Interstate 5 in Washington

Infobox road
state=WA
type=I
route=5

---

map_notes=Interstate 5 is highlighted in red.
length_mi=276.62
length_round=2
length_ref=Federal Highway Administration Route Log and Finder List, [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table1.htm Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002] ] Washington State Department of Transportation, [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/TDO/PDF_and_ZIP_Files/HwyLog2006.pdf State Highway Log] , 2006]
section=020
maint=WSDOT
established=1956
direction_a=South
terminus_a=jct|state=OR|I|5 at the Oregon state line in Vancouver
junction=jct|state=WA|WA|14 in Vancouver
jct|state=WA|WA|4 in Kelso
jct|state=WA|US|12 near Centralia
jct|state=WA|US|101 in Tumwater
jct|state=WA|WA|16 in Tacoma
jct|state=WA|I|90 in Seattle
jct|state=WA|US|2 in Everett
jct|state=WA|WA|20 in Burlington
jct|state=WA|WA|542 in Bellingham
direction_b=North
terminus_b=jct|state=BC|Hwy|99 at Canadian border in Blaine
previous_type=SR
previous_route=4
next_type=SR
next_route=6

Interstate 5 in Washington (I-5) is a convert|276.62|mi|km|2|sing=on highway in the U.S. state of Washington that extends from its border with Oregon to its border with Canada. Serving the cities of Vancouver, Kelso, Chehalis, Centralia, Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, Everett, Mount Vernon, and Bellingham, it is the main route between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, British Columbia.cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Overview map of I-5 in Washington |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4045.618057,+-122.675062&daddr=49.002407,-122.756767&hl=en&geocode=8317091327158924293,45.618057,-122.675062&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=13&sll=48.992609,-122.744923&sspn=0.034129,0.071411&ie=UTF8&ll=47.561701,-120.915527&spn=4.492188,9.140625&z=6 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-08-08] cite map |title=Official State Highway Map |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/87105CAD-83A9-49A7-80F3-5719637C1E2D/0/FrontMapBig.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |location=Olympia, Washington |year=2008 |edition=2008-2009 |scale=1:842,000 |series=Official State Highway Maps |cartography=U.S. Geological Survey |accessdate=2008-08-07] [cite map |publisher=GM Johnson |location=Burnaby, British Columbia |title=Washington Large Print |url=http://store.maplink.com/map.aspx?nav=MS&cid=10056,10078&pid=538387 |year=2007 |edition=2007 |series=GM Johnson Large Print State Maps |accessdate=2008-08-08]

It is the only interstate to traverse the whole north-south length of Washington, but the state highways U.S. Route 97 and U.S. Route 395 do also. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=U.S. Route 97 Overview Map |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=US-97+%4045.675960,+-120.836060&daddr=47.517201,-120.311279+to:US-97+N+%4049.000100,+-119.461780&hl=en&geocode=4052862629829840692,45.675960,-120.836060%3B3157293857126405596,49.000100,-119.461780&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=7&via=1&sll=47.620975,-119.278564&sspn=2.243626,4.570312&ie=UTF8&ll=47.502359,-119.772949&spn=4.497269,9.140625&z=6 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-07-31] [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=U.S. Route 395 Overview Map |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-82+W%2FUS-395+N+%4045.931720,+-119.328370&daddr=49.000042,-118.22392&hl=en&geocode=6148851770216159538,45.931720,-119.328370&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=16&sll=49.000605,-118.222868&sspn=0.004265,0.008926&ie=UTF8&ll=47.724545,-118.740234&spn=4.478219,9.140625&z=6 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-07-31] I-5 is also the only north-south primary interstate highway in Washington. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Interstate 82 Overview Map |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-82+W%2FUS-395+N+%4045.931720,+-119.328370&daddr=46.970999,-120.511265&hl=en&geocode=6148851770216159538,45.931720,-119.328370&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=14&sll=46.967485,-120.514698&sspn=0.017747,0.035706&ie=UTF8&ll=46.452997,-120.135498&spn=2.293271,4.570312&z=7 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-07-31] [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Interstate 90 Overview Map |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=47.592396,-122.32549&daddr=I-90+E+%4047.696497,+-117.042762&hl=en&geocode=6567855726850209615,47.592420,-122.325970%3B6664985198082853012,47.696497,-117.042762&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=47.592674,-122.325742&sspn=0.001096,0.002232&ie=UTF8&ll=47.487513,-120.563965&spn=4.49854,9.140625&z=6 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-07-31] The road is the busiest in the state; an estimated 240,000 motorists use the road daily. [cite web|url=http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-005_aadt.html|title=Interstate 5 - Annual Average Daily Traffic @ Interstate-Guide.com|accessdate=2008-08-08] The second busiest is I-405 at 201,000. [cite web |url=http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-405_aadt.html|title=Interstate 405 - Annual Average Daily Traffic @ Interstate-Guide.com|accessdate=2008-08-08]

