West Seattle traffic alert: Southbound 99/Viaduct lane closures ahead

(WSDOT rendering of the 99 “south portal” including the future overpass)
First road-work announcement for 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct in a while – from WSDOT:

Drivers should plan for delays on southbound State Route 99 through downtown Seattle the next two weekends. Crews working for WSDOT will reduce SR 99 to one lane near the stadiums and close the southbound off-ramp to South Atlantic Street. During the closures crews will drive more than 50 pilings to support construction of the new South Atlantic Street overpass.

Dec. 14-17 weekend

Crews will close the right lane of southbound SR 99 between Columbia Street and South Royal Brougham Way and the southbound SR 99 off-ramp to South Atlantic Street from 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17.

Dec. 21-24 weekend

Crews will close the right lane of southbound SR 99 between Columbia Street and South Royal Brougham Way and the southbound off-ramp to South Atlantic Street from 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 24.
Crews will reopen all lanes of SR 99 and the South Atlantic Street off-ramp two hours prior to the Sunday, Dec. 23, Seahawks game at CenturyLink Field. The ramp and southbound lane will close again an hour after kickoff, and reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 24

Construction on the overpass started last summer and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2013. The overpass will improve mobility by allowing freight haulers and commuters to bypass the rail crossing near the entrance to the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 46.

bigjer December 11, 2012 (8:40 pm)

Of course! It’s a fantastic idea to implement lane closures the final two weekends leading up to Christmas. Brillant!

CandrewB December 11, 2012 (9:00 pm)

Hmmm, maybe Vancouver or Portland then…

Eaglelover December 11, 2012 (9:10 pm)

Crazy. Drive SB 99 home at night and this sounds bad as currently 3 to 2 lanes is bad enough.

Eaglelover December 11, 2012 (9:53 pm)

Just realized it was planned for the weekends so not so bad.

dsa December 11, 2012 (10:25 pm)

They will drive 50 piling in two weekends, the Spokane Street contractor couldn’t do that in two months.

Mike December 11, 2012 (11:10 pm)

as weird as it sounds, traffic on the viaduct with all that construction is less than just 5 years ago. I can’t say the construction is the bottleneck. Busses running reds and blocking 3 lanes while half way into a right turn with a 60′ articulated bus, yes, construction..no.