Date:  Friday, February 20, 2009

Contact: Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4698 (Seattle)
206-719-7535 (cell)

SEATTLE - Drivers headed into Seattle should plan for another weekend of around-the-clock lane closures. Washington State contractor crews will close three out of five lanes on northbound I-5 between the Boeing Access Road and Spokane Street from Friday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. through Monday, Feb. 23 at 5 a.m.

“Last weekend crews replaced 41 panels,” said Aleta Borschowa, WSDOT project engineer. “This weekend, we are shooting for 49. I am confident our contractor, Interstate Improvements, can get the work done.”

Weekend long northbound I-5 closures

• Up to four lanes at night on northbound I-5 from the Boeing Access Road to Spokane Street Friday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. through Monday, Feb. 23 at 5 a.m.
• Swift Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-5
• One lane of the Michigan Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-5

Nightime southbound I-5 closures

• Up to three lanes of southbound I-5 between Stewart Street and I-90 Saturday, Feb. 21 at 10 p.m. to Sunday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. and then again Sunday at 8 p.m. through Monday at 5 a.m.
• Howell Street on-ramp to southbound I-5, Union Street off-ramp to southbound I-5 at night intermittently

I-405 closures

• On Friday night, separate contractor crews working on I-405 will close up to two northbound lanes from I-90 to SE 8th Street from 8:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning. We do not believe this will cause significant congestion.

What are we doing?

Concrete panel replacement is a complicated and time consuming process. Crews cut the large 13-ton, 12-by-15 foot panels into nine small squares, like a pan of brownies. They lift each eight-inch deep square out with a backhoe and dump it into the back of a truck which hauls it away.

They then prepare the dirt, lay steel dowel bars which allow the freeway to bend and flex with changing temperatures and heavy traffic. The dowel bars also increase the strength of the road once the concrete is poured. One the dowel bars are laid, crews pour and flatten the concrete. The final step is a process called tining. That’s when crews drag a specialized rake through damp concrete to increase the skid resistance. The concrete then cures for 18 hours.

To see pictures of last week’s panel replacement, go to our flickr page: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157613573213538/

I-5 is more than 40 years old. It is falling apart faster than maintenance crews can repair it. This $21 million project fixes the worst spots on I-5 and keeps our economy moving by keeping the road in good shape and construction workers employed.

More than 80 Washington State union workers are on this project site. Nearly 20 Washington companies are involved in this construction project. At any given time this weekend, we will have 25 workers on the job site.

What is WSDOT doing?

• WSDOT contractor crews are working as efficiently as possible
• WSDOT is providing detailed traveler information to drivers.
• We are adding additional Incident Response Teams to keep the work zones clear
• Washington State Patrol troopers will be in the work zone as well.

What should drivers do?

• Drivers traveling through Seattle to points south should use I-405 to avoid the city.
• Drivers headed into downtown Seattle can use I-5, but should plan for up to an hour delay on the weekends.
• Drivers headed into Seattle might consider using Airport Way, SR 99 and/or SR 509.
• Drivers should also use the multiple travel tools WSDOT has in place to get information before they leave home and information while they are on the road. These tools include:
• WSDOT’s up-to-the minute Web-based traveler information at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/
• Information about lane closures for planning purposes www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009
  • Information sent to your phone via Twitter http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/
• The 511 traveler information phone line
• Overhead freeway signs
• Local television before you head out
• Local radio stations in your vehicle.

“This is going to be a long, complicated construction season. Every day will have different closures,” said Lorena Eng, regional administrator. “It’s important that drivers start looking at our planning and traffic tools now so they can stay on top of all our closures now through October. If everyone has information, traffic will move a lot more smoothly.”

 

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