Route description

Vancouver to Tumwater

I-5 enters Washington at the Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River between Portland and Vancouver. It initially heads north through Vancouver and intersects SR 14, the first segment of SR 501, and SR 500 until the interchange with I-205 in Salmon Creek, where the freeway begins a turn to the northeast. I-5 closely follows the alignment of old U.S. Route 99, and in some locations the US 99 alignment has become I-5. The interstate passes the Vancouver branch of the Washington State University. Southeast of Ridgefield, the highway intersects SR 502 and the second segment of SR 501 before continuing north along the Columbia River to Woodland. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (Vancouver to I-205) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4045.618057,+-122.675062&daddr=45.722068,-122.654929&hl=en&geocode=8317091327158924293,45.618057,-122.675062&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=17&sll=45.722113,-122.654511&sspn=0.00227,0.004463&ie=UTF8&ll=45.67932,-122.659607&spn=0.145361,0.285645&z=11 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-08-07] [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (I-205 to Woodland) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4045.722067,+-122.654914&daddr=45.905808,-122.742326&hl=en&geocode=2615328488936770894,45.722067,-122.654914&mra=mi&mrsp=1&sz=16&sll=45.906091,-122.742541&sspn=0.004524,0.008926&ie=UTF8&ll=45.842194,-122.703552&spn=0.289873,0.571289&z=10 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-08-07] [cite map |publisher=GM Johnson |location=Burnaby, British Columbia |title=Vancouver, Clark County |url=http://store.maplink.com/map.aspx?nav=MS&cid=10056,10078&pid=522996 |year=2007 |edition=2007 |series=City Street Map |accessdate=2008-08-08] cite map |publisher=Rand McNally |title=The Road Atlas |year=2008 |page=108 |isbn=0528939610] cite map |publisher=Rand McNally |title=The Road Atlas |year=2008 |page=85 |isbn=0528939610]

In Woodland, I-5 intersects SR 503 and starts to curve northwest towards Longview and Kelso. At Longview Junction, east of Longview, I-5 intersects SR 432 and continues north to Kelso. Here it intersects SR 4, formerly US 830, and SR 431 before curving northeast towards Castle Rock. In Castle Rock, the freeway intersects SR 411, and SR 504, which connects I-5 with the Mount St. Helens, Spirit Lake, and Paradise. From Castle Rock, the highway goes north to Napavine and intersects SR 506 and SR 505 before becoming concurrent with US 12 and continuing north to intersect SR 508. After the intersection, I-5 and US 12 go into Chehalis, where the highway intersects SR 6. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (Woodland to Kelso) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4045.905760,+-122.742320&daddr=46.144764,-122.897455&hl=en&geocode=17155168320402072706,45.905760,-122.742320&mra=mi&mrsp=1&sz=17&sll=46.14492,-122.896789&sspn=0.002252,0.004463&ie=UTF8&ll=46.040829,-122.845001&spn=0.288836,0.571289&z=10 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-08-07] [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (Kelso to Chehalis) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4046.144765,+-122.897451&daddr=46.660365,-122.978318&hl=en&geocode=18297652237917889392,46.144765,-122.897451&mra=mi&mrsp=1&sz=16&sll=46.660424,-122.977996&sspn=0.004462,0.008926&ie=UTF8&ll=46.420819,-122.879333&spn=0.573683,1.142578&z=9 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-08-07]

