Spokane Viaduct lane closure: Construction can’t move any faster

It’s been one week since eastbound traffic on the Spokane Street Viaduct section of the West Seattle Bridge lost a lane to construction work. And while the eastbound bridge is seldom a picnic, some drivers say it’s become even more of a “parking lot” – the term Twitter user @allrachel used while sending the shown-above cameraphone photo Monday morning. All this brings us to a note we received from West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee. “I am concerned about the backups on the Spokane Street Viaduct. Recently I inquired whether SDOT would be able to speed up the work on the completion of the offramp from the Spokane Street Viaduct.” He attached the e-mail he got back – read ahead to see it:

Specifically, Rasmussen asked if longer workdays and weekend work might be possible, particularly during good weather. So this reply addressed those points in particular:

From: Burrows, Tracy [reply to CM Rasmussen’s e-mail]

I talked to Stuart Goldsmith, the project manager for the Spokane Street work. The contractor for the Spokane Street project is following what the company believes is the safest, most efficient construction schedule for the work. The regular crew works one long weekday shift and extra crews and work Saturdays as well. SDOT’s project manager has reviewed the contractor’s construction plans and has concurred that this is among the most efficient schedules available without incurring substantial additional costs. The contractor’s work on the completion pour will continue for approximately 10-12 days, and then the concrete will cure slowly over another two weeks or so to prevent cracking or damage of the newly poured concrete.

Tracy Burrows
Director’s Office
Seattle Department of Transportation

In other words, there’s still about a month to go. We checked out the new ramp on foot back in May, during a media tour (photos/video/info here).

gt July 27, 2010 (10:46 pm)

Why can’t SDOT alter the traffic flow at 1st Ave–to allow a continuous flow of traffic during rush hour? Wouldn’t that, in part, alleviate the backup on the bridge?

JanS July 27, 2010 (11:09 pm)

I chose, unwisely, 3:30pm this afternoon to head east towards Columbian Way. Traffic was just inching along, as that’s when Harbor Island shifts end. I decided to go down to eastbound Spokane surface streets, but that , too is backed up because at places it’s down to one lane, and there were sometimes 3 lanes trying to merge into one. Was truly a mess going through there. Memo to self..go east during off hours !

Who planned this? Obviously, they don’t use our roads on a daily basis. Maybe it should be a requirement !

d July 27, 2010 (11:38 pm)

Some people are figuring out the obvious detours if they can’t use alternate hours to travel:

Highland Park Way and Roxbury. The increase in cars along Highland Park Way, Holden and 9th Ave SW in the past week might explain the Chargers out on the hill and on 9th ticketing for a number of days.

Here is something positive to consider: Zippy’s Giant Burger will be open for the dinner commute. I recommend putting their # on your cell and calling ahead. Might as well get something tasty out of all this, right? I further recommend the #11 with black bean patty and a root beer float.

LE July 28, 2010 (12:15 am)

Well, I’ve gone east across the viaduct four times this week. Each backup LOOKED horrible, all the way to the top of the high rise of the bridge, but traffic actually flowed smoothly, and the lane closure added all of about 5 minutes to the drive.
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I think that unless there’s an accident, it’s okay. Looks worse than it is.
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But if there’s an accident, even a slight fender-bender, I am getting the impression from others that that is when it really is a mess. Perhaps DOT could station tow-trucks so that accidents can be cleared more quickly?

C July 28, 2010 (2:13 am)

I drove across at around 9am this morning. It was a mess but I was shocked by 1. People driving in the bus lane 2. People not letting the semi trucks in.

If you see a truck with a blinker on they need room to get over!

Deb July 28, 2010 (4:58 am)

I’m curious why they only have one lane open on the off-ramp to 1st Avenue? It would help greatly to have both lanes open.

mar3c July 28, 2010 (5:29 am)

just think of how awesome it will be when both lanes are open on the spokane street viaduct, both lanes of the first ave ramp are open, and the new fourth ave ramp is open.
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it’ll be like taking a cork out of a bottle of champagne.
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just four more weeks, people.
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and, hey, think of it this way: people do this every day on 520. for years.

Escondido July 28, 2010 (5:39 am)

When driving eastbound in the morning, I’m fascinated that most drivers queue up in the left lane very early, leaving the right lane open. The left lane backs ups, perhaps up to a mile. I read somewhere that it is better to use both lanes in their entirety, and then join together at the last, almost like a zipper.

Mack July 28, 2010 (5:53 am)

90% of the cars on the Jeannette Williams Memorial Bridge are solo drivers. Carpool or take Metro and reduce traffic volume. It’s only for 5 weeks!

