All lanes of travel across the northbound span of the bridge near Woodland were reopened at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday
WOODLAND – People who travel along northbound Interstate 5 near the Clark and Cowlitz county lines will now get a reprieve from peak travel backups and delays.
The Washington State Department of Transportation’s contractor, M.J. Hughes Construction, Inc., finished critical structural repairs on the I-5 North Fork Lewis River Bridge ahead of schedule and reopened all lanes of travel across the northbound span at 6:30 a.m. on Wed., Oct. 18.
Critical bridge preservation work completed this year included deck repairs and modifying expansion joints, which helps extend the usable life of the structure.
Travelers will now experience fewer unplanned emergency lanes closures which were needed to repair holes in the bridge. Heavy truck traffic will no longer need to shift to the center lane to cross the bridge.
We understand this work was disruptive to the community and we appreciate your patience while we made critical repairs to keep this bridge open and safe for the traveling public.
Looking ahead to 2024
Warm temperatures and dry conditions are needed for the final phase of this construction project which includes installation of a polyester concrete overlay. Once installed in summer 2024, the overlay will provide a smoother ride and increase the durability of the bridge deck. Crews will utilize nighttime double lane closures to complete this work. In the interim, travelers may experience a rough ride over the bridge.
Know before you go
Get 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:
- POLL: With updated estimates reaching as high as $17.7 billion, what should happen to the I-5 Bridge replacement project?
A new poll asks readers how the I-5 Bridge replacement project should proceed amid higher cost estimates and questions about transparency within the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. - Opinion: ‘The IBR team has been lying to us and thanks to a veteran Oregon journalist, we have the smoking gun’
Ken Vance argues newly obtained documents show Interstate Bridge Replacement staff withheld updated cost estimates from lawmakers and the public. - Oregon Gov. Kotek calls for repeal of transportation funding package she championed
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is urging lawmakers to repeal a transportation funding package she previously supported after a referendum effort halted key tax increases. - Letter: Has $450 million been wasted on a bridge that’s too low for the Coast Guard with a foundation too costly to build?
A Seattle engineer questions whether hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on a bridge design he argues is unnecessarily risky and costly compared to an immersed tunnel alternative. - Opinion: Transit agencies need accountability not increased state subsidy
Charles Prestrud argues that Washington transit agencies face rising costs and declining ridership due to governance structures that lack public accountability.
