A construction project on I-5 in Pierce County is facing its last major scheduled set of work before it is expected to be finished after a decade.
A construction project on I-5 in Pierce County is facing its last major scheduled set of work before it is expected to be finished after a decade.
WSDOT said the HOV and far-left lane of southbound I-5 approaching DuPont near Joint Base Lewis-McChord will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, until 4:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31.
Crews will reroute drainage underneath the interstate, which involves grinding asphalt, paving and adding temporary lane markings.
WSDOT added that the work could be rescheduled if rain enters the forecast.
The department noted, however, that it is the final major scheduled roadwork for the project, which has been ongoing since 2015, when the state allocated $495 million toward reducing congestion in the JBLM corridor.
The project sought to expand the interstate by a lane in both directions, add an HOV lane, revamp on- and off-ramps, create roundabouts and replace some overpasses.
Now, the work is expected to be done by late 2026, completing more than a decade’s worth of incremental change.
Some residents in DuPont said they have noticed the benefits of the work over the years.
“During rush hour time periods, it would sometimes take 45 minutes to go three exits. Now I can get home in 15 minutes,” said Sam Metzger. “So one more weekend, it’s money well spent,” he added.
Metzger applauded the use of the nearly half a billion dollars for the project, saying it is necessary for the major swells of commuters, truckers and residents who move up and down the corridor.
“For once, I have to agree with the state of Washington — they’re spending their money in the right place and getting it done,” Metzger said.
One of those commuters is Alejandro Buenrrostro, who lives in DuPont and drives up to Seattle for work.
“Especially sometimes I work a full day at a restaurant, so again driving a whole hour over there, getting really tired, exhausted, and then having to sit about another hour in traffic,” he explained.
Caroline Brooks works at the hospital on JBLM and said she is relieved to see the work come to an end within the next few months.
“Definitely, that’s, like, long overdue,” she said, noting that the drainage work being completed this weekend is much needed, especially in her low-clearance sedan. “When it rains — and it rains all the time — it was getting kind of deep in some of the lanes.”
WSDOT encouraged travelers to consider adding 20 minutes of travel time to adjust for delays if heading toward the DuPont area for the weekend.
