December 03, 2004       

WSDOT Schedules I-5 Lane Closures in Both Directions Next Week Through Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON – Washington State Department of Transportation will close lanes on Interstate 5 in Mount Vernon next week to continue to drill and pour the concrete foundation for the new, wider and taller Second Street Bridge. 

Dec. 6 through Dec. 9 lane closures:

·         Monday night – the right northbound lane of I-5 will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. between College Way and Kincaid Street.

·         Tuesday night – the right lane of both northbound and southbound I-5 will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. between College Way and Kincaid Street.

·         Wednesday night – the right lane of both northbound and southbound I-5 will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. between College Way and Kincaid Street.

·         Thursday night – the right lane of both northbound and southbound I-5 will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. between College Way and Kincaid Street.

·         Lane closures are weather dependent. 

During the lane closures, drivers should plan ahead, allow extra time for travel, and expect delays.  Crews are working as quickly as possible to build the new Second Street Bridge.  To help speed the bridge building process, WSDOT is offering the contractor, Mowat Construction, financial incentives to complete the bridge early. 

With the old low clearance Second Street Bridge demolished, overheight trucks no longer have to detour off I-5 and onto city streets.  Freights trucks have one less obstacle to detour around, saving time on their commute and reducing congestion in downtown Mount Vernon.   

WSDOT permanently closed Second Street between Fulton Street and Montgomery Street on Oct. 11.  Second Street will remain closed for up to one year during construction, until the new bridge is complete. 

When this $14.1 million project is complete in fall 2005, the new Second Street Bridge will have three 12-foot wide vehicle lanes, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and a height clearance of 18 feet 7 inches.    

For more detailed information about the project and a detour route map please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5_2ndst_bridgerepl/.