Date:
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Contact:
Al Gilson, Public Information Officer
(509) 324-6015
gilsona@wsdot.wa.gov
The I-90/Downtown Spokane freeway project wrap-up process is back on track. After a quick concrete re-pour of a short piece on the Division Street eastbound off-ramp over the weekend, the contractor is now proceeding with the finishing schedule.
With the job winding down motorists will notice substantial changes each day as they travel through the construction zone. Drivers should be alert to these changes and be prepared to follow new signing and striping in some locations. As always, the schedule is very dependent on continued dry weather conditions for paint striping.
Here is what drivers can expect over the next few days:
Monday, the City of Spokane switched the downtown traffic signal system back to pre-construction timing cycles. As a result, a transition period running through Friday morning will occur resulting in some locations receiving some "green" time with little traffic demand. Two of these areas are the Division Street eastbound off-ramp and the Lincoln Street westbound off-ramp. With this return to the typical signal system operation, many of the traffic lights in the downtown area will be on "flash" during the early morning hours until 6:00 a.m. Motorists may experience some delays.
Now through Friday there will be many interim lane shifts while striping and barrier modifications are completed. Motorists should expect some sections of I-90 to be reduced to one lane during the evening and overnight hours as the contractor removes temporary lane markings, detour signs, and barriers, then uncovers permanent signs and repaints the normal lane markings.
Starting at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening the westbound Altamont St. on-ramp will be closed until 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning. This is needed to provide a safer traffic flow and fewer merging conflicts for the work to the west.
By Thursday mornings’ commute, the westbound lanes will be returned to "pre-construction" normal configuration with all westbound on and off ramps open. The westbound I-90 speed limit will be returned to 60 mph. The eastbound speed limit will remain at 45 mph.
By Friday morning, the eastbound lanes will be returned to normal, on the new surface, with all eastbound ramps open and the eastbound speed limit returned to 60 mph.
In addition, detour and alternate route signing will be removed and/or reconfigured throughout the week. There are over 100 signs scattered throughout the city that will need to come down near the end of the week when the ramps re-open. As a result, there will be time near the end of the week where construction signs advising motorists about ramps that are open or closed during the construction phases may conflict with permanent signing directing motorists to traditionally open ramps. It is WSDOT's intent to remove these signs as quickly as possible, but drivers need to understand that it may take a few days to get all the temporary signs on the city streets removed. Both sets of signs will ultimately bring the motorist to an open ramp for the desired direction of travel.
After traffic is returned to normal the contractor will only have a few minor items to complete on the drainage system. This work will take place in the various parking areas under the freeway and will not affect I-90 traffic.
Again, the Washington state Department of Transportation and the contractor, Degerstrom/Acme Joint Venture appreciate drivers patience over the next few days as this project finishes up for the 2006 construction season.
< Back to News Home