Date:  Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Contact: Contact: Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4698 (Seattle)
Quick info link: www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today

Hood Canal Bridge remains closed through mid-June

SEATTLE – It’s going to be a busy weekend in the Seattle area: WSDOT contractor crews will continue to work and close lanes on key Seattle corridors and the Seattle Mariners will have a home stand.

For drivers heading to downtown events, the best advice is to know before you go. Beat the rush by planning ahead.

WSDOT crews will close lanes at night on I-5 in Shoreline and north Seattle to replace cracked and broken concrete panels. The I-90 express lanes remain closed to replace cracking expansion joints.

I-5 north Seattle and Shoreline
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/seattlepavementrepair/

• Friday, May 15, crews will close two of four lanes on southbound I-5 between 185^th and 145^th streets from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday morning to replace concrete panels.
• Saturday, May 16, crews will close two of four lanes on northbound I-5 at Northgate Way from 9 p.m. Saturday through 9 a.m. Sunday, May 17, to replace concrete panels. The northbound I-5 exit to Northgate Way will also close from midnight Saturday until 7 a.m. Sunday. A signed detour will take drivers to 130^th Street.
• The express lanes will be open and running on their normal schedule this weekend.

The concrete panel replacement work tackles the worst bumpy areas on I-5 between south Seattle and Shoreline. This $21 million project supports more than 200 jobs and provides work for nearly 20 Washington state companies.

Northbound I-5 in downtown Seattle
www.soundtransit.org/i5undercrossing

Crews working for Sound Transit are preparing the ground beneath I-5 to make way for the tunnel boring machine that they will use to construct the 3.15-mile light rail tunnel extension between downtown Seattle and the University of Washington.

· Saturday, May 16, crews will reduce northbound I-5 to one lane near Olive Way. Crews will begin closing lanes at 9:30 p.m. All northbound I-5 traffic will be shifted to the far right lane at midnight.

· The on-ramp to northbound I-5 from University Street will close at 9 p.m.

· The on-ramp to northbound I-5 from Cherry Street will close at 10 p.m. All of the on-ramps and lanes of I-5 will reopen by 6 a.m., Sunday, May 17.

I-90 express lane closures continue
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/HomerHadleyBridgeRepair/

The I-90 express lanes remain closed to replace cracking expansion joints. These massive steel expansion joints help the bridge to flex with wind, water and weather.

Crews have placed the express lane joints and will finish the work soon. Drivers are encouraged to start planning for the westbound mainline closures in July.

• I-90 drivers can take alternate routes like I-405, SR 520 and SR 522.
• Carpool, vanpool or take the bus or consider leaving early or staying late and plan for 30-minute commute between Bellevue and Seattle.
• Drivers on alternate routes can expect more congestion during peak commute times.
• The express lanes east of Mercer Island will head east during the express lane work.

This $8.3 million project supports an estimated 80 jobs.

Seattle-area events

Several local events have drivers hitting the highways and local streets this weekend.

• The Seattle Mariners have three home games this weekend: Friday, May 15 at 7:10 p.m., Saturday, May 16 at 7:10 p.m. and Sunday, May 17 at 1:10 p.m.
• Singer Taylor Swift will perform at KeyArena on Friday, May 15. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Hood Canal Bridge

The Hood Canal Bridge is now closed for six weeks. www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr104hoodcanalbridgeeast/

What should drivers do?

• Plan for delays on I-5 through Seattle this weekend, especially in advance of the Mariners games.
• Check the Web for the latest information at www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today.
• Check the Seattle traffic map to pinpoint and avoid congestion www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle
• Use the overhead freeway signs and the 511 driver information line to get up-to-the minute information on the road.
• Call our I-90 information hot line at 206-440-4444. The hot line is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Leave a message and your call will be returned.

For more detailed closure information on these projects and other work this weekend, drivers should bookmark www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009 and check the “What’s happening right now” link.

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