Question: “Are there any plans to repave I-5 between Southcenter and Federal Way – or at least fill in the many potholes that have developed, in particular in the southbound direction up the Southcenter hill?” – Terry Arnhold, Federal Way
Answer: The good news is that some relief is in the works; the bad news is you and your suspension are going to have to bear with it for a few years.
According to Jamie Holter of the Washington State Department of Transportation, a repair project is scheduled to start in 2015 on the eight miles of southbound Interstate 5 between Exit 157 (south of Boeing Field) and Exit 149 (state Route 516 interchange).
“We will break up, cut out, remove and replace the bumpy sections of concrete that give this driver so much grief,” Holter says. “Once we do that, those worst sections of the road should be in good shape for another 20-30 years.”
Meanwhile, WSDOT plans to fill the worst of the potholes over the summer as time and budget allows. Holter adds: “We recognize that I-5 throughout King County isn’t in the best condition, and it is a vitally important highway. We would like to make a major investment in the highway and replace a good portion of the bumpy concrete. It’s a multibillion-dollar preservation investment. At this time, we don’t have money to get started.”
Got a question about traffic congestion, construction, spending or other transportation issues? Send it to traffic@thenewstribune.com. Include your name, hometown and daytime telephone number. We’ll answer as many as we can.
