Flooded Stretch of I-5 in Washington State to Reopen Friday

The Washington state Department of Transportation plans to reopen a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 5 Friday afternoon near Chehalis, Wash., that was closed for two days due to heavy flooding, the Associated Press reported.

WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond told radio station KIRO that crews were checking the Chehalis River levees following heavy rains and flooding that that prompted officials to close the busy highway between Chehalis to near Olympia, Wash., on Wednesday, AP said.

About 10,000 trucks a day use I-5 through Chehalis, and the closure was costing truckers about $4 million a day to detour, AP reported, citing WSDOT.

The National Weather Service said the Chehalis River crested Thursday night 7 feet above flood stage but should fall back below flood stage early Saturday, AP said.