I-5 Northbound: Longview to the Thurston County Line
Interstate 5 Northbound
I-5 never really passes through Longview directly- the town is actually situated a little west of the freeway. Now en route to the Kelso exits, I-5 northbound encounters this mileage sign giving distances to Castle Rock, Tacoma, and Seattle. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/31/05).
As this one-mile advance sign for exit 39 shows, Longview can still be reached by taking Washington 4 westbound at Kelso. The cities of Longview and Kelso face each other from opposite sides of the Cowlitz River, though Kelso extends its borders west of the river a short distance. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/31/05).
Here is exit 39, Washington 4 westbound at Kelso. This is the Washington's eastern terminus; travel west on SR 4 (Allen Street) to cross the Cowlitz River into Longview. SR 4 continues west from Longview and eventually links with U.S. 101 north of Astoria, Oregon.
Billing itself both as the "Smelt Capital of the World" and "The City of Friendly People," the city of Kelso (pop. 11,895) takes its name from a Scottish town. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/31/05).
The second Kelso exit, exit 40, leads to N. Kelso Avenue (former SR 431) on the west side of the freeway, or Holcomb Road on the east side. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (07/31/05).
The first exit after encountered after leaving the Longview-Kelso area is exit 42, Ostrander Road and Pleasant Hill Road. Ostrander Road is a short road that crosses the freeway at exit 42 and links up with Pacific Avenue just east of the interchange. Pacific Avenue runs a parallel course to I-5, intersecting with Pleasant Hill Road a short distance north of exit 42. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/31/05).
I-5 travels north to the next interchange, exit 46, Headquarters Road. A Google search for the origin of the place name along the road proved fruitless. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/31/05).
A one-half mile advance sign announces the upcoming I-5 Business Loop at exit 48 in Castle Rock. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/31/05).
The Interstate 5 Business Loop departs from the freeway at the exit 48 diamond interchange. From there it heads roughly northwest along Huntington Avenue into the community of Castle Rock (pop. 2,150). It rejoins I-5 at exit 49, and the road becomes SR 504 east of the freeway. Second image shows a directional sign for the business loop at the end of the exit ramp. One of western Washington's older communities, Castle Rock was incorporated in 1890 and its name derives from a 190-foot high volcanic formation situated at the heart of town. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (07/31/05).
This 1/2 mile advance sign (first image) for exit 49, Toutle and Castle Rock, is mounted on the Cowlitz Street overpass. Travelers looking for the most tourist-friendly route to Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument should use exit 49 (second image); Castle Rock is the jumping off point for the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway (Washington 504). Photos taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Interstate 5 reaches exit 49, Toutle, Castle Rock, and eastbound Washington 504 (Spirit Lake Memorial Highway). SR 504 ranges east from Castle Rock and into the heart of the volcanic monument, terminating at the Johnston Ridge Observatory five miles north of the volcano's crater. Mount Saint Helens is currently active, and delights visitors with periodic small eruptions of steam and ash. Other visitors' centers and attractions are also found along the drive, as is the small town of Toutle, ten miles east of Castle Rock.
Washington 411 represents the western continuation of SR 504 at exit 49. It follows Huntington Avenue to Cowlitz Street where it turns west to cross the Cowlitz River. From there, SR 411 roughly follows the western banks of the Cowlitz south back to Kelso. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is exit 52, Barnes Drive and Toutle Park Road. Notice yet another set of steel truss bridges in the background; these carry the freeway over the Toutle River. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
A diamond interchange provides access to Barnes Drive at exit 52. Barnes Drive travels north to no particular destination, paralleling I-5 on the west. To the south, it becomes the Old Pacific Highway leading back into Castle Rock. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
A mileage sign at exit 52 (first image) gives the distances to Junction U.S. 12, Chehalis, and Seattle. The Toutle River Rest Area (second image) is found about two miles north of the interchange. Nestled in a pleasant woodland setting, this is one of the nicer rest areas found along the northbound lanes of I-5 in Washington. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Northbound Interstate 5 has been at least three lanes wide since the merge with I-205 back at Salmon Creek; past the Toutle River Rest Area, it narrows to two lanes. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Exit 57, Jackson Highway, is next up; here is the one mile advance sign. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Exit 57 is positioned squarely at milepost 57; Jackson Highway travels northeast from I-5 to rendezvous with Washington 505 at Toledo. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Northbound I-5 also enters Lewis County at the exit 57 interchange. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
This I-5 reassurance shield sports a more orthodox series D font. Like most interstate shields in Washington, it is neutered. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
A one-mile advance sign for the next interchange: exit 59 for SR 506, Vader, and Ryderwood. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
