I-5 in Washington State reopens after derailment cleanup
Dec. 21, 2017
All three lanes are expected to be open by today
Less than two and a half days after an Amtrak train derailed near DuPont, Wash., killing three and sending cars and debris onto I-5, state officials opened two of three southbound lanes in time for Wednesday’s evening commute.
The third lane is expected to open Thursday morning after the final debris is cleared.
Earlier Wednesday, Washington State Department of Transportation and state patrol moved the last car, a 275,000-lb locomotive, slowly up the closed section of the interstate and into a secure area at Joint Base Lewis-McChord where the other cars had been trucked for the investigation into causes of the crash.
The derailment sent cars scattering along the tracks, across the bridge over which the train was crossing and hanging unsteadily above I-5.
Crews worked around the clock to untangle and move the cars, sometimes in heavy rain and strong winds.
