I-5 ramps in Olympia, Lacey will soon have meters
Four on-ramps to southbound Interstate 5 in Olympia and Lacey will soon have meters to regulate traffic, the Washington State Department of Transportation says.
In mid-April, the agency plans to have meters activated at Martin Way East, Sleater Kinney Road Southeast, Pacific Avenue Southeast, and Henderson Boulevard Southeast.
Marvin Road Northeast is slated to get another southbound I-5 meter, too, as part of WSDOT’s ongoing reconstruction of the interchange. That project is expected to be complete this coming winter.
The goal of the meters: To manage the pace of and spacing between vehicles merging onto the highway, thereby relieving I-5 traffic. Meters may, however, worsen backups for drivers in line to merge, WSDOT says.
The meters use computer-assisted technology and “specially trained operators,” WSDOT says, and “can activate anytime or any day if the network detects I-5 congestion.”
Widening this section of I-5 is not in WSDOT’s plans.
“We look at lower-cost enhancements, such as ramp meters, before big-ticket items like widening I-5,” a blog post from WSDOT reads. “Right now, there is no funding to widen this section of I-5.”
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 7:51 AM.
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