After leaving Chehalis, I-5/US 12 enters Centralia and intersects SR 507 before splitting from US 12 north of the city. As the freeway continues north towards Olympia, it intersects SR 121, which connects the highway with Millersylvania State Park and loops back to I-5. As the freeway enters Tumwater, it passes the Olympia Airport before intersecting the northern terminus of US 101. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (Chehalis to Tumwater) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4046.660364,+-122.978328&daddr=47.020759,-122.906199&hl=en&geocode=13160257017713661414,46.660364,-122.978328&mra=mi&mrsp=1&sz=15&sll=47.021022,-122.906799&sspn=0.008865,0.017853&ie=UTF8&ll=46.873336,-123.013916&spn=0.568903,1.142578&z=9 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-08-02] [cite map |publisher=GM Johnson |location=Burnaby, British Columbia |title=Kelso, Longview, Centralia, Chehalis (Cowlitz County, Lewis County) |url=http://store.maplink.com/map.aspx?nav=MS&cid=10056,10078&pid=522934 |year=2008 |edition=2008 |series=City Street Maps |accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/InterstateGuide/i5/I5_NKalamaOreBorder.htm |title=WSDOT Interchange Viewer - Interstate 5 (Exit 1A to 32) |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-10] [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/InterstateGuide/i5/I5_WinlockToKelsoLong.htm |title=WSDOT Interchange Viewer - Interstate 5 (Exit 36 to 63) |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-10] [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/InterstateGuide/i5/I5_NNisqToNapavine.htm |title=WSDOT Interchange Viewer - Interstate 5 (Exit 68 to 118) |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-10]

Tumwater to Renton

As I-5 leaves the US 101 interchange, the highway curves east and forms the southern boundary of Olympia. The highway also goes across Capitol Lake and intersects Capitol Way, which connects the freeway to the Washington State Capitol. After leaving Olympia, I-5 goes in a northeastern direction into Lacey, where it intersects SR 510. After passing Nisqually, the highway enters Du Pont, where it enters Fort Lewis. After passing Camp Murray and American Lake, the freeway comes to the proposed western terminus of SR 704, passes McChord Air Force Base, and enters Lakewood.

In Lakewood, I-5 intersects SR 512 and continues into Tacoma, where the freeway passes the Tacoma Mall and intersects major highways, such as SR 16, I-705, SR 7, and SR 167 before going east into Fife. In Fife, the highway intersects SR 99, a small portion of US 99 through the Puget Sound region, and then enters Federal Way. Here the freeway intersects the western terminus of SR 18, which has been proposed to be renumbered to I-605 after being upgraded to Interstate standards.

After also intersecting SR 516, the highway passes Angle Lake, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and Westfield Southcenter before going into an interchange with I-405 and SR 518. SR 518 connects I-5 to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and I-405 bypasses I-5 through Seattle. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (Tumwater to Renton) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4047.020760,+-122.906216&daddr=47.462828,-122.264185&hl=en&geocode=12447000479584880733,47.020760,-122.906216&mra=mi&mrsp=1&sz=15&sll=47.46161,-122.264142&sspn=0.008791,0.017853&ie=UTF8&ll=47.320207,-122.514038&spn=1.12828,2.285156&z=8 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-08-02] [cite map |publisher=GM Johnson |location=Burnaby, British Columbia |title=Tacoma, Puyallup |url=http://store.maplink.com/map.aspx?nav=MS&cid=10056,10078&pid=522987 |year=2005 |edition=2005 |series=City Street Maps |accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite map |publisher=GM Johnson |location=Burnaby, British Columbia |title=Tacoma City Pearl |url=http://store.maplink.com/map.aspx?nav=MS&cid=10056,10078&pid=522966 |year=2003 |edition=2003 |series=Pearl City Maps |accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite map |publisher=GM Johnson |location=Burnaby, British Columbia |title=Renton, Auburn, Kent, Federal Way |url=http://store.maplink.com/map.aspx?nav=MS&cid=10056,10078&pid=522978 |year=2008 |edition=2008 |series=City Street Maps |accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/InterstateGuide/i5/I5_SeaTacToDupont.htm |title=WSDOT Interchange Viewer - Interstate 5 (Exit 119 to 152)/Interstate 705 |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-10] cite map |publisher=Rand McNally |title=The Road Atlas |year=2008 |page=110 |isbn=0528939610]

Renton to Shoreline

From the I-405/SR 518 interchange, I-5 goes north and intersects SR 599, which connects I-5 to SR 99, and SR 900. From the interchanges, the highway passes Boeing Field and the West Seattle Bridge before having a large interchange with I-90. After the interchange, I-5 intersects SR 519 and enters Seattle.

