I-5 S/B North Fork Lewis River Bridge Repair - Do Not Use Bypass Route (Photo) -07/29/24

I-5 Southbound North Fork Lewis River Bridge Update:

If you are traveling South on I-5 between Kalama and Woodland, please follow the advisories on the reader boards along the freeway.

DO NOT TRUST YOUR NAVIGATION APP!

Google Maps and Waze are routing travelers over Green Mountain Rd - but this route is recommended for local traffic and deliveries only. This is a steep road, with many tight turns. Several vehicles with trailers have become stuck on this route, leading to further traffic delays. 

This route does not bypass the work zone and will not be faster than staying on I-5. Travelers taking the bypass route are creating severe traffic congestion for area residents. WSDOT has contacted Google Maps and Waze to ask that they not recommend this bypass, but so far, these companies have not made the requested changes. 

To address the traffic impacts of this WSDOT project, the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office is staffing extra deputies in the Exit 27 / Todd Rd area of Kalama. We are also staffing extra deputies to remain in the East Woodland area for faster responses to calls for service.
 

Per WSDOT, they are working 24/7 to minimize the impact of this project, which will continue for several weeks. Deputies are working on their days off to help with traffic issues and to be available for calls East of Woodland. Please see the attached graphs for traffic impact projections, and when possible, plan your trip for off-peak hours.

Despite the long lines, there are two lanes of travel open on Southbound Interstate 5. Please use the zipper merge method, utilizing all lanes until the merge zone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ypWx8PEFXI

For further updates on the WSDOT I-5 Southbound North Fork Lewis River project, please see: https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-5-nb-sb-north-fork-lewis-river-bridge-bridge-deck-repair-overlay