July 2009
- ***TRAFFIC ALERT***
- Royal Brougham Way will be open with one lane in each direction for the Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, holiday weekend. Enjoy the Fourth!
- In most cases Royal Brougham Way is closed to through traffic between Occidental Avenue and Fourth Avenue on non-event days for bridge pier construction.
- Drivers can still get to the Qwest Event Center garage. Access to the garage will be provided from the west via First Avenue and Occidental Avenue.
- On event days we will open one lane in each direction two hours before and after major events.
- If you're heading to major events in the stadium district, please allow extra time so they can arrive on time.
- Third Avenue S. will be fully closed until early spring 2010 for construction of the Royal Brougham Way bridge and the new I-90 off-ramp.
- See a weekly lane closure update.
- Track construction progress with our monthly updates.
- View construction progress and other images on the SR 519 photo collection on the WSDOT flickr site.
- If you need a construction update and aren't near a computer, call our hotline at 1-800-400-0761.
- Visit Way to Go, SODO to learn more about alternatives to driving alone through SODO.
WSDOT is improving connections for traffic heading to the Port of Seattle terminals, Colman Dock ferry terminal, central waterfront area and sports stadiums and destinations in Seattle's SODO neighborhood. SR 519 improvements will separate car, freight, pedestrian and rail traffic to help improve mobility, pedestrian safety and reduce the risk of collisions. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by June 2010, in time for the start of construction to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct between S Holgate and S King streets.
Street closures near sports stadiums in SODO
The SR 519 corridor connects I-5 and I-90 to Seattle’s sports stadiums, the Port of Seattle and the Seattle Ferry Terminal at Colman Dock. Closures will affect S Royal Brougham Way, Fourth Avenue S., Third Avenue S, and the First Avenue S. and S. Atlantic Street/Edgar Martinez Way S. intersection.
March 30, 2009/early spring 2010
Third Avenue S will be completely closed between S Royal Brougham Way and Edgar Martinez Drive S. for bridge, off-ramp and embankment construction.
March 30, 2009/early spring 2010
Full and partial around-the-clock closures of Royal Brougham Way from just east of Occidental Way to Fourth Avenue S. for bridge construction.
May 2009/February 2010
Potential closures on Fourth Avenue S between
S Royal Brougham Way and Holgate Avenue S. for construction of bridge forms and scaffolding.
Why is WSDOT
improving State Route 519?
SR 519 in Seattle, known to most people as S. Atlantic Street (Edgar Martinez Drive), is an important thoroughfare for cars, trucks and pedestrians in Seattle's SODO district. In fall 2003, WSDOT opened the Atlantic Street on-ramp to I-5 and I-90. This on-ramp separates road and railway traffic and improves access from the Port of Seattle and Seattle Ferry Terminal to I-5 and I-90.
Now WSDOT and our project partners are starting to build the second phase of SR 519 improvements. These next improvements are necessary to eliminate the remaining safety issues related to surface-level rail crossings. The improvements will provide safe and efficient waterfront access for both freight and general traffic.
Plan ahead for major roadwork and congestion Visit our Puget Sound 2009 construction season Web site.
The End Result
In 2003, WSDOT opened the new Atlantic Street on-ramps to I-5 and I-90 and the Atlantic Street overpass. In this second phase of construction crews will:
- Build a westbound off-ramp from I-90 and I-5 that connects to the existing S. Atlantic Street overpass.
- Build a bridge for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists along S. Royal Brougham Way.
- Widen and pave the intersection of S. Atlantic Street and First Avenue S. to add turn lanes and wider sidewalks.
Project Benefits
• Commuters: Those who wish to avoid train traffic can now use the Atlantic Street overpass to cross over trains and avoid delays. The remaining SR 519 improvements will add traffic capacity and eliminate the delays and safety issues related to the surface-level rail crossing on South Royal Brougham Way.
• Pedestrians: S. Atlantic Street now has wide walking corridors and easy access sidewalks. In 2009 crews will start work on an overpass that will eliminate the pedestrian safety issues related to the surface-level rail crossing on S. Royal Brougham Way.
• Port of Seattle: By reducing railroad and freight conflicts, the Port of Seattle will be able to move products quicker to and from the Port.
What is the project timeline?
Fall 2003 - Atlantic Street overpass and ramps open to traffic.
Summer 2006 - WSDOT works with the signatories and other interested groups to develop the next stage of project improvements. The Nickel Funding Package helps fund the second phase of this project.
Fall 2006 – WSDOT, city of Seattle and Port of Seattle agree to move forward with the Atlantic Corridor option. This option will construct a new I-90 off-ramp to the Atlantic Street overpass, build a bridge over the railroad tracks at S. Royal Brougham Way and widen the First Avenue S. and S. Atlantic Street intersection.
Winter 2007 – WSDOT begins design and environmental work on the Atlantic Corridor option.
Summer/Fall 2007 – WSDOT holds agency and public scoping meetings for the project Environmental Assessment (EA). The environmental team prepares discipline reports for the new EA.
Winter 2008 – WSDOT decides to use a design-build project delivery method for construction. Design-build is a method in which WSDOT hires one company to design and build a project. By using this method, the likely completion date is June 2010, faster than with a traditional design-bid-build model.
Winter/Spring 2008 – The SR 519 EA is released in early February 2008, and the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is released in late April 2008.
In May WSDOT selects three contractors to submit design-build proposals for Phase 2: Guy F. Atkinson Construction LLC, Parsons/Kuney A Joint Venture and Kiewit Pacific Co.
August 2008 - The three contractors submitted proposals on Aug 18.
Fall 2008 - WSDOT evaluated the proposals and awarded the contract to Kiewit Pacific Co. on Sept 26. Kiewit broke ground in November and began work to widen the First Avenue S. and S. Atlantic Street intersection.
March 2009 - WSDOT opened new turn and through lanes at the First and Atlantic intersection. Crews began preliminary construction for the new S. Royal Brougham Way bridge, started the full and partial closures of the street that will continue into early spring 2010.
April 2009 -Crews began drilling the pier shafts for the S. Royal Brougham Way bridge. Royal Brougham is narrowed down to two lanes between Fourth Avenue S. and Occidental Avenue S. for events and closed to through traffic at other times. Access to the Qwest Event Center garage is maintained.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following fund sources:
State Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel Funding) - $72.9 million
- State Freight Mobility Funds - $4.6 million
- Federal Highway Administration - $0.85 million
- Port of Seattle - $5.5 million
- Other Funds - $500,000
- Total funding from all sources - $84.35 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
SR 519 Project Engineer David Sowers
WSDOT Project Construction Office
1401 Fourth Avenue S.
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-802-3969
WSDOT Communications, Greg Phipps
401 Second Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98134
Phone: 206-464-1265
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