In downtown Seattle, I-5 becomes a tunnel passing under the Washington State Convention and Trade Center and Freeway Park. Once I-5 begins to rise from the tunnel, it passes over the I-5 Colonnade and then intersects the western terminus of SR 520, which goes to Bellevue via the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. From the interchange with SR 520, the freeway goes north along the Ship Canal Bridge over the Lake Washington Ship Canal and passes the University of Washington before entering Northgate.

Within the neighborhood of Northgate, the highway intersects SR 522 and merges with the I-5 express lanes at the Northgate Mall. From the Northgate Mall, I-5 goes north into Shoreline and intersects SR 523 and passes a Metro Transit base before intersecting SR 104 and entering Mountlake Terrace. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (Renton to Shorline) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4047.463265,+-122.264487&daddr=47.77768,-122.317679&hl=en&geocode=3920136681435094808,47.463265,-122.264487&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=16&sll=47.777334,-122.316992&sspn=0.004369,0.008926&ie=UTF8&ll=47.682032,-122.261353&spn=0.560274,1.142578&z=9 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-08-08] cite map |publisher=GM Johnson |location=Burnaby, British Columbia |title=Seattle Map Book |url=http://store.maplink.com/map.aspx?nav=MS&cid=10056,10078&pid=522983 |year=2006 |edition=2006 |series=City Street Maps |accessdate=2008-08-08] cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/InterstateGuide/i5/I5_NLynnwoodToSeaTac.htm |title=WSDOT Interchange Viewer - Interstate 5 (Exit 154A to 182) |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-10]

eattle express lanes

Interstate 5 has a convert|7.14|mi|km|2|sing=on|lk=on|adj=on long reversible express lane within Seattle. The express lane starts at I-5 after the Yesler Way bridge and go under the northbound lanes of I-5 to intersect Cherry Street/Columbia Street. From the interchange, I-5 Express intersects Mercer Street and crosses the Ship Canal Bridge under the lanes of I-5. After the bridge ends, I-5 Express merges with I-5 in Northgate next to the Northgate Mall. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (Seattle Express Lanes) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=&daddr=&hl=en&geocode=9125062854190237861,47.603568,-122.326687&mra=mr&ie=UTF8&ll=47.632545,-122.331734&spn=0.070102,0.142822&z=12 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite map |title=WSDOT I-5 Express Lane Map |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/King/ExpressLanes/I5map.htm |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |year=2006 |accessdate=2008-08-08]

Some ramps are designated for HOV vehicles only. These ramps include Cherry Street/Columbia Street/5th Avenue, Ravenna Boulevard, and Pike Street/Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. The northbound traffic is allowed to use the express lanes from 12pm to 11pm (MondayendashFriday) and 2pm to 11pm (Saturday and Sunday). The southbound traffic is allowed to use the express lanes from 5 am to 11am (MondayendashFriday) and 7am to 1pm (Saturday and Sunday). [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/King/ExpressLanes/default.htm |title=King County Express Lanes - Schedule |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-08] cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/King/ExpressLanes/Weekend.htm |title=King County Express Lanes - I-5 Express Lane Weekend Closure Study |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-08] The express lanes are closed from 11pm to 5am from Monday to Friday and 11pm to 7am on Saturday and Sunday. WSDOT says that I-5 express lanes are closed at night because of the noise they cause; the communities around the Ship Canal Bridge and WSDOT have agreed to close the lanes at night to reduce noise by from seven to ten decibels. [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/King/ExpressLanes/Closures.htm |title=King County Express Lanes - Closures |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/InterstateGuide/I5ExpressLanes.htm |title=WSDOT Interchange Viewer - Interstate 5 Reversible Express Lanes |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-10]

horeline to Everett

After leaving Shoreline and intersecting SR 104, I-5 enters Snohomish County and Mountlake Terrace. From the interchange, the highway passes Lake Ballinger and intersects SR 524 before reachind the Alderwood Mall. Next to the mall, the freeway intersects SR 525 and I-405. From the interchange, I-5 passes Martha Lake, intersects SR 96, and passes Silver Lake before reaching the interchange between I-5, SR 99, SR 526, and SR 527 near the Everett Mall. SR 99 is part of Old US 99, SR 526 connects I-5 to the Boeing Everett Factory, and SR 527 connects Bothell with Everett.

