Lakewood's I-5 Construction Approaching Finish Line: WSDOT

LAKEWOOD, WA — It has been a long couple of years for crews working on I-5 in Lakewood, not to mention for commuters who have had to power through months of construction and closures.

Fortunately, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) says the finish line is finally in sight.

In a recent blog post, WSDOT outlined all the changes that have been made along I-5 in Lakewood since construction began in October 2018 — including the construction of the new Thorne Lane and Berkeley Street overpasses, raising I-5 at Berkeley and resurfacing the freeway — and all the remaining projects coming up later this year.

Those ongoing projects include:

Barrier and drainage work: crews have set up temporary work zones along southbound I-5 near the old Berkeley Street exit to finish the new barriers and install proper drainage. This project is scheduled to be complete by late August.

The Thorne Lane and Union Avenue roundabout: the new roundabout atop the Thorne Lane overpass still needs repaving, sidewalks and curbs. It should be finished and open to commuters sometime in late July.

Murray Road utility work: Workers are still connecting water and sewer lines near the new Thorne Lane roundabout at Murray Road. WSDOT says drivers can expect some lane closures related to the construction throughout the summer.

Landscaping for pollinators: The I-5 construction project included a landscaping requirement to plant a pollinator seed mix alongside the freeway. The landscaping project is expected to be completed in the fall, after which residents can expect a variety of blooming flowers along the roadside.

Once all those projects are completed this fall, I-5 should be smooth sailing for commuters — at least for a few years. Starting in 2023, WSDOT will begin Phase 3 of the I-5 corridor improvements with a series of construction projects centered around the I-5 interchange with Steilacoom-DuPont Road in DuPont.