Marvin Road I-5 overpass opens as diverging diamond interchange after weekend work

LACEY, Wash. — Weekend work on the diverging diamond Interchange in Lacey has been completed ahead of schedule, officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation announced Sunday.

The interchange and ramps on the Marvin Road I-5 overpass were closed Friday to allow crews to rebuild the overpass into a diverging diamond, which is now open to drivers.

WSDOT officials said as crews finish up some additional work on the overpass, they plan to keep traffic moving in the new configuration and added congestion will until mid-September.

Drivers are being advised to travel early or late in the day, consolidate trips or use alternative routes to avoid the congestion until the work is finished.

It is the first interchange of its kind in Washington and the WSDOT says it’s designed to reduce the number of crashes and ease congestion.

A video from the WSDOT’s YouTube channel showed what the new flow of traffic would look like.

The new interchange will move drivers so they cross the overpass on the left side of the road, allowing those in the far left lane to have a free turn onto the interstate without stopping.

Cox Media Group