Expect closures at one of Tacoma’s busiest I-5 interchanges this weekend. Here’s why
Some of Tacoma’s busiest Interstate 5 on-ramps and exits are getting makeovers this weekend and the state Department of Transportation is urging drivers to plan ahead.
Most of the work is occurring at the South 38th Street interchange but state Route 16 and Interstate 705 also are affected.
WSDOT said the completion in August of the HOV lane project through Tacoma is allowing the department to give a face lift to other parts of I-5 in Tacoma.
“The interchange of I-5 and South 38th Street has been a workhorse for detour routes on several recent Tacoma/Pierce County HOV Program projects,” the agency said in a release.
Because South 56th Street will be a main detour route for southbound drivers during the closures WSDOT is working with the city of Tacoma to ensure no conflicts with a sidewalk ramp construction project there. That project will wrap up for the week at 9 p.m. Friday, an hour before the South 38th Street project is set to start.
Some of the ramps involved have not been repaved since they were rebuilt in 2000 at the beginning of the HOV project, said WSDOT spokesperson Cara Mitchell.
The work starts 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, and wraps up 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11.
Nearly all of the South 38th Street ramps will be closed during the weekend but they’ll be shut down in stages, WSDOT said.
Northbound closures
The northbound I-5 exits and on-ramps at South 38th Street, including the eastbound Route 16 exit, will close first Friday.
Also at 10 p.m., Friday, the northbound I-5 exit to I-705 will close.
Northbound motorists needing to use the closed roads can follow signs leading to exit 133 and on to southbound state Route 7 and East 38th Street. From there they can access northbound Route 7 to return to southbound I-5, I-705 and Route 16.
The next day, Saturday, northbound exits and on-ramps will reopen in stages between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. beginning with the exit to Route 16.
Southbound closures
At 10 p.m. Saturday, southbound I-5 exit 132A to westbound South 38th Street and the South 38th Street on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close.
The southbound I-5 exit to eastbound South 38th Street will remain open during the entire weekend. It was recently repaved.
At 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, the southbound ramps will reopen.
Southbound motorists who need to access closed roads can follow a signed detour on southbound I-5 to South 56th Street. Because northbound ramps will be open when southbound ramps are shut down motorists can either get back on I-5 northbound to access South 38th Street or use surface streets.
