Safer pavement coming to 46 ramps along I-5, I-205, SR 14 and SR 500
VANCOUVER – More than 40 highway ramps in Clark County will get a facelift starting this month, creating a safer and smoother ride before the rainy season begins. While work is underway, nighttime travelers should plan for ramp closures along Interstate 5, I-205, State Route 14 and SR 500.
Washington State Department of Transportation contractor, Granite Construction, will start work on Monday, Sept. 11 to repave 46 on- and off-ramps throughout Clark County.
The fresh asphalt will create a smoother and safer ride with better traction and new pavement markings will improve lane visibility for drivers.
Improved traction
In addition to smoothing the driving surface, contractor crews will apply a high friction surface treatment on several curved ramps. High friction surfacing is a process that attaches a sand-like aggregate to the roadway using industrial-strength glue. The result is a grittier road surface, giving tires extra traction in the wet weather. WSDOT has applied high friction surface treatments to other curved interchanges and seen a reduction in collisions by up to 80 percent.
“We’re excited to start this important work, which will provide a smoother, safer driving experience for travelers entering and exiting our highways, “said WSDOT Project Engineer Jennifer Darcy. “The improved roadway surface will give drivers better control, resulting in fewer collisions, which will help keep traffic moving within the interchanges, reducing highway congestion.”
Closure details
- Beginning the week of Monday, Sept. 11, travelers may encounter ramp closures throughout Clark County on weekdays and weekends:
- Weekday lane, ramp and shoulder closures are permitted from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Occasional weekend lane, ramp and shoulder closures are permitted from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
To minimize delays and reduce congestion for travelers, this work will be completed at night when there’s less traffic.
This $5 million project is scheduled for completion in summer 2024.
As with any highway maintenance and construction project, travelers must exercise caution through the work zone. To keep both road users and road workers safe, travelers are asked to have patience and obey advanced warning signs.
Know before you go
People can receive real-time travel information via the WSDOT mobile app , the real-time travel map , or by signing up for email updates and alerts.
Also read:
- Opinion: ‘If they want light rail, they should be the ones who pay for it’
Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance argues that supporters of light rail tied to the I-5 Bridge replacement should bear the local cost of operating and maintaining the system through a narrowly drawn sub-district. - Opinion: IBR falsely blaming inflation
Joe Cortright argues that inflation explains only a small portion of the IBR project’s cost increases and that rising consultant and staff expenses are the primary drivers. - Letter: The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s $141 million bribe can be better spent on sandwich steel-concrete tubes
Bob Ortblad argues that an immersed tunnel using sandwich steel-concrete tubes would be a more cost-effective alternative to the current Interstate Bridge Replacement Program design. - A sub-district vote could be a way to go to pay O&M costs associated with light rail
Clark County Council members heard details on how a voter-approved C-TRAN sub-district could be created to fund long-term operations and maintenance costs for light rail tied to a new Interstate Bridge. - Letter: British Columbia’s new immersed tunnel can solve Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s $17.7 billion problem
Bob Ortblad argues that an immersed tunnel similar to a project underway in British Columbia could significantly reduce costs and impacts associated with the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program.
