Northbound I-5 facing overnight closure in Tacoma as years-long HOV project reaches end
The decades-long Interstate 5 carpool lane construction project though Tacoma soon will be over, but there’s still some more driver pain to get through.
The $1.4 billion I-5 and state Route 16 high occupancy vehicle (HOV) project is on track for a July opening, according to the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Northbound I-5 closure
A total closure of northbound I-5 lanes will occur over two consecutive nights Friday and Saturday, according to WSDOT. A detour will be in place.
The closure, between Interstate 705 and Port of Tacoma Road is needed to reconfigure northbound lanes.
When it’s finished, northbound I-5 will have four general travel lanes instead of three from SR 16 to Fife. The reconfiguration will also include two new auxiliary lanes. One will run from the SR 16 on-ramp to the SR 167 exit, and the other will run from the I-705 on-ramp to the Portland Avenue exit.
The full closure, weather permitting, will occur:
▪ 11 p.m. Friday, June 24 until 6 a.m. Saturday, June 25.
▪ 11 p.m. Saturday, June 25 to 7 a.m. Sunday, June 26.
Northbound I-5 will close at exit 133 (I-705). Drivers will detour to I-705 and then to SR 509. They will return to northbound I-5 at Port of Tacoma Road.
Eastbound SR 16 drivers traveling to northbound I-5 will use the same detour.
As of Monday, the forecast was for dry and warm temperatures during the construction window.
Port of Tacoma on-ramp closures
The Port of Tacoma Road on-ramp to southbound I-5 will have nightly closures as crews excavate material from the former southbound I-5 embankment, WSDOT said.
The closures will run from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Thursday and last about a month. A detour will take drivers to northbound I-5 and then to the 54th Avenue exit and back to southbound I-5.
As of last week, WSDOT did not have a start date for the project.
Opening HOV lanes
WSDOT said last week that its contractor is still targeting mid-July for the complete opening of the HOV project through Tacoma.
In addition to the work to be completed during the northbound closure, crews need to finish a median barrier installation between L Street and the Puyallup River.
Once the project is completed, WSDOT said it will consider restoring the speed limit to 60 mph in the project area. The current temporary 50 mph speed limit has been in place since 2019.
This story was originally published June 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
