Cleared: I-5 Reopens After Flooding Closure

GRAND MOUND, WA — I-5 has reopened after flooding early Friday forced the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to close a 20-mile segment of the highway in both directions.

The closure, which began overnight as the Chehalis overflowed its bounds and poured onto the highway, was in effect between Grand Mound (milepost 88) and US 12 south of Chehalis (milepost 68). Initial forecasts predicted that the flooding would linger through at least Sunday morning.

"Crews closed the highway earlier today out of an abundance of caution when they saw flood water quickly rising towards the roadway and flood gauges raising," WSDOT said in a news release. "Water has stopped rising in the area of concern which allowed WSDOT to reopen the highway. WSDOT does not take the decision to close any highway lightly and bases all decisions on safety of the traveling public and our crews."

Flooding closures do remain in place along SR-6 and SR-507 in the area. The northbound I-5 off ramp to Main Street in Chehalis also remains closed.

That's good news for drivers because that closure, plus the closures in the mountain passes, meant Puget Sound residents were effectively cut off from travelling south or east, as there is not an easy way around I-5 in that area.

While wild weather continues to impact Washington's roadways, WSDOT is offering a few tips to make travel easier:

• Check the WSDOT travel map for the latest closures, restrictions and alerts.
• Look up real time travel data.
• Follow WSDOT on Twitter and Facebook for updates.
• Pre-program 530 AM and 1610 AM to vehicle radios for highway advisory radio alerts.
• Pack chains and other winter driving essentials.
• Check current chain and traction requirements on the new WSDOT mountain passes webpage.