WSDOT to Suspend Projects for Thanksgiving Travelers

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To keep traffic moving during Thanksgiving weekend, Washington State Department of Transportation plans to suspend most highway construction work from noon Wednesday through the weekend. 

The suspended work statewide will include the Interstate 5, Mellen Street to Blakeslee Junction project in Centralia, according to WSDOT. 

“As a rule we do not allow contractors to work on the highways from noon the day before the holiday until the following Monday unless it’s an emergency situation,” WSDOT spokeswoman Abbi Russell said. 

Although crews will not be working in Centralia Wednesday through the weekend, drivers will still have to obey the reduced speed limit on southbound I-5, Russell said.

Southbound I-5 from Blakeslee Junction to the Skookumchuck River bridges is being reduced from 60 miles per hour to 50 miles per hour, WSDOT said. 

WSDOT crews will be out on state highways this week to prepare roadways for continued freezing temperatures forecast throughout the weekend. 



“When we know an event is coming we pre-treat the roadways  and do whatever we can to keep the roadways as clear as possible,” Russell said. 

Depending on the storm, Russell said, crews use a liquid deicer, solid salt or a mixture of both. 

I-5 is the number one priority for maintenance crews, Russell said. U.S. Highway 12 is the second priority around Lewis County. 

“We train our crews and calibrate our equipment to not oversalt or use too much product,” Russell said.  “Our main focus is safety.”

When traveling over the holiday weekend, WSDOT encourages drivers to plan ahead, check online for traffic information, leave extra time for travel and drive safe.