I-5 Onramp At Alderwood Switched For Construction

LYNNWOOD - The northbound onramp to Interstate 5 at 196th Street Southwest, across from Alderwood Mall, will be closed for more than a month beginning Thursday.

But motorists still will be able to get onto northbound I-5, using a new onramp at Poplar Way and Alderwood Mall Parkway.

The change is part of the city's $71 million improvement project for the 196th Street interchange, which is being transformed into a "full diamond" interchange.

Such interchanges allow drivers to exit or enter the freeway from either direction. Lynnwood now is served by two half-interchanges, at 44th Avenue West and 196th.

The improvements to the east side of the 196th Street Southwest interchange are expected to be completed by mid-November, depending on the weather. A stretch of Poplar Way between Alderwood Mall Parkway and 196th also is expected to reopen in November. The lanes on the west side of the freeway that will allow full access to I-5 won't be complete until 1999.

Stephen Clutter's phone message number is 425-745-7808. His e-mail address is:

sclu-new@seatimes.com