The widening effort, which started in 2024, is expanding I-5 to three lanes in each direction through the Salem area. Traffic has already shifted in several locations, and posted speeds have been reduced through the work zone.

Overnight lane reductions are underway on January 9

Work on the Battle Creek Road Bridge is now impacting traffic near mile marker 250. Overnight hours are most affected.

Through the early morning of Friday, January 9, I-5 is reduced to one lane in each direction between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Drivers traveling overnight should expect slowdowns and congestion, particularly for heavy trucks moving through the corridor.

Full nighttime closures are scheduled for next week

Additional impacts are scheduled to begin next week with full overnight closures between Exits 248 and 252.

Those closures are planned for January 12 through January 14, running nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Detours will be in place during the shutdowns.

Northbound detour

• Exit at 248
• Commercial Street SE
• Right on Kuebler Boulevard
• Re-enter northbound I-5

Southbound detour

• Exit at 252
• Kuebler Boulevard
• Left on Commercial Street SE
• Re-enter southbound I-5

All work remains weather-dependent and subject to construction needs, the Oregon Department of Transportation said.

Additional traffic pattern changes drivers should expect

Beyond the scheduled closures, ODOT has outlined several long-term changes that will affect how trucks move through the area.

Southbound I-5 traffic will be shifted onto what were previously the northbound lanes. Northbound drivers will use Exit 249 and the former on-ramp as the new northbound lanes.

Access from south Commercial Street to southbound I-5 will be limited to a single lane connection. A concrete barrier will separate northbound traffic from vehicles coming off Delaney Road, and traffic from Delaney Road will no longer be able to access the Commercial Street ramp.

Wiltsey Street SE remains closed at the Battle Creek Road SE intersection and is expected to stay that way until mid-2026. Drivers can detour using 36th Avenue SE north to Kuebler Boulevard.

What the project is addressing

According to ODOT, the first phase of the widening project focuses on the long-standing southbound bottleneck and congestion along the hill south of Salem.

Work in this phase includes replacing the bridge over the Commercial Street northbound off-ramp and the Battle Creek Road Bridge. The project also includes a new roundabout, paving improvements, and sound walls.

The work stems from an environmental study of the I-5 corridor between the Hayesville Interchanges and Battle Creek Road that was completed in the mid-1980s and approved by the Federal Highway Administration and the state in 1988.

What drivers should do now?

Drivers running overnight through the Salem area should allow extra time, confirm detour routes in advance, and avoid tight appointment windows during closure hours when possible. With lane shifts and access changes continuing, even daytime runs may see unfamiliar traffic patterns.

More project details and updates are available through the official project website, and drivers are encouraged to check conditions before rolling through the area.

Source: Land Line Media

The post Oregon I-5 Widening Work Brings Night Closures and Detours Near Salem appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

During these closures, workers will be installing bridge girders over the highway, requiring a full closure of the Steilacoom-DuPont Road overpass.

What Drivers Need to Know

Lane closures will begin at 8 p.m. each night, with one lane of I-5 rerouted through the off- and on-ramps at Steilacoom-DuPont Road starting at 10 p.m. By 6 a.m. the next morning, lanes will gradually reopen.

Emergency vehicles will still be able to access the Steilacoom-DuPont Road overpass throughout the closures.

Detour Routes

Drivers should plan and follow these detour routes during the closures:

• Northbound I-5: If you need to take Exit 119 at Steilacoom-DuPont Road, you’ll be detoured to 41st Division Drive before re-entering southbound I-5 at Exit 119.
• Steilacoom-DuPont Road to Northbound I-5: You’ll be rerouted onto southbound I-5 at Exit 118 (Center Drive) before looping back to northbound I-5.

Why This Project Matters

This construction is part of WSDOT’s long-term effort to improve traffic flow on I-5. The project will add new high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in both directions between Mounts Road and Gravelly Lake Drive.

As part of the upgrades, a new overpass is being built to accommodate the additional lanes and meet modern vertical clearance standards for I-5.

The existing overpass, originally constructed in 1957, has been flagged as being in poor condition following its most recent inspection by state transportation officials.

Once completed, the new interchange will enhance traffic efficiency and provide a smoother commute for drivers navigating this busy corridor.

If you’re traveling through this area over the weekend, be sure to allow for extra travel time and stay informed about the latest traffic conditions.

Source: Land Line

The post Expect Delays on I-5 Near JBLM as Construction Continues appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.