Project Spotlight: Transforming the I-5 Corridor with Award-Winning Infrastructure
Positively impacting the environment, local communities, and traffic flow—and earning industry recognition for it? Just another day’s work for the Jacobs team.
Enhancing Connectivity and Safety on I-5
Jacobs recently served as the lead designer for general contractor Guy F. Atkinson on a critical 4.5-mile widening project of the I-5 corridor. This complex infrastructure project involved:
- Reconstructing two major interchanges.
- Providing grade separation over the existing Sound Transit rail line.
- Improving vital access to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) and the community of Tillicum.
“Implementing critical infrastructure systems like this I-5 corridor improvement project establishes the backbone of productive and economically strong communities,” says Jacobs Senior Vice President West, Katus Watson.
Innovation Through Design-Build Excellence
The project’s success was fueled by an Alternative Technical Concept (ATC) that simplified future expansions and optimized the current footprint. A key highlight was the redesign of the Thorne Lane interchange.
By moving from a “dog bone” bridge design to a two-bridge configuration, the Jacobs/Atkinson team:
- Simplified the structural design.
- Eliminated grade-related safety concerns.
- Improved traffic staging and local access throughout the construction phase.
Award-Winning Collaboration
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) has recognized this project, a testament to the dedication of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Jacobs/Atkinson Design-Build team. Together, we are keeping residents safer and more connected to the resources that matter most.
