TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates; 2 days until Viaduct closure

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

6:34 AM: Good morning! Two days until the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure – which the city’s electronic signage warns will start at 11:59 pm Thursday. As for this morning, no incidents in/from West Seattle and vicinity so far.

8:14 AM: Still quiet this morning, and the impending Viaduct closure remains the big topic. WSDOT has just sent a media alert clarifying the start time – the alert says 12:01 am Friday BUT “onramps will start closing at 10 pm Thursday.”

9:52 AM: More times from WSDOT – the promised online updates about tunneling progress during the closure are now expected to be around 11 am/8 pm weekdays, 2:30 pm weekends.

weiss April 27, 2016 (8:51 am)

Has there been any explanation as to why the closure can’t be delayed one day until after Friday’s evening rush hour?

WSB April 27, 2016 (9:00 am)

From the FAQ page at http://99closure.org – “Why are you starting the closure on a Friday?” Reply: “There is no good day to begin a closure of a major highway. The exact start date of the closure was dependent upon the contractor Seattle Tunnel Partners completing maintenance work on the tunneling machine. At the same time, we committed to providing the public with two weeks’ notice of the closure so drivers could hear about the closure and make plans.

“Every day on this contract counts. Beginning the closure on a Friday is the result of our desire to provide the public with two weeks’ notice, while not losing any additional time on the project. Traffic volumes are typically lower on Fridays, and beginning on a Friday allows the closure to take full advantage of lower traffic volumes on weekends.

“WSDOT recognizes that closing the viaduct will have a substantial effect upon local and regional traffic patterns. WSDOT is working with agency partners to keep people moving through a variety of measures (PDF), while asking drivers to make a plan and change traditional commuting patterns if possible to help keep traffic moving.”

Direct link to the FAQ page: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/99closure/FAQ

DarkHawke April 27, 2016 (9:41 am)

Metro Transit sent out an email alert yesterday saying that the bus reroutes will start at 10 PM on Thursday, so I guess they’re just working with what WSDOT is giving them.

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