I-5 lane shift in Tacoma causes traffic delays on first day

A temporary lane re-configuration on southbound I-5 in Tacoma caused long traffic delays Wednesday morning.

Crews were late in reopening all southbound lanes on I-5 as part of a traffic shift near South 38th Street. Only one southbound lane was open until 6:30 a.m. All lanes were supposed to reopen by 5 a.m.

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Traffic backups extended back into King County.

All lanes reopened around 9:15 a.m.

“What happened this morning certainly wasn’t what anyone wanted,” the Washington State Department of Transportation tweeted.

Crews shifted the southbound I-5 lanes next to the northbound lanes as the major HOV project continues. Drivers no longer have access to South 38th Street and must now detour a mile to South 56th Street.

The change creates a larger work zone, allowing crews to replace the roadway in the area.

The temporary changes remain in place through this year.

The following changes will be made:

• The three southbound through-lanes of I-5 will move to the southeast immediately adjacent to northbound I-5. Barriers will separate the two directions of traffic
• The southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street will stay in its current location, which will make it northwest of the construction zone
• Travelers headed to southbound I-5 from State Route 7, I-705 and Pacific Avenue will follow the South 38th Street exit to rejoin southbound I-5
• Eastbound SR 16 travelers headed to westbound South 38th Street will detour to 56th Street

Later this month, crews will move all northbound I-5 lanes onto the new Puyallup River Bridge.

RELATED: Milestones on the horizon for I-5 project

“Moving all northbound traffic onto the new Puyallup River Bridge is a major accomplishment in our efforts to build HOV lanes through Tacoma and improve overall traffic flow,” said WSDOT Olympic Region Administrator John Wynands. “We appreciate travelers’ patience while we finish these final four projects.”

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