Expansion joints repairs postponed due to multiple incidents on I-5

Update:

Planned work to repair expansion joints on I-5 near the West Seattle Bridge has been postponed, with the Washington State Department of Transportation saying there is “a lot happening this morning.”

WSDOT announced the work had been postponed just after 8 a.m., with a crash on I-5 in Tacoma and a crash closing an off-ramp in Marysville.

A lot happening this morning – the scheduled SB I-5 work/lane closures south of Spokane St. has been postponed and will not occur this week. https://t.co/7VuDSRsLhE

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) June 29, 2023

Original:

Emergency expansion joint repair work will make it difficult to get out of Seattle on southbound I-5 Thursday, June 29.

Two left lanes of the freeway will be closed for several hours, just south of the West Seattle Bridge, starting at 8 a.m.

I-5 South in Seattle reopens after emergency expansion joint repairs

The Washington State Department of Transportation’s James Poling said they need to fix this spot immediately because crews are worried that the steel could come loose and cause a hazard or damage tires.

The expansion joint in the right two lanes ailed during the Tuesday morning commute, causing a five-mile backup.

Similar backups are expected today, and WSDOT says that drivers should take an alternate route and avoid the area.

⚠️Continued bridge maintenance on SB I-5 in #Seattle scheduled for tomorrow a.m.

Crews will have two left lanes blocked on SB I-5 south of Spokane St starting at 8 a.m. Thursday for continued removal of fatigued expansion joint steel.

⌚️Morning commuters should #PlanAhead pic.twitter.com/4TMYudvARE

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) June 29, 2023

The work is expected to finish by Thursday afternoon.