Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
Busy construction weekend around Puget Sound
WSDOT recommends drivers plan ahead and allow extra time for travel this weekend due to several planned lane closures.
Saturday, Nov. 7
- Montlake Bridge: Crews closed the inside lanes in both directions of the Montlake Bridge from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. today to clean drains. This will likely cause congestion in the area. Drivers are encouraged to plan for delays.
- I-5 southbound in downtown Seattle: Crews working for Sound Transit closed the on-ramp from Yale Avenue to southbound I-5 and one lane of southbound I-5 between Yale Avenue and Union Street from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. to remove temporary barrier. The I-5 express lanes will run southbound all day to keep traffic moving through the downtown Seattle area. This may lead to I-5 northbound backups throughout the afternoon. www.soundtransit.org/x9885.xml
Sunday, Nov. 8
- I-5 northbound at Ship Canal: Crews will close the left lane of northbound I-5 across the Ship Canal from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. to replace glare screens on the top of the concrete barrier. Glare screens prevent lights from shining in the eyes of drivers in the opposite direction.
- Montlake Bridge: Crews will continue to clear drains on the Montlake Bridge and close one right northbound lane from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drivers should expect congestion in the area.
- I-5 northbound at I-90: Crews will close three left lanes on northbound I-5 just north of Spokane Street from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and one right lane at 4th Avenue between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. for bridge inspections.
Drivers should also expect and plan for heavy traffic in the SODO area Sunday mid-day when the Seahawks play at Qwest Field at 1:30 p.m.
During these closures, drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and check traffic conditions before they leave the house.
Drivers can:
Check WSDOT’s online maps and cameras: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/alert/seattle/
Check or call WSDOT’s travel alerts and slowdown line (511) and Web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/pugetsound.aspx
Track current traffic conditions using local radio stations that report on traffic conditions throughout the day.
WSDOT prepares for possible Green River flooding; projects to protect state highways underway
Contractors began working on shoring up a small section of State Route 167 to ensure the route stays open to traffic if the Green River tops its banks in South King County.
Drivers will notice hundreds of supersacks filled with sand along a one-third mile section of road just north of S. 277th Street in Kent. Concrete barrier will protect the sacks. Each sack holds one and a half tons of sand.
A closure planned for Saturday, Nov. 7 on SR 18 eastbound at the Green River near Auburn has been postponed.
For lane closure information associated with Green River projects, check our King County Construction Update Report.
For information about WSDOT's Green River plan go to: www.wsdot.wa.gov/northwest/greenriver
Landslide closes SR 410 near Mount Rainier; emergency route now open to all drivers
A massive slide has closed a section of SR 410 near Mount Rainier. The current SR 410 emergency route, Nile Loop Road, which detours around the landslide between mileposts 104 and 108, is open to all drivers. Drivers should be prepared for a rough, graveled surface. WSDOT could close the roadway for the safety of drivers at anytime if landslide activity or an increase in river flows is detected.
Contractors have begun work on a temporary winter-durable detour.
View pictures of the landslide on our flickr Web site.
View a map of the affected area.
Drivers may also want to consider using US 12 or I-90 as an alternate route. For more information regarding the closure of SR 410, call our hotline at 509-577-1635.
SR 519 lane closure
A portion of the right lane of the southbound Fourth Avenue S. on-ramp to Edgar Martinez Drive. S remains closed after an overheight semi-truck hit a section of overhead beams.
Although permanent repairs to the beams are complete, the section of ramp underneath them will remain closed to protect them from further hits. The beams are supporting construction of a new I-90/I-5 off-ramp to S. Edgar Martinez Drive for the $84.35 million SR 519 Intermodal Access Project.
I-90 work completed near Snoqualmie Pass
WSDOT thanks motorists for their patience during a construction project east of Snoqualmie Pass reduced I-90 to one lane in each direction on weekdays. All lanes are now open.
Motorists will experience a smoother, safer ride now that WSDOT and contractor crews have wrapped up construction on the first phase of the Lake Easton to Bullfrog pavement rehabilitation project.
Ongoing nighttime construction
Crews continue to work on road construction projects throughout Puget Sound. Know before you go by checking travel times, the Seattle area traffic map or calling 511.
Pierce County HOV lanes
WSDOT is building the first set of HOV lanes in Pierce County between Port of Tacoma Road and the Pierce-King County line. Look at our construction update report for specific closure information.
I-5 pavement repair and panel replacement
Crews are grinding and repairing concrete panels on northbound I-5 north of the Ship Canal Bridge this week. Check the I-5 pavement repair project for detailed closure information.
But wait, there's more
Please check the construction update Web site for a complete list of all WSDOT work affecting Puget Sound area highways. There are a lot of nighttime construction projects that could affect your commute.
Know before you go. Check our traffic cameras and Seattle area traffic map before you leave home.
Other commute planning resources:
Oversize load restrictions
Truckers can learn more on the commercial vehicle restrictions Web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/commercialVehicle/Restrictions/