New camera to watch for speeders through I-5 work zone near JBLM

A new camera will enforce the speed limit in work zones near Joint Base Lewis-McChord starting April 16, as state officials seek to address safety concerns for workers along major highways in Washington.

Starting April 16, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will place a camera at a work zone along Interstate 5 near the base to document vehicles traveling above the speed limit, which varies depending on the location and the work being done, according to a release from WSDOT. Violators will be notified by mail of the infraction, either with a warning or with a $248 fine, the release states.

“Too many workers have been injured or killed, and statistics show drivers are not slowing down,” Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith said in the release. “This provides another tool to help ensure workers — and everyone on the roadway — comes home safe at the end of the day.”

WSDOT will install two additional cameras at work zones across the state this spring, and three more by this summer, with a total of six in operation. The speed cameras will only enforce the speed limit in a work zone when workers are on that job site, and state officials will move the camera to work zones in the area as needed.

Drivers who are notified by mail of an infraction can either pay the fine, contest it, ask for a reduction or request a payment plan, according to WSDOT. The cameras will remain in place until 2030, unless the state Legislature extends the program. The legislation responsible for the program, which was signed into law in 2023, directed $7.4 million as an initial infusion to get the program going.

The money collected from fines will fund the speed-camera program and the Washington State Patrol’s safety programs.

“This really is about safety, and we’re really excited to finally be getting the program out there,” Amy Moreno, assistant communications manager for WSDOT told this publication.

This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM.

Isha Trivedi

The News Tribune

Isha Trivedi covers city hall and education in Tacoma for The News Tribune. She has previously worked at The Mercury News, the Palo Alto Weekly, the Chronicle of Higher Education and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. She grew up in San Jose, California and graduated with a bachelor of arts in journalism and anthropology from the George Washington University. She is a proud alumna of The GW Hatchet, her alma mater’s independent student newspaper, and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists for her work with the publication.