April 12, 2015 · Exit133

Extended closure of Pacific Avenue overpass in Tacoma underway

The Pacific Avenue overpass at Interstate 5 in Tacoma is closed around the clock, through March 2016. Depending on the weather, the overpass could be closed longer. During the closure, the over pass will be demolished and rebuilt as part of WSDOT's I-5 - M Street to Portland Avenue - HOV project. All Pacific Avenue traffic has been detoured. If all goes according to schedule, in March 2016 the Pacific Avenue overpass will reopen to two lanes - one lane of traffic in each direction. Two months later in May, 2016, all lanes will reopen over the new Pacific Avenue overpass.

Work on the Pacific Avenue overpass will also affect traffic on I-5 (see below). Demolition cannot take place over active traffic lanes, therefore much of the demo will occur at night when traffic volumes are lower and crews can close the appropriate ramps and lanes necessary to ensure motorist safety.

Once crews have removed the Pacific Avenue bridge approaches on the northbound side of I-5, they will remove the center spans of the overpass, and finish demolition work on the southbound side of I-5. During this work, in addition to ramp closures, drivers should expect nightly multi-lane closures and rolling slowdowns on I-5.

Around the clock ramp closures
Around the clock road closures
Other closures:
Monday, April 13

• 10 p.m. - Closing East 27th Street on-ramp to southbound I-5. Reopening 5 a.m. each following day.
• 11 p.m. - Closing East 28th Street on-ramp to northbound I-5. Reopening 4 a.m.
Also closing northbound I-5 exit to Portland Avenue. Reopening 4 a.m.

The northbound SR 7 on-ramp to southbound I-5 remains closed until spring 2015 for bridge construction.
The A-Street on-ramp to northbound I-5/southbound SR 7 remains closed until spring 2017 for bridge construction.

20th Street East in Fife (pdf 111 kb): A segment of this road is closed to all traffic until spring 2017.

11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday through Friday, April 13-17:
northbound I-5 collector/distributor lanes closed approaching downtown Tacoma. These closures prohibit access to downtown Tacoma from eastbound SR 16, South 38th Street and northbound Interstate 705. Motorists will be detoured via the I-5 interchanges at either Portland Avenue or Port of Tacoma Road.

10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18:
Closing three southbound I-5 lanes approaching the Port of Tacoma Road. One southbound I-5 lane will remain open.

Closing three southbound I-5 lanes approaching the Port of Tacoma Road. One southbound I-5 lane will remain open.

Tuesday, April 14
• 10 p.m. - Closing East 27th Street on-ramp to southbound I-5. Reopening 5 a.m. Wednesday.
11 p.m. - Also closing northbound I-5 exit to Portland Avenue. Reopening 4 a.m.

Wednesday, April 15
• 10 p.m. - Closing East 27th Street on-ramp to southbound I-5. Reopening 5 a.m. Thursday.
11 p.m. Also closing southbound I-705 on-ramp to northbound I-5 and southbound State Route 7. Reopening 4 a.m.

Saturday, April 18
12:01 a.m. - Closing East 27th Street on-ramp to southbound I-5. Reopening 7 a.m.

I-5 lane closures:
SR 167 lane closures:
City streets
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, April 13-16, drivers will see single lane closures on Wiley Avenue in Tacoma.

9 and 10 p.m. through 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday, April 13-16. Single right lane closing on NB I-5 near Puyallup River Bridge.
6 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 through 6 a.m. Wednesday, April 15
Right shoulder closure on northbound I-5 near Port of Tacoma Road.
8 p.m. Monday, April 13 through 6 a.m. Tuesday, April 14
Single left lane closure on southbound I-5 near Puyallup River Bridge.
8 pm. Tuesday, April 14 through 6 a.m. Wednesday, April 15
Single right lane closure on southbound I-5 near Port of Tacoma Road

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, April 13-17
Shoulder closure on northbound SR 167
10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Wednesday, April 13-15
Single left lane closure on northbound SR 167 near I-5.
8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday through Thursday, April 13-16
Single left lane closure on southbound SR 167 near I-5.

From 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, to 4 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, crews will close East 27th Street between L Street and Portland Avenue.

Long-term closure of 20th Street East in Fife in place through 2017.

A segment of 20th Street East in Fife is closed. The road closure and detour (see below) will be in place, until spring 2017.

The road closure is needed while crews build a new northbound Interstate 5 bridge over the Puyallup River. The bridge, which will be built adjacent to the existing northbound I-5 bridge, will be wider and straighter than the existing bridge, and will feature a new northbound high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane. Other improvements will also be made on I-5 between Portland Avenue in Tacoma and the Port of Tacoma Road in Fife.

Tips for Driving Through Work Zones

Pay attention - driver inattention is the number one cause of work zone accidents.
Leave room between you and the car ahead of you - most work zone accidents involve someone running into the car ahead of them. Drive defensively - be aware of what is happening around you.
Merge into the proper lane before you reach the work zone.
Don't use cell phones or adjust your radio while driving through the work zone.

Summer construction season map for Pierce county (pdf 443kb)

Want to see WSDOT construction efforts? Take a look at the Construction Season ProjectsMap.

Weekly construction and traffic updates for the Olympic region

Check out WSDOT on social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and the WSDOT Blog

For more information on these projects, please contact WSDOT Olympic Region Communications staff during office hours at 360-357-2789 or by emailingbakerc@wsdot.wa.gov.