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June 8th, 2009

New I-5 on-ramp opens in Burlington at SR 20 interchange

BURLINGTON – Crews will open a new, elevated southbound on-ramp at the Interstate 5/State Route 20 interchange Tuesday morning, June 9. Opening the ramp is the last major milestone for crews working to improve a five-mile stretch of SR 20 between Memorial Highway and I-5.

After building five new miles of roadway, this is the last stretch to be completed before crews can finish paving, turn on new signals and open all lanes to drivers.

The new off- and on-ramps are part of a $118 million project that improves five miles of SR 20 and the interchange at I-5. The project has supported an estimated 450 jobs since it began in 2007.

The new on-ramp will help relieve congestion and improve safety at the busiest interchange in Burlington.

“We’re opening the on-ramp exactly two weeks after we opened the new off-ramp,” Project Engineer Dave Crisman said. “Both new ramps will make it so much easier and safer for southbound I-5 drivers to get on and off the interstate. They’re going to make a huge difference.”

SR 20 drivers will now be directly connected to I-5 at the new Garrett Road intersection. In the past, drivers accessed the ramps from a side road and often experienced delays.

For more specific details about the project, visit the project Web page -
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr20/sr536fredonia.