I-5 reopens in Washington state earlier than expected following flood closure
Hours after rising floodwaters prompted the closure of a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in Thurston and Lewis counties, state officials reopened the interstate Friday afternoon, saying the water receded faster than expected.
Both directions of the interstate were reopened between Chehalis and Grand Mound about 1 p.m., according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. State officials previously predicted that the closure could last until Sunday. The Chehalis and Skookumchuck rivers, swollen from rain and melting snow, were not expected to crest until later Friday.
“Crews closed the highway earlier today out of an abundance of caution when they saw flood water quickly rising towards the roadway and flood gauges raising,” state transportation officials said in a blog post. “Water has stopped rising in the area of concern which allowed us to reopen the highway.”
One northbound off-ramp to Main Street/State Route 6 in Chehalis remained closed due to residual flood water.
While the freeway was closed between mileposts 68 and 88, the freeway was inaccessible between U.S. 12 and state Route 6. Compounding the situation, all passes through the Cascades of Washington are closed. They are not anticipated to reopen until Saturday or Sunday.
This story was originally published January 7, 2022 at 1:28 PM with the headline "I-5 reopens in Washington state earlier than expected following flood closure."
