Another shutdown coming to I-5, this time for emergency repairs in Pierce County

Interstate 5 is open again after withering winter floods, but the traffic headaches aren’t over just yet. The Washington state Department of Transportation plans to restrict traffic on northbound I-5 near DuPont over the weekend to perform emergency road work.

The department warned drivers to expect long delays overnight Saturday and through Sunday, with 10-mile backups at times.

“Closing Interstate 5 and multiple ramps like this during daytime hours is not something we take lightly,” said WSDOT Olympic Region maintenance manager Matt Beattie. “The recent freezing and thawing of this section of I-5 has led to a significant breakdown of the roadway surface.”

Repairs are necessary from Center Drive to Steilacoom-DuPont Road, where multiple potholes have formed after water seeped into the roadway surface and froze, “which expanded the asphalt and allowed it to fall apart,” WSDOT reported.

“The work requires reducing I-5 to a single lane between milepost 117.51 near Center Drive and milepost 119.7 near Steilacoom-DuPont Road,” the department said in a news release Friday afternoon. “Due to the hours-long closures, travelers can expect significant backups and delays.

WSDOT officials encourage travelers to avoid the work zone if possible.

“If you must travel through the area, expect long delays,” according to the news release. “Top off your tank before you go to avoid running out of fuel in the backups. Travelers are also encouraged to have emergency kits in their vehicles.”

Starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, crews will close:

▪ Northbound I-5 exit 118 to Center Drive.

▪ Center Drive on-ramp to northbound I-5.

▪ Northbound I-5 exit 119 to Steilacoom-DuPont Road.

▪ Steilacoom-DuPont Road to northbound I-5.

▪ Northbound I-5 exit to the Fort Lewis Weigh Station.

▪ Far right lane of northbound I-5.

At 10 p.m., northbound I-5 will be reduced to one lane, so workers can remove damaged roadway and lay down new asphalt. The hope is to have lanes begin to reopen at 7 a.m. Sunday with all lanes and ramps fully opened by early afternoon.

Detours will be in place.

“During the closure, drivers using northbound I-5 from Center Drive or Steilacoom-DuPont Road will go south on I-5 to Mounts Road, then go north,” according to the new release. “Travelers coming north on I-5 needing to exit to Center Drive or Steilacoom-DuPont Road will detour to 41st Division Drive and return on southbound I-5 to those exits.”

Updated information will be available on the WSDOT app.