For the Reporter

Daytime drivers who use westbound State Route 18 to access Interstate 5 may want to factor some extra time into their commute this week. Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews will complete safety improvements on the ramp.

The right lane of the westbound SR 18 ramp to southbound I-5 will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, July 14-16. Maintenance crews will complete installation of an impact attenuator system in the gore point where the ramp splits to northbound or southbound I-5. Work began June 30 to July 1. The safety system helps aid errant drivers by gradually decelerating vehicles to a stop or by redirecting them.

In the Puget Sound area, drivers can get real-time traffic information on their phone with the WSDOT traffic app, by tracking the WSDOT traffic Twitter feed, and get advanced information from the What’s Happening Now page.

To learn more about what we’re doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 511.