Date:
Friday, March 13, 2009
Contact:
Contact: Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4698 (Seattle)
SEATTLE – Drivers headed to Seattle or Bellevue this weekend could face hour-long delays on Interstate 5 and State Route 520 where crews will be working on highway preservation projects. The delays are annoying, but the result will be a smoother and safer highway system.
Crews will close two of four lanes on southbound I-5 between 175th Street in Shoreline and Northgate Way in Seattle and two of three lanes on eastbound SR 520 at 130th in Bellevue. The around-the-clock closures will begin Friday night, March 13, and last until Monday morning, March 16.
The $9.4 million SR 520 work generates 94 jobs and provides work for 16 Washington companies. The $21 million I-5 work generates more than 200 jobs and provides work for 19 Washington companies.
When work is complete, drivers will notice a much smoother road and WSDOT crews will rest easy knowing drivers will have a solid road to drive on for years to come.
Detailed construction closures
I-5
- We will close two of four lanes on southbound I-5 from 175th Street in Shoreline to Northgate Way in Seattle. Closures begin at 8 p.m. on Friday. The lanes will remain closed through 5 a.m. Monday.
- All I-5 ramps remain open.
- The I-5 express lanes will run northbound between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. both weekend days. The express lanes would provide no benefit to southbound drivers because the work is north of the express lane entrance.
I-5 – Downtown Seattle
- On Friday night, crews will close two of four lanes on southbound I-5 from Mercer Street to just south of James Street in downtown Seattle. Lanes will begin closing at 10:30 p.m. and remain closed until 7:30 a.m. Saturday. The collector-distributor lanes to I-90 will be closed.
- A signed detour will route drivers onto city streets to get to I-90.
- Crews will close the Howell Street on-ramp to southbound I-5 and Union St. off-ramp from southbound I-5.
- The James Street off-ramp will remain open.
- Crews will also close up to three of four lanes on southbound I-5 from Mercer Street to just south of James Street from 9 p.m. Sunday until 5 a.m. Monday.
- One of two lanes on the collector-distributor will remain open
SR 520
- We will close two of three lanes on eastbound SR 520 at 130th Avenue NE in Bellevue. Lane closures begin at 11 p.m. Friday. Lanes will reopen Monday at 5 a.m.
- The I-90 express lanes will run eastbound all weekend.
- Local drivers may exit SR 520 at Northup Way and exit I-405 at NE 8th Street.
SR 99
- Drivers should also plan for closures on SR 99 in Seattle. The St. Patrick’s Day Dash on Sunday, March 15, will close all lanes of SR 99 between the Battery Street Tunnel and the north end of the Aurora Avenue bridge between 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. www.stpatsdash.com/
- One lane will remain open for local access. Drivers may access SR 99 from Valley Street.
What should drivers do?
These closures, notably the closures in Bellevue, could cause lengthy delays. Drivers are strongly encouraged to take alternate routes.
Drivers should
Seattle drivers traveling to Northgate can still access business and emergency services.
- Access Northgate Mall via 5th Ave NE and 15th Ave NE.
- Access Northwest Hospital by using SR 99, 1st Ave NE or Meridian.
Drivers can use Bellevue city streets to detour around the eastbound SR 520 closure. Alternate routes include:
- Northup Way
- NE 8th Street
- Bel-Red road
For more detailed closure information and other work this weekend, drivers should bookmark www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009 and check the “What’s happening now” link.
For more information about these projects and how they increase safety and improve congestion, please use the links below:
· I-5 Seattle:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/seattlepavementrepair/
· SR 520 Bellevue:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520/i405ToWLakeSamPaving/
###
WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/ or by dialing 5-1-1.
< Back to News Home