Travelers should be on the lookout for orange signs, cones and flashing lights announcing lane closures starting in August as work begins to repair areas of Interstate 5 between Lacey and DuPont.
Starting Monday, Aug. 17, nighttime travelers will see work zones in both directions of the highway, allowing workers to safely improve the roadway throughout the summer.
The $3 million project is expected to continue into mid-September, barring any rain or other weather delays.
Some areas being repaired or replaced date back to 1969, when I-5 first opened in the Nisqually area. Some sections of concrete have a patchwork-quilt appearance due to so many repairs over the years. Others are cracked, damaged and generally beyond their service life, a news release from the Washington state Department of Transportation explained.
Highway driving surfaces are generally asphalt or concrete. For asphalt repairs, like I-5 paving in the Maytown area, workers grind out and replace asphalt.
During this concrete repair project, crews will cut out and pour a new concrete surface, which generally takes longer to complete, but also lasts longer and preserves the long-term life of the highway.
The active work will happen overnight to reduce congestion and delays. During late night and early morning hours, contractor crews will remove deteriorating concrete panels, pour new concrete and then finish work after the concrete cures.
People will see shoulder closures, right- and left-lane closures, double-lane closures and shifted lanes in both directions of I-5. Travelers will need to detour for occasional ramp closures.
Concrete also needs time to cure, so motorists will notice times of little to no work activity as the concrete hardens.
The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph in the work zone to improve safety for crews and travelers.
