Look for Boeing’s B-1 bomber on I-5 this weekend

If you’re out late on I-5 south of Seattle this weekend, you might encounter a major obstacle. Boeing is transporting the fuselage of a B-1 bomber from Portland International Airport to their new testing facility at Boeing Field.

Boeing’s spokeswoman Jennifer Hogan said it’s much safer to drive it up I-5 than fly.

“We didn’t want to do the test on an in-service aircraft. We wanted to one that was already retired. Some of those haven’t been flown in a long time.”

Hogan said the fuselage will take up two and half lanes completely blocking traffic on parts of I-5 as it travels slowly north.

The fuselage leaves Portland about 11:30 p.m. Friday. Traveling about 30 mph, it’s expected in the Olympia area by 6 a.m. Saturday. It’s scheduled to leave Olympia at 2:30 a.m. Sunday and reach Boeing Field by 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

The drivers have identified several spots along the route where they can pull over if there is a long backup.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.