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I-5 Seattle crews make good progress during first weekend of panel replacement work

Moving Washington

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Date:  Sunday, February 15, 2009

Contact: Meghan Soptich, WSDOT Communications, 206-437-6314 (Seattle) - Media only

Crews on track to reopen lanes Monday morning

SEATTLE – Lane closures continue on southbound Interstate 5 through downtown Seattle tonight but crews are on track to open all southbound lanes to traffic by 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16. Crews are also getting ready for grinding work on northbound I-5 and will start closing lanes between South Boeing Access Road and Corson Avenue at 7 p.m. tonight.

Traffic
Traffic is flowing smoothly through the construction zone. Southbound drivers will experience the first backups approaching Roanoke Street, just south of SR 520. Drivers should allow extra time for their trips throughout the evening as crews continue their work.

On Sunday, it took drivers an average of 35 minutes to get through the work zone. Drivers can save time by using the southbound I-5 express lanes to get into Seattle through Monday morning. There are two exits for HOV drivers (5th/Columbia and Pike/Pine) and two exits for all drivers (Stewart Street and Mercer Street). Drivers headed to downtown Seattle Sunday night should also consider Aurora Avenue (SR 99) as an alternate route.

Progress on the job
Crews are now waiting for the 41 newly poured concrete panels to cure. As the fresh concrete cures, crews have been filling potholes on other less damaged concrete panels. This evening crews will remove the temporary barrier and reapply lane markings before reopening the freeway to drivers.

Have questions?
If you have a question about this weekend’s work, please drop us a note at: wsdotconstruction@wsdot.wa.gov

Follow the traffic and the progress

WSDOT has many ways you can stay on top of the traffic and the work on this project:

WSDOT’s up-to-the minute Web-based traveler information at

This $21 million project is funded by the 2003 gas tax dollars. This project puts 80 Washington union workers to work.

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