring 2010 in order to minimize conflicts between two contractors working in the overlap area. This change will not affect the timeline of the I-5, Mellen Street to Blakeslee Junction project.
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.
Improving 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.
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 improving 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. Improving the interstate will help address these potential problems.
- Economic: This project will improve 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
2010: Construction is scheduled to start.
2012: Construction is scheduled for completion.
I-5 - Mellen Street to Blakeslee Junction
2012: Construction is scheduled to start.
2014: Construction is scheduled for completion.
Financial Information
2005 Transportation Partnership Account: $211 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
WSDOT Southwest Region
PO Box 1709
Vancouver, WA 98668-1709
Phone: 360-905-2058
E-mail: SWWebInfo@wsdot.wa.gov
or access our project feedback form.
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