Work crews close I-5 lanes in Olympia area Thursday for emergency repairs
Work crews closed lanes of Interstate 5 lanes near the U.S. 101 interchange for emergency repairs Thursday.
The closure affects the left lanes of I-5 in both directions, according to a Thursday news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The agency scheduled the closure for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The center barrier on the highway required emergency repairs following a semi-truck crash that occurred Wednesday evening. The work involves removing broken pieces of the concrete barrier and erecting a temporary barrier between the north and southbound lanes, per the release. WSDOT plans to make more permanent repairs at a later date.
“WSDOT appreciates travelers’ cooperation and patience while crews work to maintain and preserve the roadway,” the release states.
I-5 near the U.S. 101 interchange is often the scene of semi-truck crashes. On Wednesday, two semi-trucks crashed, causing a long backup, The Olympian reported.
A northbound truck struck the median barrier and crossed into the southbound lanes where it was struck by a southbound truck, according to a Washington State Patrol press memo.
Neither driver was injured in the collision, but both trucks were totaled, the memo says. The roadway was blocked for about five hours and 20 minutes.
The State Patrol attributed the crash to “negligent driving” and does not suspect drugs or alcohol were involved, according to the memo.
