Travelers who use state Route 6 and state Route 508 in Lewis County will need to plan ahead to avoid delays this summer, according to a news release from the Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
On Monday, June 3, WSDOT began work to smooth and rehabilitate the two highways. Contractor crews from Granite Construction Company will use a bituminous surface treatment, or chip seal, in the following locations:
• State Route 6: 23-mile stretch between Interstate 5 and Pe Ell
• State Route 508: 32-mile section between I-5 and Morton
“Over time, due to normal wear and tear from passenger and freight vehicles along with weather, the driving surfaces on the existing roadway system begins to break down,” WSDOT Project Engineer Jennette Queen stated in the release. “The chip sealing process will repair damaged sections of the road and extend the life of these two highways and provide a smoother driving surface for all travelers.”
Travelers should expect weekday delays of up to 20 minutes and are asked to follow the direction of flaggers or a pilot car, according to the WSDOT.
The work requires warm, dry weather so travelers will see crews working during the daytime hours until all work is completed later this summer.
“Please be patient when traveling in work zones,” WSDOT stated. “Traveling at the posted speed limit in construction zones will ensure the safety of highway users and road crews, while also helping to prevent flying rock from the chip seal process.
During construction, crews will make repairs to the pavement by filling potholes and fixing damaged sections of the pavement. Additionally, crews will add lane markings including restriping and applying fog sealing along the travel lanes.
This weather-dependent work could be rescheduled at any time.
