WSDOT to temporarily close I-5 ramp to downtown Tacoma for Nalley Valley project

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has announced the northbound Interstate 5 exit ramp(#133) to the Tacoma City Center will temporarily close this spring to allow crews to demolish the old ramp — which is a temporary ramp that was meant to be replaced — and replace it with a new permanent ramp that will have a new alignment compatible with the future expanded I-5 / State Route 16 interchange.

The exit ramp is tentatively scheduled to close beginning in May and re-open at the end of July. Motorists will be detoured to the city center via the northbound I-5 exit to SR 16 and going straight onto the collector/distributor that parallels I-5.

Most work on the first stage of demolition is complete. With this stage of demolition nearly done, crews are turning their focus to constructing shafts for the new eastbound bridge.

Lane closures will continue to be needed on both South Center Street and South Tacoma Way. On South Center Street, where the shaft work will begin, motorists can expect single- and double-lane closures during daytime hours through at least March 24. Single-lane closures will also continue on South Tacoma Way to allow crews to haul away demolition debris.

The southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street closed completely between 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. beginning March 19 and is expected to last until March 26. A signed detour is directing motorists to use the I-5/South 56th Street interchange. The closure does not affect motorists traveling from southbound I-5 to westbound SR 16.

In September, WSDOT awarded a $74.7 million contract to Mowat Construction Company of Woodinville to build the I-5/SR 16: Eastbound Nalley Valley viaduct. Construction began in November and is expected to continue through spring 2014. The Eastbound Nalley Valley project is the second of three phases that will rebuild and improve the I-5/SR 16 interchange. Like its sister westbound roadway, the eastbound project will build a general-purpose system open to all traffic and will be a precursor to future HOV lanes.

For more information, visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/PierceCountyHOV/SR16_EBNalleyValley/ .

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Mayor Strickland to speak at Chamber luncheon Friday (03/06/12) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2126026&more=0

Nalley Valley Viaduct demolition continues (01/10/12) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2096438&more=0

Nalley Valley eastbound viaduct project begins (10/30/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2060647&more=0

WSDOT: $74M Nalley Valley, State Route 16 project ahead (09/23/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=2041784&more=0

Westbound Nalley Valley Viaduct opens to drivers (06/27/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1997976&more=0

Westbound Nalley Valley Viaduct opens June 25 (06/21/11) — http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1995423&more=0