Road near I-5, JBLM and DuPont set to close this weekend and three weeks in December
Interstate 5 is having a lot of work done, and that’s ushering in closures around Tacoma and DuPont in the coming days and weeks. Here’s what you need to know.
As previously reported by The News Tribune, all northbound I-5 traffic lanes will close at 10 p.m. Thursday beyond exit 133 (Tacoma city center), in addition to the HOV ramp from eastbound state Route 16 to northbound I-5. Those routes will reopen at 3 a.m. Friday.
If you’re planning to drive to or from Joint Base Lewis-McChord and DuPont soon, plan for a section near I-5 to be closed this weekend, in addition to nights from Dec. 1 to Dec. 19.
From 9 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday, Pendleton Avenue between West Way and Main Street will be closed, with detour signs to direct traffic.
Starting at 9 p.m. Dec. 1, that route also will be closed until 4 a.m. the following day through Dec. 19, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Road crews are working to rebuild the Steilacoom-DuPont Road interchange, which will connect Steilacoom-DuPont Road (Exit 119) to I-5 near Pendleton Avenue. Workers will be replacing the existing railroad crossing and building a new bridge to carry travelers over the tracks, according to WSDOT.
It’s part of a $233.3 million project to relieve chronic traffic congestion and improve mobility along I-5 near JBLM by widening I-5 and creating new HOV lanes in each direction between Mounts Road and Gravelly Lake Drive.
According to WSDOT, travelers can expect regular night lane closures on both directions of I-5 in that area as early as 7 p.m. between Center Drive and 41st Division Drive, with lane closures generally planned each Monday through Thursday night.
Ramps will close no earlier than 7 p.m. and reopen by 4:30 a.m. the next morning, WSDOT said on its website. No more than two consecutive ramps will be closed at a time and detours will direct drivers to the nearest on- or off-ramp.
This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
