Drivers should be prepared for potential nighttime delays on Clark County’s two interstate freeways.
A contractor working for the Washington State Department of Transportation started a $3.5 million project Wednesday night to rehabilitate 10.5 miles of pavement on Interstate 205 and 4.5 miles of pavement on Interstate 5.
The project encompasses both directions of I-205 in Clark County, from the freeway’s convergence with I-5 north of Salmon Creek to the Oregon-Washington state line over the Columbia River.
Work also will be done on a shorter section of I-5 southbound, from north of the state Highway 502 interchange west of Battle Ground to Northeast 139th Street in Salmon Creek.
To reduce driver delays and improve construction-worker safety, work is being done at night, when traffic volumes are lower.
Construction typically will begin at 9 p.m. and last until 6 a.m. the following morning on weekdays, with work lasting until 9 a.m. on Saturdays.
Drivers should expect nighttime single- and double-lane closures on both freeways, along with intermittent on- and off-ramp closures along I-205.
Several areas along both freeways are showing signs of wear and tear with pavement cracks, ruts and potholes. The project will extend the life of the freeways and provide a smoother, safer surface for drivers.
Contractor crews will replace failing concrete panels that are cracked beyond repair. Crews also will grind off the top layer of asphalt and lay down new asphalt in several sections and along freeway shoulders and ramps.
“Preserving our infrastructure isn’t exciting, but it’s necessary,” Devin Reck, WSDOT project engineer, said in a statement. “Cracks, rutting and potholes are signs these highways have seen better days. This work will extend the life of the highway, providing a smoother surface and a safer ride for all travelers.”
Drivers can get construction updates by visiting WSDOT’s travel alerts webpage, wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts, or by following the agency’s Twitter account, twitter.com/wsdot_sw.
Construction is scheduled to be complete sometime this fall.
