I-5 lane closures in Tacoma begin

TACOMA – Construction crews will begin shifting lanes overnight on northbound and southbound Interstate 5 as part of the  M Street to Portland Avenue HOV project, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.

In addition, southbound I-5 will be reduced to three general-purpose lanes for approximately six weeks.

Beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday, crews closed one lane of northbound I-5 near M Street. At 10 p.m. construction crews closed a second northbound lane, allowing them to restripe the northbound roadway, shifting lanes to the right. The lane closures will be in place overnight until 5 a.m. Wednesday.

The same single-lane closure will take place on southbound I-5 near M Street beginning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by a double lane closure at 10 p.m. These closures will allow crews to restripe the inside lanes of southbound I-5 and build a construction zone in the I-5 median from State Route 16 to M Street. All lanes will re-open by 5 a.m. Thursday.

In addition to temporary overnight lane closures, southbound I-5 between Yakima Street and SR 16 will be reduced from four to three general-purpose lanes beginning at 9 p.m. Wednesday. Crews will close the left lane so the median can be rebuilt to carry traffic through the area for future traffic shifts. The around-the-clock left lane closure will be in place for approximately six weeks.