Date:  Monday, May 04, 2009

Contact: Patrick Conrad, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4788 (Seattle)

SEATTLE – WSDOT contractor crews working to repair some of the worst spots on I-5 had a successful weekend repairing 46 concrete panels. Four weekends remain for concrete repair, though crews will continue to close lanes at night to grind down uneven pavement through the summer.

I-5 at the SR 520 interchange
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/seattlepavementrepair/

This weekend, drivers on southbound I-5 saw backups reach as high as 26 minutes through the construction area. With the express lanes running in the southbound direction all weekend, northbound drivers experienced backups as high as eight miles. Crews spent the weekend replacing cracked and broken concrete panels on southbound I-5 between Roanoke Street and Lakeview Boulevard. Crews also worked on northbound I-5, grinding down rough pavement from NE 45th Street to NE 145th Street. Together, the concrete panel and grinding work tackles the worst areas on I-5 between south Seattle and Shoreline.

This $21 million project supports more than 200 jobs and provides work for nearly 20 Washington state companies.

I-90 floating bridge closed for three weeks
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/HomerHadleyBridgeRepair/

The I-90 express lanes closed at 12:01 this morning as crews began work on repairing the expansion joints. The lanes will be closed round-the-clock from May 4-23. Congestion is expected westbound in the morning and eastbound in the evening. Contractor crews are replacing massive steel expansion joints that help the bridge to flex with wind, water and weather.
Crews shift to the westbound mainline lanes July 5-28, funneling all westbound traffic into the express lanes. It could take an hour or more to cross the lake, drivers should plan for longer commutes or find alternate routes.

This $8.3 million project supports an estimated 80 jobs.

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