After leaving the interchange, I-5 intersects 41st Street at a single-point urban interchange, the only one in the area. From the interchange, the freeway intersects SR 529 and then SR 529 Spur and US 2. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (Shorline to Everett) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4047.777640,+-122.317690&daddr=47.980809,-122.187806&hl=en&geocode=7192069082732249469,47.777640,-122.317690&mra=mi&mrsp=1&sz=18&sll=47.980791,-122.187635&sspn=0.001088,0.002232&ie=UTF8&ll=47.882276,-122.292938&spn=0.279062,0.571289&z=10 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008|accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite map |publisher=GM Johnson |location=Burnaby, British Columbia |title=Everett, Edmonds, Lynnwood |url=http://store.maplink.com/map.aspx?nav=MS&cid=10056,10078&pid=522923 |year=2007 |edition=2007 |series=City Street Maps |accessdate=2008-08-08]

Everett to Mount Vernon

After leaving downtown Everett and the US 2/SR 529 Spur interchange, I-5 goes north across the Snohomish River and curves northeast to an interchange with SR 529. North of the interchange, the freeway enters Marysville and intersects SR 528. The highway passes the Tulalip Resort Casino at Quil Ceda, commonly known as the Quil Ceda Creek Casino, the Marysville Water Tower, Quil Ceda Village, the Tulalip Resort Casino and Tulalip Hotel, and Lakewood Crossing before intersecting SR 531 and leaving Marysville. From the Marysville City limits, I-5 passes Smokey Point and goes northwest to Island Crossing, where the highway intersects SR 530, which connects the freeway to Arlington, Darrington, and Rockport.

After the interchange, I-5 travels over the Stillaguamish River and passes Silvana before intersecting SR 532, which goes west to Stanwood and Camano Island. As the highway curves northwest, the freeway enters Skagit County. Once in Skagit County, I-5 goes into Conway, where it intersects SR 534, which goes east to serve Big Lake. From Conway, the freeway goes north into Mount Vernon, where I-5 intersects SR 536, which serves as a shortcut to Anacortes, via SR 20 and SR 20 Spur. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (Everett to Mount Vernon) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4047.980808,+-122.187804&daddr=48.417503,-122.332914&hl=en&geocode=11387977527582576447,47.980808,-122.187804&mra=mi&mrsp=1&sz=17&sll=48.417332,-122.332388&sspn=0.002158,0.004463&ie=UTF8&ll=48.244797,-122.261353&spn=0.554203,1.142578&z=9 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008|accessdate=2008-08-08] cite map |publisher=GM Johnson |location=Burnaby, British Columbia |title=Skagit County (Mount Vernon, Anacortes) |url=http://store.maplink.com/map.aspx?nav=MS&cid=10056,10078&pid=522946 |year=2006 |edition=2006 |series=City Street Maps |accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/InterstateGuide/i5/I5_NMtVernonSEverett.htm |title=WSDOT Interchange Viewer - Interstate 5 (Exit 183 to 229) |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-10]

Mount Vernon to Blaine

After leaving downtown Mount Vernon, the freeway intersects SR 538, which serves the Skagit Valley College and Clear Lake (via SR 9). After the interchange, the highway crosses the Skagit River and enters Burlington. After passing the Cascade Mall, I-5 intersects SR 20, which goes west to Anacortes (via SR 20 Spur), Deception Pass, Whidbey Island, and Discovery Bay and SR 20 goes east to Okanogan, Omak, and Newport. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=SR 20 Overview Map |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=WA-20+%4047.987814,+-122.886368&daddr=48.480204,-121.508789+to:US-97+%4048.411060,+-119.513880+to:WA-20+%4048.591390,+-118.187580+to:WA-20+%4048.665470,+-117.475950+to:WA-20+%4048.207193,+-117.064262+to:WA-20%2FW+Walnut+St+%4048.184034,+-117.044082&hl=en&geocode=14465331844282224964,47.987814,-122.886368%3B13433695717176385689,48.411060,-119.513880%3B11573222720205184507,48.591390,-118.187580%3B3382576660373117686,48.665470,-117.475950%3B9723890516125057339,48.207193,-117.064262%3B9627659935565309058,48.184034,-117.044082&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=7&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=48.319734,-122.277832&sspn=2.213478,4.570312&ie=UTF8&ll=48.69096,-120.410156&spn=4.394576,9.140625&z=6 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-08-01] The freeway also intersects SR 11, which serves Edison, Bow, Samish Island, and Bellingham.

