Drivers: Plan for major closures on I-5 this weekend in Federal Way

A project to improve the way drivers travel between State Route 18 and Interstate 5 will reach a milestone this weekend as crews begin the first of three major weekend-long closures to set girders across I-5.

February 9, 2012 2:10 pm
Crews plan to set unusually shaped girders for a construction milestone across I-5 this weekend.
Crews plan to set unusually shaped girders for a construction milestone across I-5 this weekend.

A project to improve the way drivers travel between State Route 18 and Interstate 5 will reach a milestone this weekend as crews begin the first of three major weekend-long closures to set girders across I-5.

To set the girders, crews must close all lanes of southbound I-5 on Friday and Saturday nights. Crews will begin closing lanes at 9 p.m. with all lanes closed by 11 p.m. Lanes will reopen by 7 a.m. the following day.

The closure will affect thousands of southbound I-5 and westbound SR 18 drivers. The detour route is nearly six miles and backups on I-5 could reach five miles. Overnight travelers should add an extra 30 minutes to their trip.

The girder setting work is part of the $112 million interchange project that began in August 2010. It expected to be complete by late 2012.

For more information about the project visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/sr18sr161ic/.