Road Work Will Slow Traffic on Fifth Avenue Today, Yakima Officials Say

Summer road work continues in Yakima today, and city officials say your commute could be affected.

"Northbound traffic on Fifth Avenue between Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue has been restricted to a single lane because of road damage that was discovered Tuesday afternoon," a city news release warns. "Yakima Street Division crews will start working early today (July 22) to determine why portions of the northbound lanes of Fifth Avenue have begun to buckle near the Fifth Avenue Safeway store.

"Repair work will begin at 6 a.m. and hopefully will be completed by the afternoon. Northbound traffic on Fifth Avenue will be continue to be restricted to a single lane while the project is underway. While the street has an asphalt surface, large slabs of concrete make up the foundation of the roadway. Some of those slabs have shifted enough to cause vehicles to bottom out when they travel over the damaged road surface.

"During the project, traffic delays in and around the project area are likely to occur. Drivers should use alternate routes if possible until the project is completed. Access to homes in the project area will be impacted, but will be maintained when possible. Emergency vehicles will be allowed through the project area if necessary."