Construction closes parts of I-5 in Fed Way this weekend | Transportation

Construction crews will be placing girders across Interstate 5 in Federal Way this weekend, in a major improvement project for drivers traveling between State Route 18 and I-5.

Crews will set “unusually shaped” girders beam, which are used as a main horizontal support in a building or bridge, closing all lanes of southbound I-5 on Friday and Saturday nights, Feb. 10 and 11.

Closures will begin at 9 p.m. with all lanes closed by 11 p.m. Lanes will reopen by 7 a.m. the following day.

The closure will affect thousands of southbound I-5 and westbound SR 18 drivers, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. The detour route is nearly six miles and backups on I-5 could reach five miles. Overnight travelers should add an extra 30 minutes to their trip.

The girder setting work is part of the $112 million interchange project that began in August 2010. It expected to be complete by late 2012, according to WSDOT.