Travelers on Interstate 5 through Lewis County should expect lane closures and delays as 11 miles of the highway are repaved to improve travel.
Starting Monday, Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) contractor Granite Construction began work to smooth out I-5 between Koontz Road (milepost 69.44) and the state Route 507 interchange (milepost 81). Over the next several weeks, crews will remove old asphalt and replace it with new pavement on both northbound and southbound lanes, including auxiliary lanes, according to a WSDOT news release.
“This project isn’t just about making the drive smoother,” WSDOT Project Engineer Pedro Reyes said in a news release. “It also improves safety and helps us take care of the highway people rely on every day to get to work, school and the places they live and play.”
During construction, I-5 travelers can expect daytime and nighttime lane closures and reduced speeds, with most work taking place overnight. Work includes grinding and paving all travel and auxiliary lanes; repairs to pavement, sinkholes, drainage and pavement markings; and temporary ramp and shoulder closures as needed.
Paving work is expected to wrap up this fall, according to the release. Crews are scheduled to return in 2026 when weather allows to repair five bridges, including membranes, expansion joints and compression seals. This will help to keep the bridges safe and in good condition.
