Eastbound lower Spokane St. closure date set: September 8th

We told you on Tuesday that the city’s project manager for the city’s Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project said the first major closure – the eastbound lower Spokane Street from 1st to 4th – was expected by mid-September; now, we’ve just gotten an update from the city, with a firm date: Monday, September 8th. So that’s the date most West Seattleites’ route to Costco will get a bit longer (among other things) because when you get off the SSV eastbound at 1st Avenue South, you will have to turn left to hit this detour route:

spokdet.jpg

Full details on the SSV Widening Project can be found on the city website, and in this archive of WSB coverage. Meantime, here’s the full text of the city announcement:

South Spokane Street will be closed to eastbound traffic between 1st and 5th
Avenues beginning Monday September 8th. This closure will enable Seattle
Public Utilities’ contractor to relocate a 30 inch diameter water-main in
preparation for SDOT’s work on the new eastbound off-ramp at 4th Avenue South.

Access to businesses on Spokane between 1st and 2nd Avenues will be
maintained throughout construction, but no through traffic will be possible
between 2nd and 5th Avenues. This closure will remain in effect until
mid-2010, shortly before completion of the new eastbound off ramp.

Electronic messaging signs will be placed this week at 1st and Spokane
emphasizing the 9/8 closure.

In addition, construction activities will preempt the parking between 2nd
and 5th under the Spokane Street Viaduct. “No Parking” signage will be
placed to take effect 9/8 and vehicles in violation from that date forward
will be towed.

8 Replies to "Eastbound lower Spokane St. closure date set: September 8th"

  • PSPS August 27, 2008 (6:06 pm)

    According to the project’s site, there will be no eastbound surface traffic on Spokane from west of 1st either. I wonder if this will mean that right turns onto 1st will be permitted from the off ramp.

  • Todd August 27, 2008 (6:10 pm)

    Sweet, this is gonna be tons o’ fun. I know this area needs to be rehabed bigtime but it’s gonna hurt for a little while. Bridge traffic to I 5 is going to be thicker as well.

  • WSB August 27, 2008 (8:14 pm)

    No, only left turns onto 1st from the offramp, according to the myriad presentations I’ve been to.

  • credmond August 28, 2008 (12:33 am)

    The city needs to be lobbied – SDOT says that right turns from the off ramp CAN be accommodated for southbound on 1st Avenue S, BUT, the timing of the lights has to change due to the two surface-level lanes which also intersect there. There was some concern that the change would slow freight movement but – what the heck – this whole project is going to slow everything.

  • WSB August 28, 2008 (1:17 am)

    I will ask SDOT about that later today – the project manager did not discuss that possibility at all during the Monday night presentation, it was “left turn only” all the way.

  • ivan August 28, 2008 (5:57 am)

    Why does the detour route indicate S Lander St when S Horton St, which goes through to 4th Av S, is only one block north of S Spokane St?

  • CMP August 28, 2008 (7:55 am)

    Ivan, probably b/c Horton isn’t a very wide road that could accomodate the increased traffic. I’ve never driven along Horton but I imagine it’s not in the best shape, like most of the roads in SODO. However, it’s a shorter route so let’s keep quiet about it :)

  • islanddweller August 28, 2008 (9:01 am)

    It’s great to see them finally getting underway to some degree on this. West Seattle needs this improvement!
    :-)

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