MARYSVILLE – With more rain expected in the days ahead, this weekend’s plan to replace expansion joints on southbound Interstate 5 near Marysville has been postponed.

For the second week in a row, a wet weather forecast has prompted state Department of Transportation contractor crews to delay this work to the following weekend.

Dry conditions are needed Friday night for crews to paint temporary lane striping and again Sunday night to restripe the highway to its original configuration.

If the weather cooperates, drivers heading south on I-5 through Marysville will now need to plan ahead for lane reductions Friday night, March 11, until Monday morning, March 14. WSDOT encourages travelers to carpool or travel early or late in the day.

This will be the first of eight weekend-long lane reductions that will give crews the space they need to replace aging and deteriorating expansion joints on the Steamboat Slough and Ebey Slough bridges.

Southbound I-5 lane reduction details:

•Lanes will begin closing at 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 11.

•Two narrower lanes will be open through the construction zone.

•Speed limits will be reduced to 40 mph.

•Only one lane will be open overnight, generally from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.

•All lanes will reopen by 4 a.m. Monday, March 14.

•The work is weather dependent and could be rescheduled due to extreme cold or rain.