I-5 crosses the Cowlitz River via another set of the now-familiar green steel truss spans (first image); exit 59 is positioned directly after the crossing. Travelers interested in using SR 506 westbound to Vader and Ryderwood must make a hard right turn onto southbound Cowlitz Loop Road. Cowlitz Loop makes a 180, passing under the freeway and heading north to the intersection with SR 506. Vader, named for a German settler and not a Jedi, lies about three miles west along Olequa Creek. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Missed a chance to see Vader? Motorists may also take exit 60, Toledo-Vader Road. The road represents the northern continuation of SR 506 beyond exit 59. It crosses I-5 at exit 60 and offers a quicker way to Toledo for northbound traffic than does upcoming exit 63. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Another mileage sign is positioned between exits 60 and 63, providing distances to Junction U.S. 12, Centralia, and Seattle. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Exit 63 provides access to the towns of Winlock (west of I-5) and Toledo (east of I-5), both via Washington 505. According to roadsideamerica.com, Winlock is home to the "world's largest egg," a 12-foot long, 1,200-lb. fiberglass egg emblazoned with the stars and stripes. Winlock is also home to 1,166 ordinary-sized human residents. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
The next exit for northbound travelers is exit 68, U.S. 12 eastbound to Morton and Yakima, as this advance sign announces. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
U.S. 12 ranges east to cross the Cascade Range, passing just south of Mount Rainier National Park. The park can be accessed at junctions with SR 7 on the west end, or SR 123 on the east end. The northern entrance to Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument departs from Randle, also along U.S. 12. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches exit 68, U.S. 12 eastbound to Morton and Yakima. Morton is 30 miles distant; Yakima is 137. Once across the Cascade crest, U.S. 12 slowly descends into the dry side of Washington State, where annual rainfall totals are a fraction of those of the west side. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Northbound Interstate 5 and westbound U.S. 12 share the same pavement for 20 miles before U.S. 12 departs for the coast at exit 88B. Note the curiously blank milepost. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Northbound Interstate 5 and westbound U.S. 12 share the same pavement for 20 miles before U.S. 12 departs for the coast at exit 88B. Note the curiously blank milepost. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
We're now less than 100 miles from the Emerald City, as this mileage sign shows. Distances are also given to Chehalis and the state capital, Olympia. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Exit 71, Washington 508 eastbound, Napavine, and Onalaska is the next interchange. Head east on SR 508 for the small town of Onalaska, or turn left at the end of the exit ramp and follow Forest-Napavine Road west to the equally small town of Napavine. SR 508 travels east of the interchange, following a course roughly parallel with U.S. 12, terminating at SR 7 in Morton. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Unlike the first set of I-5 / U.S. 12 reassurance shields posted after exit 68, this set shares the same signpost. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Exit 72 is for Rush Road. Taking Rush Road south from the interchange leads back to Napavine. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Heading north from exit 72, Interstate 5 closes in on the twin cities of Chehalis and Centralia. As the freeway gets closer to the Puget Sound population belt, high-voltage power lines crossing the freeway become an increasingly common sight. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Chehalis, population 7,057 (2000) is the Lewis County seat and is the first of two towns that Interstate 5 will now encounter. Situated just east of the Chehalis river, the town's name means "sand." The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis are based in nearby Oakville. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
The first Chehalis exit is exit 76, 13th Street. Motorists following 13th Street northeast from the exit will head into town; traveling southwest across the freeway leads to Stan Hedwall Park. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
This 3/4-mile advance sign announces exit 77, Washington 6 west to Pe Ell and Raymond. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Interstate 5 travels north where it encounters this sign at exit 77 which, for some reason, is lacking a directional arrow. From exit 77, Washington 6 travels west to the Washington coast, passing through Pe Ell and terminating at U.S. 101 in Raymond near the east end of Willapa Bay. Traveling east from the interchange, Main Street leads to the Chehalis city center. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
The third and final Chehalis exit is found at the north end of town: exit 79, Chamber Way. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
It's only four miles to the larger town of Centralia, as this sign below the Chamber Way overpass shows. Seattle is now but 86 miles distant. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
The first Centralia exit is exit 81, northbound Washington 507 and Mellen Street. SR 507 heads roughly northeast from Centralia, passing through the towns of Bucoda, Tenino, and Yelm. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Interstate 5 enters the city of Centralia (pop 14,742 in 2000) at the exit 81 interchange. East of the interchange, SR 507 (Mellen Street) heads into town and is routed down the Pearl Street/ Tower Avenue one-way couplet. According to the city's website, Centralia was founded in 1875 by a former slave named--believe it or not--George Washington. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
A half-mile advance sign (first image) announces the last Lewis County exit: exit 82, Harrison Avenue and Factory Outlet Way. Northbound Interstate 5 crosses yet another steel truss bridge, this one spanning the Skookumchuck River, prior to the interchange (second image). Photos taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
I-5 meets exit 82, Harrison Avenue and Factory Outlet Way at a diamond interchange. The stores of the Centralia Factory Outlets are located along Harrison Avenue on both sides of the freeway. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (09/10/05).
Interstate 5 leaves Centralia and crosses the Thurston County line north of exit 82. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/29/05).
Sources:
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and The Association of Engineering Geologists (AEG).
