Repair of I-5 North Fork Lewis River Bridge continues into October causing traffic delays

The Interstate 5 North Fork Lewis River Bridge, perhaps the region’s most problematic highway bridge, is undergoing two months of bridge deck repairs.

To create a safe work zone, traffic has been reduced to two narrow lanes around the clock as well as reduced speed limits, to 60 miles per hour through the work zone and 45 miles per hour along the bridge.

Delays and backups will vary depending on the time and day of the week, but at peak times delays could exceed 50 minutes and cause backups of 7 miles or more, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Travelers can receive real-time information at: https://wsdot.com/Travel/Real-time/Map/ .

The bridge has experienced a litany of problems over the past year, primarily due to the structure’s age and use. In fact, the bridge has been patched so many times that there is little surface left that is not patchwork. The southbound span was built in 1940 and the northbound span was built in 1968. About 41,000 vehicles drive over it daily (for reference, about 130,000 people drive over the Interstate 5 Bridge and 20,000 drive over the Lewis and Clark Bridge between Longview and Rainier, Ore.).

By mid- to late October, the Washington State Department of Transportation contractor will have repaired the deck, applied a polyester concrete overlay, modified expansion joints and installed new bridge joint seals. Once the repairs are complete, a weight restriction will be lifted and freight truck drivers will no longer be required to move to the center lane when crossing the bridge.