Weekend roadwork in Seattle to impact traffic region-wide

Three major construction closures taking place this weekend will cause extra congestion into, out of, and around the Seattle area from late on June 6, to the early morning hours of June 9.

June 3, 2014 2:59 pm

The following is a release from the Washington State Department of Transportation:

Three major construction closures taking place this weekend will cause extra congestion into, out of, and around the Seattle area from late on June 6, to the early morning hours of June 9. Drivers should prepare for major traffic delays, give themselves extra time to reach their destination, and plan their trips around the closures.

Weekend closures:

  • Both directions of State Route 520 will be closed between Montlake Boulevard and Interstate 405 from 11 p.m. June 6 to 5 a.m. June 9. During the closure, contractor crews will demolish a barrier on the west side of the floating bridge that will eventually tie into the West Approach Bridge now under construction.
  • The two right lanes of northbound I-5 at South Spokane Street will be closed to replace aging bridge expansion joints from10 p.m. Friday, June 6 until 5 a.m. Monday, June 9.
  • Saturday and Sunday, two northbound lanes across the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge will be closed daily from 3:30-11 a.m. for deck patching.
  • Southbound State Route 99 from Denny Way to South Spokane Street will be closed from 10 p.m. June 6 until 5 a.m. June 9. During the closures, crews will shift southbound traffic onto a new alignment through the SR 99 tunnel project site.

Why are these closures necessary?

There’s a lot of work to ensure vital commuter and freight corridors remain open by repairing roadway surfaces and ensuring work continues on aging structures. Scheduling these projects together reduces the number of weekends drivers are impacted by road closures. With heavy travel weekends ahead, such as the University of Washington’s graduation, Fourth of July, Seafair, Labor Day and other festivals and sporting events, there are few options available during the summer months.

“There’s never a good time for major construction closures,” said Lorena Eng, WSDOT regional administrator. “However, Seattle drivers understand the need for this important roadwork and continue to impress us with how they plan their trips ahead.”