No detours available; plan ahead for holiday weekend delays

Travelers on southbound Interstate 5 through Woodland should plan for significant delays of up to 90 minutes or more Thu., Aug. 29–Mon., Sept. 2.  

Additionally, an increase in congestion and travel delays are expected near Ridgefield as the new Costco, located just off I-5 at Exit 14, is set to open at 8 a.m., on Thursday, Aug. 29.  

Construction on southbound North Fork Lewis River Bridge continues along with the around-the-clock single lane closure. This temporary lane closure and traffic shift are 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 until project completion in mid-September.  
• Prepare your vehicle: If you must travel during peak hours, prepare your vehicle: top off 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 detour 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: Unless you have a business need, please stay on the interstate, as local routes are not an option for travelers looking to bypass construction delays. Washington State Patrol and the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office continue to 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 public 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.  

 Plan your trip to the new Ridgefield Costco 

• Hours of operation: Opening day is Thursday, Aug. 29 and warehouse hours are 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. On Friday, the warehouse is open 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Costco will be closed Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day.   
• Expect congestion and delays: With the new Costco opening near Exit 14 off I-5 in Ridgefield, traffic in this area is expected to be heavy throughout the weekend, especially during peak shopping hours and leading up to Labor Day. Allow extra travel time and consider visiting outside of peak shopping hours. 

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.