Date:  Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Contact: Travis Phelps, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program, 206-805-2861 (Seattle), 206-462-0554 (cell)
Kristy Van Ness, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program, 206-805-2881 (Seattle), 206-300-4312 (cell)

SEATTLE – In less than a week construction crews working to replace the southern mile of the State Route 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct will reduce First Avenue S. to just one lane in each direction between S. Royal Brougham Way and S. King Street around-the-clock through April 1.

The long-term closures are necessary to give crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation the space they need to safely demolish and relocate the First Avenue S. on-ramp to the viaduct.

The ramp demolition is a sign of things to come for the south end of the viaduct. Crews working for WSDOT and contractor Skanska USA Civil will demolish the rest of the seismically vulnerable viaduct between S. Holgate and S. King streets in 2012.

Closure information

• Monday, Jan. 3 – Crews will close both directions of First Avenue S. between S. King Street and S. Royal Brougham Way and the SR 99 on- and off-ramps at First Avenue S. between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. to restripe the roadway and set up the work zone.
• Tuesday, Jan. 4 – Friday, April 1 – First Avenue S. will be reduced to one lane in each direction between S. King Street and S. Royal Brougham Way around-the-clock.

“We understand this is very inconvenient for everyone who uses this ramp or First Avenue South,” said Alaskan Way Viaduct Program Administrator Ron Paananen. “We will need drivers’ help to keep traffic moving as we race to complete this portion of work before the start of baseball season.”

Once the lane closure is in place crews will begin building the support structure for the new SR 99 on-ramp. In February the existing on-ramp will close for six weeks while it is demolished and rebuilt in a new location. When this work is complete, the ramp entrance will be on S. Royal Brougham Way to the west of First Avenue S.

Drivers can also expect to see the southbound SR 99 off-ramp moving to S. Royal Brougham Way in late winter. The new ramps will connect to a new north-south street now under construction between S. Royal Brougham Way and S. Atlantic Street.

The ramp work is the first step in building a four-lane construction detour that will connect the viaduct to the SR 99 replacement roadway between S. King Street and S. Royal Brougham Way until the waterfront viaduct replacement opens to traffic.

Drivers’ help needed to keep traffic moving
Drivers can help during these construction closures by planning ahead to find northbound routes that will best get them to their destination while the on-ramp is closed.

For more information about the SR 99 – S. Holgate Street to S. King Street Viaduct and Seawall Replacement program, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/HolgateToKing. For more information about the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Project visit http://www.alaskanwayviaduct.org/.

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