No detours available; plan ahead for delays during the last weekend of the Clark County Fair

If you’re traveling on southbound Interstate 5 through Woodland this weekend, be prepared for significant delays of up to 90 minutes or more, especially starting late in the morning of Friday, Aug. 9 and continuing into the weekend.

As construction work on the southbound North Fork Lewis River Bridge continues, the freeway is reduced to two lanes around-the-clock. This temporary lane closure and traffic shift is causing long delays and backups during peak travel hours. To avoid delays, plan your trips for earlier or later in the day, when traffic volumes are lower, and weather conditions are cooler.

Important travel tips for this weekend

• Travel early or late: Expect significant delays of 70-90 minutes and backups of 10 miles or more during peak travel hours (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) Fridays and Saturdays through the fall.
• Prepare your vehicle: If you must travel during peak hours, prepare your vehicle: fill your gas tank, fully charge your electric vehicle, pack extra water and an emergency kit.
• Avoid overheating: Travel during off-peak hours to avoid congestion and vehicle overheating. Do not park on the shoulder, as engine sparks can cause fires.
• Stay on the interstate: Traveling on the interstate is safer and faster. There are no designated detours routes. Do not rely on GPS apps as they often provide inaccurate information and suggest slower, potentially dangerous bypass routes.
• Freight and non-local traffic: Stick to the interstate. Local routes are not an option for travelers. Washington State Patrol and the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office will monitor roadways and exits to ensure through traffic and freight remain on the interstate.
• Last rest stop: Located at milepost 54 on southbound I-5, the Toutle River Rest Area is the last opportunity for restroom services before construction delays begin.
• Check construction delays: Before you head out the door, travelers from out-of-state can check construction delays in Oregon and Washington.

Planning your trip to the Clark County Fair

• The Clark County Fair: Scheduled Aug. 2 – 11, brings in over 250,000 visitors to the Clark County Event Center during that ten-day span.
• Arrive early, return later: Visitors can attend early, get a hand stamp, and return later in the evening for concerts and events.
• Enjoy evening entertainment: To avoid running late or missing any of the evening entertainment, travel during off-peak hours or add extra travel time to your trip.

Traveling through the work zone

• Lane shifts: Ahead of the work zone, travelers will shift from three lanes into two narrow lanes using a zipper merge – traveling the full length of the travel lane and merging just before the lane ends.
• Speed limit reduction: For your safety and the safety of our road crews, the travel speeds have been reduced from 70 to 60 mph through the work zone and reduced again to 45 mph along the bridge.

Travel charts indicating the best times to travel can be found on the North Fork Lewis River Bridge project website under the “Maps and Drawings” tab.

To keep both travelers and workers safe, people are asked to slow down, pay attention, and use caution through the work zone.

Know before you go

People can receive real-time travel information via the WSDOT mobile app, or by visiting our real-time travel map.