From the interchange, I-5 travels north and curved west on the shoreline of Lake Samish north of Alger, which is also the point where the freeway enters Whatcom County. After traveling west, I-5 curves north again and intersects SR 11 before entering Bellingham. In Bellingham, the highway intersects SR 542, which goes to Mount Baker, and SR 539, which goes to Lynden and British Columbia. The freeway passes the Bellis Fair Mall, Bellingham International Airport, and Ferndale before intersecting SR 548, which serves Blaine. Once in Blaine, I-5 intersects SR 543, which leads to the truck and freight border crossing. The freeway then intersects SR 548 again and then crosses the Canadian border into British Columbia as Highway 99 at the Peace Arch. [cite map |publisher=Google Maps |title=Map of I-5 (Mount Vernon to Blaine) |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=I-5+N+%4048.417502,+-122.332917&daddr=49.002182,-122.755995&hl=en&geocode=7506900914743932503,48.417502,-122.332917&mra=mi&mrsp=1&sz=15&sll=49.002013,-122.754922&sspn=0.008531,0.017853&ie=UTF8&ll=48.875554,-122.536011&spn=1.094655,2.285156&z=8 |cartography=NATVEQ |year=2008|accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite map |publisher=GM Johnson |location=Burnaby, British Columbia |title=Bellingham, Whatcom County |url=http://store.maplink.com/map.aspx?nav=MS&cid=10056,10078&pid=522907 |series=City Street Maps |accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/InterstateGuide/I5_CanadianBorderSoBurlington.htm |title=WSDOT Interchange Viewer - Interstate 5 (Exit 230 to 276) |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-10]

History

As part of the state's first connected state highway system, the Washington State Legislature designated the Pacific Highway between Vancouver and ), 1939]

Later in 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 which started the construction of Interstate Highways. [cite web |url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/50interstate.cfm |title=The Greatest Decade 1956-1966 Part 1 Essential to the National Interest |author=United States Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration |date=2006-07-07 |accessdate=2008-08-11] [cite web |url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/history.htm |title=History of the Interstate Highway System |author=United States Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration |accessdate=2008-08-11] In 1968, US 99 was removed from the system entirely, a year before the last portion of Interstate 5 opened on November 14, 1969. [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1961-1977.htm |title=WSDOT - History of WSDOT (1967-1977) |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-11] Legally, the Washington section of I-5 is defined at Washington Revised Code § 47.17.020. [cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=47.17.020 |title=RCW 47.17.020: State route No. 5 — Washington green highway |author=Washington State Legislature |accessdate=2008-08-10] Several projects are currently ongoing and have been completed in the recent years on I-5. [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/ |title=WSDOT - Construction Projects on Interstate 5 |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-11]

Kelso to Centralia

During the past two decades, parts of the interstate have been periodically inundated by floodwaters as a result of area storms. Floods in 1990, 1996, and 2007 each resulted in temporary closures of I-5 between the Kelso-Longview and Chehalis-Centralia areas. The causes of this problem, as noted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, are attributable to "decades of clear-cut logging, modifications of waterways, and destruction of natural flood control features within the Chehalis River basin." [cite web |url=http://www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecwb/just_states/just_2002/nwd.pdf |title=US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program, Congressional Submission, Fiscal Year 2002, Northwestern Division |author=United States Army Corps of Engineers |pages=p. 32 (report) p. 35 (PDF) |year=2002 |accessdate=2008-08-10]

The December 3, 2007, flood closed a convert|20|mi|km|adj=on section of the interstate for four days. The Washington State Department of Transportation recommended a convert|440|mi|km|adj=on detour between Portland and Seattle, by way of I-90, I-82, and I-84, adding convert|270|mi|km to the convert|170|mi|km|adj=on trip. [cite news |first=Alice |last=Fiman |authorlink=Washington State Department of Transportation |title=Interstate 5 Reopens to All Traffic Through Chehalis, Highways Still Closed Elsewhere in the State |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2007/12/07_I5_open_Chehalis.htm |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |location=Olympia, Washington |date=2007-12-12 |accessdate=2008-08-10 ] [cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/2007Flood/ |title=I-5 2007 Flood Re-building Project |author=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=2008-08-10] [cite news |first=Alissa |last=Bateman |authorlink=Washington State Department of Transportation |title=I-5 Remains Closed in Lewis County |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2007/12/04_Media_Update.htm |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |location=Olympia, Washington |date=2007-12-04 |accessdate=2008-08-10 ]

