Travelers may see ‘seven-mile backups’ on I-5 in Thurston County Monday morning
Travelers may see “seven mile-backups” on Interstate 5 in Thurston County starting Monday, the Washington State Department of Transportation warns.
The backups will be caused by road work that’s scheduled from 6 a.m. to noon on Monday and Tuesday near Maytown.
Work crews plan to reduce two-mile sections of southbound I-5 to one lane so they can “fill gaps in the surface of the roadway and fix potholes,” according to a WSDOT travel advisory.
A similar closure also has been scheduled to occur from 6 a.m. to noon on June 2 and 3 near the Lewis County line.
WSDOT is asking travelers to consider rescheduling discretionary trips or travel before or after road work hours, if possible.
Those who need to travel during the road work are advised to add two hours of extra travel time to their plans and make sure they have enough gas or charge for the trip.
While that’s the plan for now, WSDOT cautions that the road work may still be rescheduled due to weather.
“Crews need warm and dry conditions to perform the repairs,” WSDOT shared in the advisory. “The repairs will help reduce the rate of deterioration on the roadway.”
The public can see up-to-date travel information on the WSDOT app and their online travel center map.
That’s not all the roadwork travelers will have to watch out for soon. WSDOT also is reminding travelers to expect delays as they approach the Nisqually River Bridge near the Thurston County border with Pierce County.
Northbound lane closures are expected 6 a.m. to noon this Saturday, May 17, as well as June 7 and 21. The closure are needed to allow for bridge repairs.
WSDOT says to expect delays Memorial Day weekend
Looking ahead to Memorial Day weekend, WSDOT is urging travelers to plan ahead for summer-like traffic.
“Holiday weekends often mean increased traffic and delays along state highways, waterways, airports and pedestrian trails,” WSDOT warned in another advisory. “Travelers should be patient, expect delays and stay alert.”
To help ease congestion, WSDOT says it intends to pause most state highway construction from May 23-27. However, travelers are advised to watch out for lane shifts or work zone staging areas that remain in place.
As always, delays may still occur as crews respond to crashes or conduct emergency repairs.
Travelers planning to brave the roads during the holiday weekend can reference newly released traffic charts.
The charts show the best and worst times to travel on specific routes, including I-5 Lacey to Tacoma, I-90 North Bend to Cle Elum, U.S. 2 between Stevens Pass and Skykomish, and I-5 at the U.S. – Canada border.
WSDOT traffic analysts created the charts using historical data.
Additionally, WSDOT warns that state ferry routes are expected to be busy as well. As a result, the agency “strongly” recommends travelers book reservations for routes that offer them.
The busiest sailing will likely be westbound, or onto an island, Thursday through Saturday, May 22-24 and eastbound, or off island, Saturday through Monday, May 24-26.
Public invited to comment on planned roundabout
WSDOT also is inviting the public to give them feedback on a planned roundabout near Grand Mound.
The single-lane roundabout will replace a stop sign at the intersection of U.S. 12 and Old Highway 9, according to a news release.
The public can learn more about the roundabout via an online open house that started Wednesday and will conclude May 28.
WSDOT says the roundabout should help prevent T-bone and rear-end crashes at the intersection. Those two types of crashes were reportedly the most common types along that corridor from 2019 to 2024.
The project is expected to cost about $4.3 million to design and build, according to the open house. It is being funded via the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program.
WSDOT plans to start construction in summer 2026.
