TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Post-spring-break Monday; 11 days to Viaduct closure

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:03 AM: Welcome to what’s expected to be a sunny, very warm Monday. Spring break’s over and everybody’s back in school, so be watchful for everything from beacons to bicycles to buses.

Two big reminders of what’s ahead:

11 DAYS TO VIADUCT CLOSURE – ANY QUESTIONS? In case you missed it, last Friday brought the two-week warning of the tunneling-related Alaskan Way Viaduct closure. Before the morning commute on Friday, April 29th, Highway 99 will be shut down from the Battery Street Tunnel to the West Seattle Bridge so that the tunneling machine can go beneath The Viaduct; that’s expected to take about two weeks if all goes well. As we’ve been reporting for months, local transit/transportation agencies have made all kinds of plans to try to help you get through it. Do you have any questions? We’re going to a media briefing/Q&A event later this morning with WSDOT, SDOT, Metro, and Water Taxi reps and would be happy to take yours along.

9 DAYS TO BRIDGE CLOSURES AND MORE: Also announced Friday, specific dates and times for bridge and lane closures related to the Fauntleroy Expressway bearing-pad re-replacement project. The west end of the bridge will be closed overnight many nights starting April 27th. Some lane closures are planned for Spokane St. *under the high bridge*, too. Here are all the details.

6:46 AM: Alert from Metro:

Metro Transit Alert – Route 50 is currently rerouted off of S Lander St between 1st Av S and SODO Busway, due to a blockage.

6:57 AM: And now Metro says it’s back to normal.

8:46 AM: Two more reminders:

30TH/YANCY CLOSED ON THE WEST SIDE OF AVALON … as the pedestrian-safety project at that multi-point intersection continues; the work switched from east to west last Thursday.

OVERNIGHT 99 CLOSURE NORTH OF DOWNTOWN: Tonight through Thursday night, the nightly Highway 99 closure north of downtown, 10 pm to 5 am, will be for all lanes of SB 99 between the Aurora Bridge and Thomas Street – full details here.

newnative April 18, 2016 (7:07 am)

#57 Is a no-show.no alert.

Tomas April 18, 2016 (7:56 am)

I’m curious if any buses will have “bus only” lanes during this shut down? Or if they’re going to share the lanes with cars once they get on those diversion routes (4th ave if I remember right?)

AIDM April 18, 2016 (8:31 am)

The coincidental timing of these two events is ridiculous and must be addressed. I have contacted the Mayor’s office to address these concerns and suggest the others do the same. I am attaching a sample letter. I’ve also asked councilwoman Herbold to help:

Dear Mayor Murray:

I write because I am very concerned that the West Seattle – Harbor Island Bridge (low bridge) is slated for lane closure during the two week viaduct closure. This seems asinine and I don’t understand why the Department of Transportation in not staggering these two events.

Timing of low bridge lane closure: April 27th – July 15th.

Timing of viaduct closure: April 29th – May 13th.

The low bridge will be instrumental in mitigating congestion on the West Seattle Bridge during the viaduct closure as it allows traffic to access Alaskan Way South, which is a key access point to downtown.

Please consider the West Seattle community’s very real concerns. I understand that the West Seattle Blog has voiced concern to DOT, but this has be rebuffed. Can your office orchestrate a slight staggering of these two events to better serve the West Seattle Community?

Thanks,

WSB April 18, 2016 (8:34 am)

The lane closures are *not* for the low bridge. They’re for *surface* Spokane Street *under* the west end of the bridge. The bridge closure is the west end of the HIGH bridge itself, overnight. The low bridge is not involved in this, aside from the fact that its usual “openings” for maritime traffic will proceed as usual regardless of Viaduct closure, etc.

Duskyviolet April 18, 2016 (8:58 am)

I agree with AIDM about sending a note to the Mayor. While the low bridge might not technically be closing it sounds like the already congested route to the low bridge & West Marginal Way SW will be strangled during the Viaduct closure. However, this is the only formal link I can find about it from the city and they only mention that the parking under the high bridge will be closed. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/fauntleroyexpressway.htm

WSB – do you have an additional link that discusses this? Thanks!

Daytime (Lane) Closures
Spokane St eastbound 9 am to 6 pm
Spokane St westbound 7 am to 6 pm
Mondays thru Fridays

WSB April 18, 2016 (9:07 am)

Hi, our story is the newest information. I have no control over whether and when the city updates its webpage, but in many cases our reporting is ahead of official pages. The information was received directly from the contractor on Friday, but we’ve been publishing warnings about this for months.

Our story is re-linked above (“here are the details”) in today’s traffic coverage – it’s the story we published Friday and which is linked in one of our three “spotlight” boxes atop the home page:

https://wsb.blackfin.biz/2016/04/bridge-closures-datestimes-for-fauntleroy-expressway-bearing-pad-re-replacement-work

TR

P.S. I’ve asked the contractor about cross-streets for the under-the-bridge surface Spokane St. closures but not sure what/when the reply will be. Eventually I’m sure SDOT will also send its own press-release type version of this, but they are probably busy making maps to go with it before doing that. As mentioned above, I’m going to an informational event about the Viaduct closure this morning and taking along questions, one of which will be a reiteration of “so are you really not expecting problems with these closures overlapping?” …

Peter April 18, 2016 (9:19 am)

What is really surprising is taht the Seattle Times and broadcast media haven’t yet come up with a scare-mongering name for the viaduct closure. Carmageddon and Viadoom have been used, and both came to naught. They still have time, and I’m sure they will. It would be uncharacteristic of the Seattle media not to come up with scary names for traffic “nighmares” that never materialize when the viaduct closes.

WSB April 18, 2016 (9:35 am)

Peter – While West Seattleite Mike Lindblom, the excellent Times transportation reporter, did not use it in the body of his story, a headline writer did posit “Viadoom II?” over his story: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/alaskan-way-viaduct-to-close-for-2-weeks-starting-april-29

**(added) I wrote that before seeing your added comment noticing it**

I believe WSDOT headed off a goofy nickname by adopting and promoting the simple #99closure hashtag (and URL) quite some time back. In the years since “Viadoom,” hashtags have tended to become more practical. – TR

Peter April 18, 2016 (9:32 am)

Oh, wait, I spoke too soon. Just looked at today’s Seattle Times. It’s been dubbed “Viadoom II.” LOL!

AA April 18, 2016 (11:16 am)

To sum up, we are going to be an isolated island whose only option to get off will be to drive south? Especially at night? Awesome.

WSB April 18, 2016 (11:20 am)

No – the exits will all remain open except going all the way to Fauntleroy/35th. You’ll have to get off at Delridge or Admiral.

Sorry, comment time is over.