eattle

South of the Ship Canal Bridge Interstate 5 separates the Eastlake and Cascade neighborhoods from the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and separates Downtown Seattle from the Capitol Hill and First Hill neighborhoods. Its construction necessitated the demolition of significantly developed areas and cut off walking commutes to downtown for many First Hill residents, who "were by far the most vociferous critics of the proposed route,"cite web | url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=4167 | title=First Hill neighborhood objects to the Seattle Freeway route at a public hearing on September 13, 1961 | publisher=HistoryLink | author=Paula Becker | date=2003-04-30 | accessdate=2007-11-07] but far from the only ones. Architect Paul Thiry said in the early 1970s, "It was with the Freeway, cutting through the very heart of the city, that Seattle began taking one of its wrong turns and started to lose its identity as a city." He proposed a lid extending from Columbia Street north to Olive Way, roughly the entire length of downtown. [cite book
first = Nard| last = Jones| year = 1972| title = Seattle| publisher = Doubleday| id = ISBN 0-385-01875-4| pages = p. 21]

Among the buildings torn down in the Downtown-First Hill area to build the freeway was the Hotel Kalmar at Sixth Avenue and James Street (built 1881 as the Western Hotel, demolished 1962), the last of Seattle's pioneer-era hotels, predating the Great Seattle Fire, [Victor Steinbrueck, "Seattle Cityscape", University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1962, p. 43.] [cite web | url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=2571 | title=Now & Then -- Seattle's Kalmar Hotel | publisher=HistoryLink | author=Paul Dorpat | date=1999-01-01 | accessdate=2007-11-07] and Seattle's then-oldest public building, the Seventh Avenue Fire Hall (built 1890, demolished c. 1962).

In the years since the freeway's construction, Seattle has made several efforts to stitch back together pedestrian routes disrupted by the freeway, achieving part of Thiry's proposed "lid". The most visible of these efforts are Freeway Park (opened 1976), built as a lid over the freeway and connecting Downtown to First Hill, and the Washington State Convention and Trade Center (built 1982-1988) adjacent to Freeway Park, also bridging the freeway. The 7.5 acre I-5 Colonnade mountain bike park (opened 2007) uses the freeway as a roof and reconnects Eastlake to Capitol Hill. [cite news | url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/309155_colonnade29.html | title=Mountain-bike club reclaims a wasteland | author=Greg Johnston | publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date=2007-03-29 | accessdate=2007-11-07]

eattle to Everett

The convert|19.7|mi|km section between Seattle and Everett was opened on February 3, 1965 by Miss Sno-King Rose Clare Menalo of Meadowdale High School. [cite book |author=David A. Cameron |coauthors=Lynne Grimes, Jane Wyatt |editor=David A. Cameron, Jane Wyatt |others=cover design by James D. Kramer |title=Snohomish County: An Illustrated History |year=2005 |publisher=Kelcema Books LLC |isbn=0-9766700-0-3 |chapter=Chapter 11: 1965-2004] [Cameron 2004, pp. 331, 332, "On February 3, 1965, Rose Clare Menalo of Meadowdale High School, Miss Sno-King, cut the ribbon which opened the long awaited 19.7 miles of the Everett to Seattle section of the new I-5 freeway."]

Everett to Mount Vernon

The portion of I-5 from US 2 / SR 529 Spur in Everett to SR 528 in Marysville opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 14, 1969 by Devvie Herivel, Miss Everett, and Katherine Smith, Miss Marysville. This was the last portion of Interstate 5 from California to Canada that was opened, free of traffic lights and draw bridges. [Cameron 2004, p. 332, "It was still another year later when on May 14, 1969 Devvie Herivel, Miss Everett, and Katherine Smith, Miss Marysville, snipped the ribbon of the four-mile stretch across the Snohomish River flats to open a route free of traffic signals and draw bridges, finally linking Canada and California. Harold Walsh, state highways commissioner from Everett was master of ceremonies at the dedication taking place on the new Steamboat Slough bridge.] The stretch of I-5 from Marysville to Mount Vernon was already opened as a 4-lane divided highway without overpasses. [Cameron 2004, p. 332, "North if Marysville, where there was already a divided highway, it was mostly the matter of building overpasses along Highway 99 at such places as Island Crossing, Lakewood, and Stimson Crossing."]

Exit list

References