Pam July 28, 2010 (6:08 am)

It’s odd how the bus lane on the bridge works – it’s ‘bus only’ for a certain segment of the bridge, not the entire span.

Gotta say after a week and a half in DC and NYC – wish our parents generation (no matter how old ‘we’ are) would have pushed good transit through years ago. I’m hopeful these inconveniences we are dealing with now will make a positive difference in the long run.

Smitty July 28, 2010 (6:59 am)

Will someone PLEASE ask why they don’t remove two sections of the barrier dividing east/west traffic and allow cars to travel eastbound in a westbound lane (until the afternoon rush hour)? They could separate those lanes all kinds of ways and you would be no closer to oppsing traffic then you currently are on the Aurora bridge. Even if they have to slow cars down to 15 MPH it would still allow a better flow than the current option.

KT July 28, 2010 (7:05 am)

“SDOT’s project manager has reviewed the contractor’s construction plans and has concurred that this is among the most efficient schedules available without incurring substantial additional cost”. Sure, now. But if you even considered the impact this work would have on the largest neighborhood in Seattle during the planning phases then you would have specified in the original contract sent out to bid that work would proceed 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. The one common thing I see about SDOT Projects, they don’t account for the impact the work will have on the transportation flow. Isn’t their job not just building and maintaining roads but ‘transportation management’? They do a crappy job of that and obviously, there is absolutely no oversight on the part of city government. Tom Rasmussen asking questions now is a little late. It is always the patronizing “it’s tough now but think about how much better it will be”.

WSnewbie July 28, 2010 (7:37 am)

Ohh how I love Seattle and how its people always find something to complain about.

Dailycommuter July 28, 2010 (7:40 am)

I’m always annoyed by bureauorats who claim their poorly-thought-out schemes are in place to prevent “substantial additional cost”. Let’s add up the dollar cost of wasted gallons of gas and lost man/woman/people hours, and the environmental cost of increased pollution from car exhaust and throw that on the scale. Just how much is really saved by SDOT drawing out the length of time the lane is closed? But of course those concerns are never factored into the equation.

RobertSeattle July 28, 2010 (7:58 am)

It might help if SDOT would put up signs that basically say “Don’t merge TOO early”.

GR July 28, 2010 (8:08 am)

didn’t the WSB post from a couple weeks ago state that this project intended to have work done evenings?

This is outrageous that there is no sense of urgency whatsoever to get this completed. 6 weeks of 8 hour work days could be done in 2 if they worked efficiently.

the dude July 28, 2010 (8:14 am)

I’ve been riding my bike into work, much faster and more enjoyable than sitting behind parked cars on the bridge. Also have been using the water taxi more often.

Que July 28, 2010 (8:16 am)

I sent all of the contacts for the projects going on down there a nastygram asking why they couldn’t stage them so that there would be at least one unobstructed path out of West Seattle on the north end. The construction is a good thing and I’m sure they’re going as fast as is safe and practical…but did they need to do it all at the same time?

Bogie July 28, 2010 (9:12 am)

I am one of the drivers queing up in the left lane as soon as I can get in it. Why make my own commute slower? Because if everyone filled both lanes, those wanting to exit at First would also be backed up. And I like to believe I am a nice driver. :)

And for the construction schedule, yes, there are probably a few things that could be done a bit faster if they spent money paying OT. But you can’t make concrete cure any faster. So don’t panic when you don’t see anyone working for a week and they still have the lane closed.

cathyw July 28, 2010 (9:33 am)

OK I’ll admit it. If I see a mile long section of completely empty roadway that is legal to drive in and I don’t see any signs that say, “don’t drive in this lane,” I’m going to do it. It seems like a waste of perfectly good road capacity not to. I don’t think it has anything to do with being nice or not nice. Even so, I consider myself an exceedingly respectful driver. I cheerfully let trucks, buses and other drivers in front of me. So, if I see you trying to merge into my lane, I am happy to let you in. If people prefer to sit in line for whatever reason, that is their choice. I realize my opinion is really a minority view and that I am going to get lots of negative feedback. In fact, I nearly got flattened by a truck the other day who decided not to let me in. Eeek! Oh, I agree with the others that the trip across has not been as bad as I expected.

busser July 28, 2010 (9:34 am)

My name says it all… :)
If I get an *inkling* that I want to sleep in, thinking ‘Oh, I’ll just drive in today’, soon enough I remember the pleasure of reading or zoning out on the bus, and avoiding driving alongside drivers who are reading or zoning out :)

Justin July 28, 2010 (10:05 am)

I just hate the people who cross the gore points early. The worst part of the bridge/viaduct structure is at the on ramp from Delridge and the back up of people trying to merge so early into the right line to get onto 99 northbound.

