Date:  Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Contact: Kristy Van Ness, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program, 206-267-6373 (Seattle), 206-300-4312 (cell)

KaDeena Lenz, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program, 206-267-3836 (Seattle)

The latest in a program to keep traffic moving helps West Seattleites

SEATTLE – People accustomed to traveling from West Seattle to downtown on the Alaskan Way Viaduct got a taste yesterday of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT’s) strategy to keep traffic moving while the viaduct is being replaced.

Drivers exited the Spokane Street Viaduct (West Seattle Bridge) onto Fourth Avenue S. for the first time ever. Their experience marked the end of a broader, two-year effort to increase transit options and shift traffic away from busy routes that could get even busier as major construction to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct begins.

Since February 2008, WSDOT has worked closely with King County and the City of Seattle to ease the viaduct replacement project’s effect on traffic flow. WSDOT contributed about $125 million to projects that increase transit options, shift traffic away from congestion and provide real-time traffic information.

“We made a commitment to give travelers alternatives for reaching their destinations during the viaduct replacement, and we are meeting that goal,” said Ron Paananen, WSDOT’s viaduct program administrator. “This has been a collaborative effort with King County and the City of Seattle to ensure these improvements are in place before construction disruptions begin.”

Completed Alaskan Way Viaduct construction-traffic-relief projects:

• New Spokane Street Viaduct off-ramp; WSDOT’s contribution of $50 million allowed the city’s project to move into construction.
• Phase 2 of the SR 519 project – a new I-5/I-90 westbound off-ramp to S. Atlantic Street/ Edgar Martinez Drive S. to improves access to the waterfront.
• An additional 31 peak-period King County Metro bus trips on four routes to and from southwest Seattle, with additional service beginning in September, and new programs to encourage the use of transit, teleworking and ridesharing.
• Expanded bus-monitoring system to help Metro track travel times along bus routes affected by construction.
• Smarter Highways technology on northbound I-5 from Boeing Access Road to I-90, including new overhead electronic signs that alert drivers to reduce speeds or change lanes before they reach back-ups or blocked lanes.
• Traffic signal upgrades and traffic-information signs to keep traffic and buses moving through corridors to and from downtown Seattle.
• New travel time signs on I-5 to help drivers decide which route to take to their destinations

In addition to the completed work, WSDOT crews are installing new electronic message signs that will display real-time traffic updates on SR 99 and other major routes that could be affected by viaduct work. By the end of the year, the SR 99 Intelligent Transportation Systems project will begin using information technology to improve commutes to and from downtown Seattle.

Construction to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct between S. Holgate and S. King streets began this summer. Drivers on city streets near the construction zone soon will see changes, including temporary closures this fall. Although SR 99 will remain open to traffic during construction, ramp access near the stadiums will change over time, reducing traffic speed and capacity by next year. For up-to-date program information and resources to help people get around during construction, visit www.alaskanwayviaduct.org/.

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