Date:
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Contact:
Patrick Conrad, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4788 (Seattle),
Kris Olsen, WDOT Communications, 206-440-4888 (Seattle)
SEATTLE – Traffic is running smoothly and crews are making great progress on the I-5 pavement repair work on southbound I-5 in downtown Seattle this weekend. Crews are cutting apart 41 broken and cracked concrete panels and installing new stabilizing steel and concrete.
Traffic
Three out of the five southbound lanes on I-5 between Stewart Street and I-90 are closed for construction.
Most drivers understand they can use two lanes to get through Seattle. This includes the HOV lane which is open to all drivers and the I-90 exit ramp which rejoins I-5 after the work zone. Drivers must pick a lane and stay in that lane.
There is a lot of available space in the HOV lane. All drivers may use that lane.
Traffic on southbound I-5 in all lanes is beginning to pick up. We expect congestion to continue to pick up over the next several hours. Please factor delays into your travel times today.
We want to remind drivers that Seattle is open for business. Drivers can use the southbound I-5 express lanes to get into Seattle all weekend. There are two exits for HOV drivers (5th/Columbia and Pike/Pine) and two exits for all drivers (Stewart Street and Mercer Street).
Traffic is running smoothly on all other routes.
Progress on the job
Crews cut and removed five panels overnight. They expect to begin pouring concrete by noon today. At this time, we are on track to reopen all southbound I-5 lanes by 5 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 16.
Got questions?
Questions into our Ask WSDOT inbox are few and far between. If you have a question about this weekend’s work, please drop us a note at wsdotconstruction@wsdot.wa.gov
Follow the traffic and the progress
WSDOT has many ways you can stay on top of the traffic and the work on this project:
This $21 million project is funded by the 2003 gas tax dollars. This project puts 80 Washington union workers to work.
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