Adding a lane southbound between SR 520 and S. Spokane Street.
Meter southbound Yale Avenue On-Ramp.
Adding a northbound transit-only shoulder lane between Olive Way and SR 520.
Adding a northbound lane between Ravenna Boulevard and NE Northgate Way.
New Report Examines Ways to Replace Pavement and Fix Chokepoints on I-5
WSDOT completed a new planning report that identified 21 options to help improve traffic flow on I-5 between Tukwila and Northgate. Using traffic modeling, we examined ways to fix traffic chokepoints that could be done along with work to replace the pavement on I-5. Options being considered include adding a lane where feasible, modifying ramps and improving signs to help streamline traffic.
Potential benefits from four projects are summarized below to serve as examples.
Additional analysis, including conceptual engineering and cost estimating, will be needed before the top two pavement projects and potential traffic operations improvements are selected in 2009.
An Old Design in a Modern World – the Challenges
I-5 presents some formidable challenges to planners and engineers: the Convention Center/Freeway Park goes over the top of I-5; retaining walls that hold up Capitol Hill to the east have columns going 120 feet into the ground; businesses and office buildings are stacked along the west side of I-5.
What About Applying 21st Century Technologies to Improve Traffic on I-5?
WSDOT is also examining ways to make the lanes of I-5 “smarter” by integrating new technologies being used in Europe. WSDOT is already a leader in applying “smart-lane” concepts such as ramp meters, electronic freeway signs, highway cameras and Incident Response Trucks that quickly remove disabled vehicles. Smart applications would provide the biggest benefit for the least cost, streamlining traffic flow and improving driver safety.
Examples of Potential Projects:
Potential benefits in the year 2030 from four projects are summarized below comparing traffic with and without the project. Project benefits from the traffic analysis were determined for a five-hour morning (5-10 a.m.) and afternoon (2-7 p.m.) peak period. More options are detailed in the full report.
Add a lane southbound between SR 520 and S. Spokane Street
(Potential Timeline: beyond 10 years)
Benefits:Drivers could shave nearly 21 minutes off their trip during the p.m. peak period with speeds improving by 36 mph. During the morning, gains are modest: one-half minute savings and a three mph increase in speed.
Challenges: Widening five miles through downtown would be costly. Several structures and retaining walls would need to be rebuilt. Phasing the projects and traffic control during construction would add to the challenges.
Meter Southbound Yale Avenue On-Ramp
(Potential Timeline: 2-4 years)
Benefits: A ramp meter on the Yale Avenue on-ramp would reduce the amount of traffic entering southbound I-5 and improve overall traffic flow though this complex weaving section that is just north of where there are multiple ramps under the Convention Center. The analysis shows that this project would provide traffic flow benefits on I-5 from SR 520 to S. Forest Street (4.2 miles).
Challenges: This project would divert some Yale Avenue traffic to other local roadways during peak periods.
Add a northbound transit-only shoulder lane between Olive Way and SR 520 during weekday peak periods
(Potential Timeline: 5-10 years)
Benefits: This project would provide nearly 3,000 transit riders on 15 different routes in the p.m. peak reliable travel times through this very congested section of I-5.
Challenges: During peak periods, the existing shoulder lane on northbound I-5 north of Olive Way would be used by transit vehicles only. The project would not require any significant construction on I-5.
Add a northbound lane between Ravenna Boulevard and NE Northgate Way
(Potential Timeline: 5-10 years)
With the capacity of an additional lane, this project would improve travel times and speeds along this section of I-5. However, increased vehicles moving through this section could cause higher traffic volumes and lower speeds north of Northgate Way. Overall, the project would improve traffic operations from NE 45th Street to NE 130th Street.
Benefits:From NE 45th Street to NE 130th Street (4.7 miles): drivers could shave one and a half minutes off of their trips with speeds increasing by five mph during the p.m. peak. Improvements in travel times and speeds during the a.m. peak weren’t significant.
Challenges:To widen approximately three miles, the project would need to reconstruct several structures and retaining walls. Project costs would be high. The project would need to be coordinated with Sound Transit’s light rail project to Northgate.