News / Northwest

I-5 in Thurston and Lewis counties reopens after flood closureFree

By The Columbian and wire services

Published: January 7, 2022, 12:55pm

A sign warns drivers of a section of Interstate 5 that is closed ahead due to rising flood water from the Chehalis River, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, near Rochester, Wash. Rain and snow continued to fall across the Pacific Northwest Friday, causing flooding and concerns about avalanche danger in the mountains. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A 20-mile stretch of Interstate 5 is open again in Lewis and Thurston counties after flooding forced the closure before 8 a.m. Friday.

The north and southbound closure was between mileposts 68 and 88, making I- 5 inaccessible between U.S. 12 and state Route 6. It reopened about 1 p.m.

Areas of Lewis County are still seeing some flooding so drivers are advised to use cation and not drive on flooded routes, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn.

The Washington State Department of Transportation started a blog to help residents keep track of closures and road issues across the state.

Northwest Storms

Southbound traffic on Interstate-5 is open through Lewis County, however, northbound traffic was shutdown on the morning, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, due to floodwaters covering parts of the road near Chehalis, Wash.

Pacific Northwest storm causes flooding, slides, shuts roads

Snow and rain continued to fall across the Pacific Northwest on Friday, causing flooding and closing portions of Washington's two major highways —…

A sign warns drivers of a section of Interstate 5 that is closed ahead due to rising flood water from the Chehalis River, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, near Rochester, Wash. Rain and snow continued to fall across the Pacific Northwest Friday, causing flooding and concerns about avalanche danger in the mountains. (AP Photo/Ted S.

I-5 in Thurston and Lewis counties reopens after flood closure

A 20-mile stretch of Interstate 5 is open again in Lewis and Thurston counties after flooding forced the closure before 8 a.m. Friday.

A landslide closed Interstate 84 between Troutdate and Hood River in both directions on Thursday.

I-84 reopens after closures due to landslide

Interstate 84 is open to all traffic again both east and westbound in Oregon after being closed between Troutdale and Hood River most of Thursday…

(Washington State Department of Transportation)

WSU Pullman campus cancels classes Monday and Tuesday

Washington State University’s Pullman campus is canceling classes on Monday and Tuesday due to inclement weather concerns and highway closures throughout the state.

All passes through the Cascades of Washington are closed. They are not anticipated to reopen until Saturday or Sunday. Interstate 84 in Oregon was closed most of Thursday but has reopened, though there is still landslide danger.

Travel along the coast is dicey with various highways closed due to flood waters. South Bend on U.S. 101 and the Willapa River, has experienced major flooding in the past day.

A similar stretch of I-5 was shut down during major flooding in 2007 — the largest flood in Centralia-Chehalis history.

Northwest Storms

Related Stories