Date:  Friday, May 15, 2009

Contact: Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4475 (Seattle)
Quick info link: www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today

Hood Canal Bridge remains closed through mid-June

SEATTLE – It’s going to be a busy weekend in the Seattle area: WSDOT contractor crews will continue to work and close lanes on I-5 in Seattle and the Seattle Mariners play five games at home.

For drivers heading to downtown events, the best advice is to know before you go. Beat the rush by planning ahead.

WSDOT crews will close lanes at night on I-5 in Shoreline and Seattle to replace cracked and broken concrete panels and restripe the roadway. The I-90 express lanes will reopen Saturday evening – a week sooner than previously scheduled.

I-5 in north Seattle and Shoreline
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/seattlepavementrepair/

• Friday, May 15, crews will close three of four lanes on southbound I-5 between 185th and 145th streets from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday morning to replace concrete panels.
• Saturday, May 16, crews will close three of four lanes on northbound I-5 at Northgate Way from 10 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday, May 17, to replace concrete panels.
• The northbound I-5 exit to Northgate Way will also close from 11 p.m. Saturday until 9 a.m. Sunday. A signed detour will take drivers to 130th Street.

The I-5 express lanes will remain open Saturday night running northbound until Sunday at 9 a.m. The express lanes will run southbound at 10 a.m. All entrances will be open with the exception of the main entrance from mainline northbound I-5 near Seneca Street.

The concrete panel replacement work tackles the worst bumpy 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.

Northbound I-5 in downtown Seattle
www.soundtransit.org/i5undercrossing

• Crews working for Sound Transit are preparing the ground beneath I-5 to make way for the tunnel boring machine that they will use to construct the 3.15-mile light rail tunnel extension between downtown Seattle and the University of Washington.
• Saturday, May 16, crews will reduce northbound I-5 to one lane from Spokane Street to Olive Way. Crews will begin closing lanes at 9:30 p.m. All northbound I-5 traffic will be shifted to the I-90/I-5 collector-distributor at midnight.
• The on-ramp to northbound I-5 from University Street will close at 9 p.m.
• The on-ramp to northbound I-5 from Cherry Street will close at 10 p.m. All of the on-ramps and lanes of I-5 will reopen by 6 a.m., Sunday, May 17.
• The Olive Way off-ramp will close for one year beginning May 18.

I-90 express lane closures end one week early
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/HomerHadleyBridgeRepair/

The I-90 express lanes will reopen to carpools, vanpools, buses and Mercer Island drivers Saturday, May 16. Crews have completed their work to replace the two, massive, steel, expansion joints that help the bridge flex with wind, water and weather.

Drivers are encouraged to check the Web or get their information from traffic radio reports Saturday afternoon as we may be able to open the roadway earlier, possibly in time for the Mariner’s game Saturday evening.

This $8.3 million project supports an estimated 80 jobs.

Seattle-area events
Several local events at Key Arena and Safeco Field will have drivers hitting the highways and local streets this weekend. More information can be found at:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/King/Construction/#BlueSpecialEventsHeader

Hood Canal Bridge
The Hood Canal Bridge is now closed for six weeks. www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr104hoodcanalbridgeeast/

What should drivers do?

• Plan for delays on I-5 through Seattle this weekend, especially in advance of the Mariners games.
• Check the Web for the latest information at www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today.
• Check the Seattle traffic map to pinpoint and avoid congestion www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle
• Use the overhead freeway signs and the 511 driver information line to get up-to-the minute information on the road.
• Call our I-90 information hot line at 206-440-4444. The hot line is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Leave a message and your call will be returned.

For more detailed closure information on these projects and other work this weekend, drivers should bookmark www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009 and check the “What’s happening right now” link.

< Back to News Home