Flooding forces closure of Lewis County exits; drivers urged to avoid areas
Dec 9, 2025, 11:40 AM | Updated: 5:19 pm
A photo of the roads underneath I-5 near Napavine completely flooded. (Photo courtesy of WSDOT)
(Photo courtesy of WSDOT)
Several exits are closed in Lewis County due to flooding.
I-5 exits 72 to Rush Road are closed in both directions, while exit 77 is closed on northbound I-5, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Drivers are urged to avoid the areas and use alternate routes.
WSDOT previously reported I-5 was closed in both directions near Napavine in Lewis County due to flooding in the streets below the thoroughfare.
I-5 between Exits 72 and Rush Road is closed in both directions near Napavine (Lewis Co.) due to water over the roadway.
Avoid the area and plan to use a different exit. pic.twitter.com/xT1NkWZwE2
— WSDOT Southwest (@wsdot_southwest) December 9, 2025
Off-ramp to Exit 77 closed, water over SR 6
On northbound I-5, the off-ramp to exit 77 is closed near Main Street. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes and expect delays.
Lewis County – exit 77 now closed northbound! Please use caution in the area. https://t.co/fK1LJdDd9e pic.twitter.com/bftCxd8hoD
— Trooper Dakota Russell (@wspd5pio) December 9, 2025
Water is also over the road on State Route 6 (SR 6) in both directions near Twin Oaks Road.
Firefighters rescue 5 in Napavine
Lewis County Fire Protection District #5 reported Napavine firefighters rescued five people early Tuesday morning who tried to drive through flooded roads.
Officials urged people to turn around and not try to drive through flood waters.
Dan Garcia, who works at the Chevron on Rush Road, described the scene.
“There’s a car that’s been stuck in the water all morning, coworkers told me the fire station had to come by and break the glass to get the driver out,” he told KIRO Newsradio.
Garcia saw lots of standing water during his drive in.
“So the underpass is flooded, so nobody can get through on one side or the other. I guess we got a truck in the ditch down the road here,” he said.
He had to take the back roads to get to work.
“I had to take the backroads because it was still pretty nasty on the underpass,” Garcia said. “Even the backroads had some flooding.”
WSP reminds drivers to adhere to ‘road closed’ signs
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) created a limerick to remind drivers and commuters to be safe during intense flooding.
“You drive a car, not a boat, so when you hit the water, you will not float,” WSP wrote on X. “If you see a Road Closed sign, don’t go around, it’s there to keep you safe and on solid ground. Every year, lives are lost. Remember, standing water should not be crossed.”
You drive a car, not a boat,
So when you hit the water you will not float.If you see a Road Closed sign, don’t go around,
It’s there to keep you safe and on solid ground.Every year, lives are lost,
Remember, standing water should not be crossed.📸Trooper Shea in @wspd5pio pic.twitter.com/JzLvkhqlzw
— WA State Patrol (@wastatepatrol) December 9, 2025
This is a developing story, check back for updates
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