Adjustments to I-5 lanes in Tacoma could make you miss your exit
Jul 10, 2017, 5:56 AM | Updated: 6:28 pm
The Washington State Department of Transportation says the changes to I-5 will be seen a day later. Drivers will see the changes go into effect overnight Wednesday.
The state is about to throw drivers a 12-6 curveball in the southbound lanes of I-5 and they had better be ready.
Drivers are at risk of missing their exit to downtown Tacoma, Highway 16, and the Tacoma Mall.
When you drive southbound I-5 through Tacoma on Wednesday, you are going to be seeing a much different freeway. There is going to be a Jersey barrier dividing the freeway, starting near Portland Avenue. The state is creating a dedicated and separated two-lane road for people using downtown Tacoma exits, including the exit to Highway 16 and to South 38th. Three lanes will continue for through traffic.
“If you’re going to be heading to I-705, SR 7, SR 16 or even 38th Street, you are going to need to plan ahead and think about what lane you need to be in much sooner than you normally would,” Cara Mitchell with the Washington State Department of Transportation said.
That’s two or three miles earlier than you normally would need to get ready to the exit. Currently, drivers can zip past the Tacoma Dome and then merge right to get to Highway 16. But now drivers will have to be in one of those two far right lanes before Portland Avenue where the Jersey barrier will divide the freeway. Drivers should really get over by Port of Tacoma Road to make sure you don’t miss your exit.
“They will miss their exit and they will have to get off at 56th and turn back around,” Mitchell said. “That’s not the end of the world, but we want to get the word out to plan ahead so they don’t have to do that.”
It’s not going to be an easy transition for many drivers, Mitchell said.
“We had this traffic shift in place for about a week once before and drivers really didn’t like it.”
But they had better get used to it. The lane configuration is going to be in place for the rest of the year.
Why the shift now? Work on the new Puyallup River bridges and the new HOV lane extensions through Tacoma has reached the next phase. It’s time to start ripping up all the southbound I-5 concrete and replace it. Contractors also need to create work zones to finish the new McKinley Street overpass.
Tell Chris about a Chokepoint or ask a traffic question @kirortraffic via Twitter.
