By Craig Sailor

The News Tribune

Road work on the Interstate 5 and state Route 16 interchange in Tacoma over the next two weekends could create a “miles-long backup,” the state Department of Transportation is warning.

The work will occur in the northbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street and Route 16. The exit will be reduced to one lane around-the-clock. Crews will be replacing concrete panels.

The restrictions will run from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday and again from 10 p.m. Feb. 7 to 5 a.m. Feb. 10. Bad weather could cause the work to be rescheduled, WSDOT said.

The HOV connection from northbound I-5 to westbound Route 16 will be open to single-occupant vehicles while the work is under way. There is no access from the Route 16 HOV lane to Union Avenue or Sprague Avenue.

More information on closures can be found at TacomaTraffic.com and real time updates can be found at the WSDOT regional Twitter feed.