West Seattle traffic update: 99 closure ends early; new traffic flow through work zone

(Aerial view of the Timber Bridge work zone this weekend, by Long Bach Nguyen)
WSDOT has just announced that Highway 99 is fully open again, earlier than planned, after a weekend of work to get ready for the “Timber Bridge”/Spokane St. Overcrossing bridge work beginning tomorrow.

(Click image for larger view)
Remember this means a new configuration for 99 south of the West Seattle Bridge, as shown above – one lane southbound, two lanes northbound, as the old wood-supported bridge is demolished rebuilt in sections.

themightyrabbit February 24, 2013 (8:32 pm)

2 lanes southbound down to 1 after spokane st? that will generate some big backups for us. here’s a more relevant link instead of the WSDOT provided. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr99/spokanestovercrossing/

WSB February 24, 2013 (8:38 pm)

We’ve already published that link a gazillion times, as we’ve been previewing this project for three months – I just hadn’t gotten it into this yet. Thanks. As also previously noted, WSDOT does not believe it’ll be a problem because they say half the traffic on SB 99 exits to the WS Bridge. We’ll find out for pm commute tomorrow – we’ll have a special afternoon commute watch to see how it goes – TR

NorDel February 24, 2013 (8:35 pm)

How bad do they think this will be?
Bad or double plus bad?

West Seattle Hipster February 24, 2013 (8:57 pm)

WSDOT is wrong, half does not exit.

We shall see tomorrow.

fp February 24, 2013 (10:51 pm)

If half the water exiting my faucet fills my drinking glass, still doesn’t mean that reducing the size of my drainpipe won’t necessarily cause problems…

trickycoolj February 24, 2013 (11:41 pm)

Wondering what kind of impact this will have on East Marginal and the 1st Ave Bridge for those of us that commute to the Boeing Field area.

chas redmond February 25, 2013 (1:41 am)

Did anyone ask why it’s going to take 16 months to replace a 450-foot segment of highway? That seems ridiculous to the extreme.

Been There February 25, 2013 (7:08 am)

The Duwamish River valley’s unstable sedimentary soils/lliquifaction probably has a lot to do with the construction time required. This isn’t push a button reality tv.

ScottA February 25, 2013 (8:53 am)

Chas-
If the road was closed completely it could probably be done in less than half the time. See the NE 45th street viaduct work done 18 months so. It’s a hard choice forWSDOT.

wetone February 25, 2013 (9:45 am)

If WSDOT numbers are correct then their road design is backwards as going south 99 they have one exit lane to WS and two follow through lanes going to three, same story getting on to north bound 99 from the south three lanes, two lanes and one from WS. Maybe the 16 months includes all rework from a bad design and poor planing like 520 pontoons, one of the most expensive tranfer stations being built, south park bridge, 99 tunnel….. Or maybe it gives the contractors enough time to finish early so they get a big bonus. Interesting how things have changed around here. In the olds days things were built on time, on or under budget and made to last or you were looking for a new job.

boy February 25, 2013 (12:51 pm)

Dear been there, your comented on the soil seems a little strange. What is there now has been there for over fifty years. And has even been through many earthquakes . They built safco feild faster then this, They even built the clink football stadium in near the same amount of time. Maybe they figure this time frame because they have the same design crew that built the new transfer station, you know the ones that built it twice. Or it is the same group that were in charge of the new 1st ave on ramp. Wetone you nailed it.

West Seattle Hipster February 25, 2013 (4:33 pm)

All these comments about the transfer station leads me to ask. When does that open anyway????
Every time I drive by it all the lights are on so someone muct be in there.

Seems like a boondoggle to me.

I agree with Chas, 16 months to replace 450′ of roadway is ridiculous. Is the contractor only working 8 hour shifts?

Sorry, comment time is over.