Travelers who use Interstate 5 near Vader may experience overnight delays on Thursday, March 23, according to the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
WSDOT’S contractor, SB Structures, LLC, will close all lanes in both directions of I-5 to remove falsework along the state Route 506 overpass, which is undergoing emergency construction after the overpass was twice struck by oversized loads.
Falsework is a temporary structure used to support a permanent structure during construction and is removed once the structure is self-supporting.
All lanes of northbound and southbound I-5 will be reduced to a single lane and detoured to the off- and on-ramps at Exit 60 for state Route 506, also known as Toledo-Vader Road, from 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, to 6 a.m. Friday, March 24. Drivers might also encounter intermittent nighttime, single-lane closures in both directions throughout the week.
Additional overnight closures might be needed as work continues to replace the damaged overpass. WSDOT will announce the dates of any future overnight closures once they are confirmed, according to the release.
WSDOT closed the bridge in July 2021 when an over-height load struck the southbound span. Plans to reopen the bridge after completion of southbound repairs were put on hold when another over-height load struck the northbound span in September 2022.
“For the safety of the traveling public, the bridge will remain closed to travelers until repairs to bridge spans can be completed,” WSDOT stated in the release. “As with any highway maintenance and construction project, travelers must exercise caution through the work zone. To keep both road users and road workers safe, travelers are asked to drive at slower speeds, have patience, obey warning signs and look for instructions from flagging personnel.”
