The speed limit on part of a problem section of Interstate 5 in Tacoma will go back up this week after months of reduced speeds.
The Washington State Department of Transportation will move signs designating a reduced 50 miles per hour zone to a three-mile portion of the roadway by Friday. Previously, eight miles of I-5 were reduced to 50 mph.
Washington State Patrol and WSDOT lowered the speed limit from 60 mph to 50 mph in April after eight crashes involving semi-trucks occurred between September 2018 and March 2019 around work zones. Speed and rain were mostly to blame in the crashes.
Since some construction on the I-5/State Route 15 realignment project has been completed, state patrol and WSDOT decided to raise the speed limit back to normal in areas where work is finished.
The new reduced speed zone on northbound I-5 will be between milepost 133.06 near M Street and milepost 136.19 at Port of Tacoma Road. On southbound I-5, the zone will be between milepost 136.67 and milepost 133.86 at the I-705 interchange.
WSDOT anticipates all areas will return to a 60-mph speed limit once construction is done.
Contractors are still working on the Portland Avenue to Port of Tacoma Road project, which will modify the southbound I-5 on-ramp, rebuild the L Street overpass, demolish the I-5 bridges over the Puyallup River, and replace paving.