Date:  Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Contact: Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4698
Patty Michaud, WSDOT Communications, I-5 sign work, 206-716-1133

Closures on I-5 near Boeing Field, Ship Canal bridge, Viaduct and Aurora Bridge

SEATTLE – WSDOT crews plan a busy weekend of work on two of Puget Sound’s major roadways. Drivers heading to and from Seattle should plan ahead to minimize delays.

“We have a lot of work to get done before the fall rain starts,” said Lorena Eng, Northwest Regional Administrator. “The work we need to accomplish this weekend includes pouring concrete for a new sign bridge, maintenance work on the Ship Canal Bridge and continuing our inspection of the Aurora Bridge.”

Completing this work over the weekend allows us to avoid disrupting traffic during the weekday commute when volumes are heavier.

I-5 sign work
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/ActiveTrafficManagement/  

Crews are building the foundation for a large sign bridge in the narrow median between north and southbound I-5. Crews will pour concrete early Saturday morning. After 36 hours, crews can remove the barriers, complete other tasks and reopen the lane. Drivers can expect the following closures:

• Friday, Oct. 2 – Monday, Oct. 5 – Crews will close the HOV lane on northbound I-5 from the Duwamish River to SR 900 around-the-clock from 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct 5.
• Sunday, Oct. 4 – Crews will close the HOV lane on southbound I-5 from SR 900 to the Duwamish River from 7 – 11 a.m.

There are other projects and events drivers need to know about.


Ship Canal Bridge maintenance
Bridge maintenance crews plan to close lanes on the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge this weekend for ongoing maintenance work.

• Saturday, Oct. 3 – The right lane on the northbound upper deck will be closed from daylight to 9 a.m. The right lane of the southbound upper deck will be closed from 9 – 9:30 a.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 4 – The right lane on the northbound upper deck will be closed from daylight to 10 a.m.

Aurora Bridge inspection
WSDOT bridge inspectors will be out on the Aurora Bridge for a second weekend.
Inspectors will use an under bridge inspection truck to look at the steel trusses which support the bridge deck. The Aurora Bridge is inspected every two years.

• Saturday, Oct. 3 – The right southbound lane on the bridge will be closed from daylight to 9 a.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 4 – The right northbound lane will be closed from daylight to 11 a.m. for inspection work.

Viaduct closure and Mariners games
This weekend, thousands of walkers will participate in the Puget Sound Heart Walk. The route takes walkers onto the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

• Saturday, Oct. 3 – Both decks of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed from 8:15 – 11:30 a.m. between the West Seattle Bridge and just north of the Battery Street Tunnel.

The Mariners also have games this weekend that could add to congestion on downtown Seattle freeways. The Mariners play the Texas Rangers on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 6:10 p.m. and again on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1:10 p.m.

To help ease the flow of traffic before and after the Mariners games, the following adjustments have been made to the I-90 express lane schedule:

• Saturday, Oct. 3 – The express lanes will be westbound from 2 – 7 p.m. The lanes will reverse to eastbound at 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 4 - The express lanes will be westbound from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. The lanes will reverse to eastbound by 3 p.m.

Know before you go
WSDOT encourages drivers to plan ahead for these lane closures and the weekend events. Allow extra time, consider alternate routes and check your commute route before leaving home. WSDOT has several resources available to help drivers plan ahead:

• For real time traffic information, go to: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/
• Check our What’s Happening Right Now page at www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today
• Call 5-1-1 before departing.
• Check the Seattle area flowmap and traffic cameras: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/
• Visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/traveltimes/ for travel times
• See travel alerts that could affect your trip: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/pugetsound.aspx

 
###

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.

< Go Back