Olympia I-5 overpass will get an earthquake retrofit in 2020

Crews with the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin reinforcing the Interstate 5 overpass at Pacific Avenue Southeast in Olympia early in January to help it withstand any future earthquakes.

The “seismic retrofit” will strengthen four columns that support the bridge, according to a WSDOT press release.

Work is scheduled to begin Jan. 6, and WSDOT estimates it will be finished by early spring.

The project won’t impact I-5 or the Pacific Avenue ramps, but lanes on Pacific Avenue will be reduced in the area, according to the press release. There also will be sidewalk closures, but one sidewalk will stay open.

The project is part of the state’s Seismic Retrofit program that began in 1991, according to WSDOT’s project description.

Construction and travel updates for state highways in Thurston County can be found online at wsdot.wa.gov/travel/construction-updates/thurston.

This story was originally published December 22, 2019 at 9:36 AM.

Sara Gentzler

The Olympian

360-754-5459

Sara Gentzler joined The Olympian in June 2019 as a county and courts reporter. She now covers Washington state government for The Olympian, The News Tribune, The Bellingham Herald, and Tri-City Herald. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Creighton University.