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TRAFFIC ALERT: Changes for I-5 in Tacoma

The updates on Tacoma area I-5 construction this week and what you can expect.

Some big changes are coming for drivers on Interstate 5 in Tacoma starting Tuesday.

WSDOT is rebuilding the entire I-5/SR 16 Nalley Valley interchange to reduce congestion. The contractor will move the flow of traffic to remove old concrete and pour new I-5 lanes.

Here’s what you can expect:

On Tuesday night the southbound I-5 38th Street exit was shut down and southbound I-5 was reduced to a single lane between Delin and S 48th Street.

Drivers will see the big changes on Wednesday morning from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. Southbound I-5 will go from one lane to three lanes. That means they will be immediately adjacent to northbound I-5 with a barrier separating the two directions of traffic. Local express lanes will still be open.

The southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street will stay in its current location, which will make it northwest of the construction zone.

Travelers headed to southbound I-5 from State Route 7, I-705 and Pacific Avenue will follow the South 38th Street exit to rejoin southbound I-5.

Eastbound SR 16 travelers headed to the Tacoma Mall will not be able to exit to westbound South 38th Street. Drivers will be directed via southbound I-5 and exit at South 56th Street and will be routed back north to westbound South 38th Street

I-705 traffic and Highway 7/Pacific Avenue will be able to access southbound I-5 through the express lanes.

Southbound I-5 drivers to Tacoma can get to West-bound SR 16 and downtown exits the same way.

The new lane configuration will remain in place through 2018.

WSDOT is scheduling changes around large events. There will be no changes or shutdowns Thursday night, May 3, when Shania Twain is performing at the Tacoma Dome.

Later in May, WSDOT crews working on a project to the north will move all lanes of northbound I-5 onto the new Puyallup River Bridge.

This is all a part of the I-5 – SR 16 Tacoma/Pierce County HOV program, a series of projects building HOV lanes on I-5, Highway 16 and Highway 167 in Pierce County.

Here are the weekly lane and ramp closures for HOV construction

Tuesday, May 1

Southbound I-5 exit #132A to South 38th Street (Tacoma Mall) will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday, May 2.

Southbound I-5 will be reduced to a single lane between Delin Street and South 48th Street from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday

Friday, May 4

All lanes of northbound I-5 will detour through the Portland Avenue interchange and across the new Puyallup River Bridge from 11:59 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday. Law enforcement will be at the Portland Avenue intersection to assist with traffic control.

Eastbound SR 16 ramp to northbound I-5 will close from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday, May 5.

Northbound SR 7 and Pacific Avenue on-ramps to southbound I-5 will close from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday, May 5

All lanes of southbound I-5 will be detoured to northbound I-705 and SR 509, to southbound I-705 and back to southbound I-5 from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday.

Eastbound SR 16 ramp to northbound I-5 will close from 10 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday, May 6.

Single, double and some triple lane closures are scheduled each night on northbound and southbound I-5 between Port of Tacoma Road and S. 56th Street. Lane closures are also scheduled during overnight hours for eastbound State Route 16 between S. Union Avenue and S. Sprague Avenue.

Be sure to check WSDOT’s page for more information on how your route might be affected.