Just in from SDOT: What’s new with all the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project work you see when you go to Costco, head downtown via the 1st Avenue South exit, etc. And a new detour on the way – read on:

Construction is currently underway between 2nd and 4th Avenues South for the
shafts that will support the new 4th Avenue eastbound off-ramp. Each of the
22 shafts involves drilling a 60 to 100 foot deep hole (between 5 and 10
feet in diameter), inserting a large tubular “cage” of rebar and then
filling the reinforced excavation with concrete.

Until now drilling and filling these shafts has taken place during the day,
but some of the remaining shafts will be built at night. Over the next few
months, crews will be building columns for the new off-ramp on top of each
of the underground shafts.

Upcoming Westbound Detour

Work will also begin in a few weeks on installation of a water detention
vault underneath Spokane Street just to the west of 6th Avenue South.
Construction of this vault will require a temporary detour of most westbound
South Spokane Street traffic between 6th and 4th Avenues South for
approximately 6 weeks.

A special route through the construction zone will allow Metro buses to
reach the E-3 Busway and will provide westbound access to emergency service
vehicles. In addition, a single lane of westbound Spokane Street traffic
general traffic will be allowed during non-construction hours (at night and
on weekends), but only for traffic turning onto Spokane from southbound 6th
Avenue South. More information about the detour will be provided as soon as
it is available.