And SDOT is lame for not putting more useful information on their twitter feed. “The low bridge is reopened.” Great, but why didn’t you tell us there was a disabled semi blocking on of the lanes yesterday morning!

truckdriver July 28, 2010 (10:37 am)

HEY CITY…Capitalize on all these drivers who do not understand ONLY BUS LANE.

A solid white line means, the last time I checked, “Do not cross”. If you cross you get a ticket.

Give them tickets. It is the only way to stop the early merging from the low deck to the upper deck.

The early merging has got to stop.

Why not stop it with issuing tickets. It would be a way to generate some money for the city.

old timer July 28, 2010 (10:43 am)

Could clear up a lot of that traffic with a temporary
$10.00 per solo vehicle ‘construction toll’,
and $5.00 ea. for the rest of the vehicles.
To expire upon completion of the project.
I’ll bet that by day 2 most will have found alternative routes to I-5.
Never happen.

sam July 28, 2010 (10:47 am)

My usual commute doesn’t require me to leave West Seattle, but I found myself in the midst of this traffic the first 2 days it started.

To get to a 9am meeting up north (beyond Alderwood), I took 99 N to 80th, and then buzzed over to I-5. That was a good detour, it didn’t take any longer than it would have before this construction started.

Then the next day, I had to get to I-5 south right before lunch time. We were in the very very very slow traffic eastbound on the Spokane street viaduct. But, we got off at 1st ave, went straight down the newly finished Spokane street, and there are ramps for I-5 right there at the end. That was a fast and easy detour too.

Chris July 28, 2010 (10:54 am)

Remember in 2007 when that gas truck caught fire and damaged multiple sections of freeway in San Francisco/Oakland? CALTRANS said it would take months to rebuild yet a private contractor did it in less than a month? Why can’t we do something like that and give a bonus for early completion?

Oh wait, job security and bloated government, that’s why!

dsa July 28, 2010 (10:56 am)

SDOT said: “The regular crew works one long weekday shift and extra crews and work Saturdays as well.”
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That does not sound like 24/7 to me. If it was 24/7 they should have said so instead of spinning it.

Ex-Westwood Resident July 28, 2010 (11:20 am)

Chris you almost got it 100% right.
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Just add in the stipulation that ANY Gov’t work HAS to done by unionized workers and you’ve got it 100% right.
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A private company is NOT required to hire or use unionized workers and can utilize a 24 hour work day WITHOUT have to pay the union schedule wages for night work.
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But who am I kidding….why would Gov’t bite the hand (unions) that feeds (their BIGGEST contributors) them to save the tax-payers a few bucks and inconveniences.

DK July 28, 2010 (12:26 pm)

Thank you @mar3c for the + comments. We can live through 4 weeks of inconvenience for a project that benefits us in the long run — think bigger picture.

WorldCitizen July 28, 2010 (1:25 pm)

Most, if not all studies I’ve ever read about merging traffic state it is better to use both lanes and merge at the last second like a zipper, than to utilize only one lane and merge early. It is more efficient to use BOTH lanes. Everyone benefits.

Just because it doesn’t *seem* nice doesn’t mean that isn’t. It is actually better for everyone to use both lanes.

Eliza July 28, 2010 (1:46 pm)

I have been riding my bike, I know not everyone can, but it is great, not too hot, not too cold, friendly riders on the roads, lots of bike trails, great exercise, and fresh air, who can beat that!

Right now two wheels are better than four!

Smitty July 28, 2010 (1:49 pm)

I don’t get that, World.

The only advantage of using both lanes is that it shifts the backup to the bridge instead of back to Fauntleroy or 35th, right?

It also allows people who left late to jump ahead in line.

Whether you “zipper” a mile back or a mile ahead you are still zippering.

WorldCitizen July 28, 2010 (2:03 pm)

I think the reasoning is when you come together at the last possible point, there is a definite merge point making the action more efficient.
I didn’t believe it either when I first heard this, but it was on NPR (my Achilles heel for finding things I want to further research that I didn’t know I had any interest in) a couple years ago. I then did a little more searching on my own as I was sure that the people going ahead in the right lane were just A**Holes. Nope…they are the ones actually doing the right thing according to almost every published major study I could find from various sources. