New I-5 HOV Lane Between DuPont And Lakewood Opens Sunday

LAKEWOOD, WA — Drivers who commute between DuPont and Lakewood will have a new tool at their disposal starting this weekend.

On Sunday, the Washington State Department of Transportation will open a 4.5 mile-long HOV lane on I-5 between the two cities. The northbound HOV lane will be for carpoolers only, but WSDOT officials say it should still help cut down on the infamous traffic backups between the two cities.

"High occupancy vehicle lanes maximize the movement of people and improve trip reliability, especially for those who share the ride," said WSDOT Regional Administrator John Wynands. "Ultimately, these improvements will benefit everyone using the corridor."

The new lane will be joined by a southbound I-5 HOV lane, set to open in early August.

The HOV lanes are part of WSDOT's ongoing effort to improve I-5 between Steilacoom-DuPont Road and Thorne Lane. Other improvements in the project include the roundabout atop the new Thorne Lane high bridge and the addition of new northbound and southbound auxiliary lanes around Tillicum.