A rolling slowdown will be in effect from 9 to 11 a.m. today on northbound Interstate 5 south of Woodland so Washington State Department of Transportation crews can install a temporary bridge deck patch on the North Fork Lewis River Bridge after a hole was discovered in the center travel lane.
This temporary patch will be in place until more extensive work to fully rehabilitate the northbound span can be done later this summer.
The bridge has experienced a litany of problems over the past couple of months, primarily due to the structure’s age and use — the southbound span was built in 1940 and the northbound span was built in 1968.
In April, a 3½-foot hole appeared on the center lane of the northbound span. Less than a week later, a hole appeared on the northbound span’s right lane.
An estimated $17.4 million will be spent on improvements for the North Fork Lewis River Bridge this summer and next summer, including a polyester concrete overlay, expansion joint modifications and new joint seals.
