🚗 The I-5 JBLM Project Is Done. So Why Does the Drive to Nisqually Still Feel Like This?

If you drive I-5 between JBLM and Lacey, you already have opinions. Here is what changed this year, why the stretch near Nisqually can still feel like a parking lot, and a question for you at the end.

The good news first. WSDOT now lists its I-5 Mounts Road to Steilacoom-DuPont Road project as complete. The roughly $240 million job started in August 2023 and added HOV lanes in both directions between Mounts Road and Steilacoom-DuPont Road, which opened in June. It also replaced a 1957 overpass at exit 119 with Washington's third diverging diamond interchange, which opened in March, plus a roundabout and a protected path linking JBLM and DuPont.

So why does it still back up? Mostly because the bottleneck moved south. Past Mounts Road, the freeway narrows again as it crosses the Nisqually River delta toward Lacey, and WSDOT's own planning documents note the northbound Nisqually River bridge dates to 1937 and is nearing the end of its expected service life. Add roughly 125,000 vehicles on a typical weekday and around 106,000 daily trips generated by JBLM, and one fender bender can ripple for miles.

The fix for that stretch is still on paper. WSDOT is studying I-5 from Marvin Road (exit 111) to Mounts Road (exit 116): an HOV lane each way, new Nisqually delta bridges, separating the BNSF rail crossing, and a path between Lacey and DuPont. A draft environmental report is due this fall and a final decision is expected in early 2028, but only design and right-of-way are funded so far. There is no construction scheduled yet.

Until then, the best tool is checking before you go. WSDOT's Travel Center Map shows live conditions and cameras.

Now your turn. How are you getting through this drive? A podcast, a playlist, an audiobook, or just you and the sweet sound of brake pads? Drop it in the comments. We might share the best answers in Friday's newsletter.

Details:

• Completed: I-5 Mounts Rd to Steilacoom-DuPont Rd, about $240 million, HOV lanes both directions, new exit 119 interchange

• Still to come: I-5 Marvin Rd to Mounts Rd (exits 111 to 116), in planning, final decision expected early 2028, no construction scheduled

• Live traffic: WSDOT Travel Center Map at wsdot.wa.gov

Real estate note: commute time shapes where people buy in the South Sound. For JBLM families, Lacey and Hawks Prairie are popular picks for more space, and DuPont puts you minutes from the gate. Knowing how the I-5 projects are progressing helps you weigh which side of the Nisqually makes sense for your daily drive.