Date:
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Contact:
Contact: Broch Bender, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4788 (Seattle)
SEATTLE – With the exception of the major police activity in the middle of the day on southbound I-5 in downtown Seattle, everything ran smoothly on the first full weekend day of work under the Convention Center and near I-90.
Crews are making good progress on replacing 41 broken and cracked concrete panels. At this time, WSDOT contractor crews are on target to open all southbound lanes to traffic on Monday, Feb. 16 at 5 a.m.
Traffic
Traffic engineers monitoring I-5 with cameras and traffic detection systems noticed an uptick in congestion as early as 8:30 a.m. Drivers quickly figured out they could use the southbound express lanes to get into Seattle and the I-90 exit ramp from mainline I-5 to get through Seattle.
Once word got out that these were good options, traffic delays never stretched beyond 30 minutes in both the express lanes and on the mainline.
While it will take a few days to get the actual data, engineers say it appears many drivers took alternates routes including I-405 which saw heavier traffic than usual. North-south routes in the city of Seattle also saw heavier traffic.
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).
Progress on the job
Crews have made great progress today. They remove one concrete panel under the Convention Center and 19 panels near I-90. The areas are prepped and crews are close to pouring concrete in the next couple hours. It takes 18 hours for the concrete to cure.
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:
WSDOT’s up-to-the minute Web-based traveler information at
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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