Construction on I-5 could cause 15-mile backups near Olympia

OLYMPIA -- The Washington Department of Transportation has begun a construction project that will shut down several lanes of I-5 during the next two weekends and cause extensive delays and backups.

WSDOT says bridge expansion joints on I-5 must in the area of Capitol Lake must be replaced and is beyond repair.

WSDOT crews must first chip away the concrete, then rip out the old joint and replace it with a new one. The longest part of the project will be while crews pour and wait for new concrete to dry.

The I-5 lane closures will begin this evening at 7 p.m. and last until Monday at 5 a.m. during this weekend. Closures next weekend could even be worse, officials said.

All but one lane of I-5 will be shut down during the overnight hours. During the day, two lanes will be open for traffic in either direction.

WSDOT hopes at least 30 percent of drivers avoid the area. Even if thousands of people stay away from the construction, backups are likely to grow to 10-15 miles long.

WSDOT says 276,000 cars take this portion of I-5 every weekend.

Here is a close breakdown of the closures:

Sept. 12-15 closure details

I-5 lane reductions

Ramp closures and reductions

For more information on the closures, visit the WSDOT website>>>