Travelers planning to use I-5 in Lewis County will encounter overnight closures due to a paving project aimed at improving the highway's driving surface, as reported by the Washington State Department of Transportation. The work, set to commence on the night of Tuesday, will necessitate full closures of the southbound lanes followed by the northbound lanes on alternating weeks.
Specifically, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced that all southbound lanes between Exit 63 for SR 505 and Exit 59 for SR 506 will be closed from 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12 to 5 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 13 and again from 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, to 5:00 a.m., Thursday, the detour will direct traffic east on SR 505, south on Jackson Highway South and west on Rogers Road back to the I-5.
As for the northbound direction, closures are scheduled between Exit 57 for Jackson Highway to Exit 60 for Toledo-Vader Road from 10:30 p.m. August 19 to 5:00 a.m. August 20 and from 10:30 p.m. August 20 to 5:00 a.m. August 21, during which a signed detour route will become mandatory for travelers, guiding them from Exit 57 east on Rogers Road, then north on Jackson Highway South and west on SR 505 to rejoin northbound I-5.
The department emphasizes that these repairs are critical for safety, as they help prevent emergency closures, extend the highway's lifespan and improvement of the driving surface is set to finish pavement repairs faster reduce daytime delays for travelers and improve worker safety, which is paramount. The scheduled work and resulting detours are subject to change depending on weather conditions; travelers are strongly advised to plan for additional travel time and to remain attentive when navigating the work zones.
