WSDOT News

Date:  Friday, October 06, 2006

Contact: Laura Johnson, WSDOT Communications,  (206) 464-1358 (Seattle)

SEATTLE – With the Oct. 1 paving deadline past and one week left before the Oct. 15 striping deadline, WSDOT crews and contractors continue their big push to complete work.  Next they’ll move into the next phase of construction season – winter construction work and planning.

WSDOT and contractor crews use fall and winter to:

• hold open houses to inform communities of next summer’s work
• get plans and permits finalized for 2007 construction
• procure equipment and materials
• work on construction projects that are less weather sensitive 

New this week

Alaskan Way Viaduct, Seattle
Both decks of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed Saturday morning, Oct. 7, for Seattle's American Heart Walk. The closure will run from approximately First Avenue South to Thomas Street, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

WSDOT bridge maintenance crews will close both decks of the Alaskan Way Viaduct for the semi-annual inspection Oct. 14 and 15 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the Saturday, Oct. 14 closure, WSDOT will host public tours between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Because the inspection is the top priority during the closure, space at this event is limited. Those who wish to attend must RSVP to viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov or leave a message at (206) 269-4421. The deadline to RSVP is tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 6). For safety reasons, no children are allowed on the tour.

I-5, downtown Seattle
The two right lanes of southbound I-5 will be closed Saturday night, Oct. 7 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. between the Stewart Street exit and Madison Street while crews repair and replace lights and install CCTV cameras under the Convention Center and Freeway Park. The Stewart Street exit will remain open. The Howell Street/Yale Avenue on-ramp, the Union Street exit, and the James Street exit will all be closed in conjunction with these lane closures from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

I-5, Mercer Street
The Seattle Department of Transportation will close the right-hand turn onto Fairview at the bottom of the Mercer Street ramp for the second of two full weekends Oct. 6 – Oct. 9. Drivers will be directed to a detour route or to alternate exits downtown. This may cause congestion on I-5. For details on the closure, go to: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/stcar_slu_cnote.htm

Issaquah Salmon Days
The 2006 Issaquah Salmon Days Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7 and 8. Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. drivers should expect heavy traffic volumes on Interstate 90 and State Routes 202 and 900.

SR 543, Blaine
Contractors working to widen the highway just south of the US/Canada border will close the designated truck lane for one-third of a mile between H and D streets on Oct. 9. The closure will last one year. This will cause significant delays at the truck crossing.  Passenger vehicles are encouraged to use the I-5 Peace Arch crossing. For more information, go to: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr543/i5_canadian.

Work continues this week

SR 9, Sumas
All lanes of Easterbrook Road (SR 9) between Morgan Road and Front Street and all lanes of East Badger Road from Garrison Road to Telegraph Road are closed until Nov. 3. During the closures, drivers will follow signed detour routes to help them around the closures. www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr9/nooksaktocherry/

I-405, Kirkland
Expect extensive nighttime lane and ramp closures next week. Crews plan to open a new lane on southbound I-405 between NE 116th and NE 85th streets on Thursday morning, Oct. 12.
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/KirklandNickelStage1
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/TotemLake

I-90, Eastgate
Weather permitting, expect extensive nighttime lane and ramp closures in both directions of I-90 at Eastgate as crews install traffic monitoring equipment. The 142nd Pl. SE bridge over I-90 is scheduled to reopen Saturday morning, Oct. 7. www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/EastgateAccess/

I-5, Tacoma
The westbound 38th Street exit from northbound I-5 (the exit to Tacoma Mall) will be closed until Oct. 24 while crews build new ramps. Thursday and Friday nights, Oct. 12-13, expect lane closures on the northbound I-5 exit to SR 16 for bridge work. Friday and Saturday nights, Oct. 13-14, the three left lanes of northbound I-5 at the M Street Bridge will be closed from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. for pothole repairs. www.tacomatraffic.com

What can drivers do?

We may sound like a broken record, but it is important that we remind drivers that there are many ways for them to get information and avoid traffic delays. Drivers should plan ahead, check our real-time traffic map and pay attention to the signs along the way.  If you can, consider alternate routes or adjusting your driving schedule to avoid the worst traffic.

Know before you go:  visit WSDOT’s Web site

• WSDOT offers several ways to get up-to-date traffic and construction information from our Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov  before you leave your home or office:
• Traffic map - The color-coded map shows where traffic is heavy and light so you can alter your commute accordingly
• Travel times - Real-time point-to-point travel times
• Traffic cameras - Take a look at traffic conditions on a growing number of highway locations throughout the Puget Sound region
• E-mail updates - Sign up for one of our many e-mail update lists. You’ll get advance notice of upcoming construction closures  delivered right to your inbox
• Construction update report - Comprehensive, seven-day advance listing of lane, ramp and road closures
• Project pages -Find your highway and see the long- and short-term construction plans

Know on the road

• 511 - This driver information phone line provides real-time traffic, incident and closure information
• Overhead and roadside electronic signs - Emergency and incident alerts and, in some Seattle-area locations during rush hours,  point-to-point travel times 
• Highway advisory radio - Yellow signs with flashing lights alert drivers to tune into radio frequencies airing construction updates
• Work zones - Watch for construction zone signs, barrels, barriers and cones.  Slow down and stay alert when driving through construction zones, not just for the construction workers, but also for you and your passengers.  Far more motorists are injured in work zone collisions than construction workers. 

WSDOT and our contractors are doing our part to stay out of your way and keep traffic moving. We do most of our work at night or on weekends when there are fewer drivers on the highway. We make every effort to limit lane closures and only close lanes when we absolutely have to. We also strive to get in, complete our work quickly, and get out, giving the roads back to drivers as quickly as possible.

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