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.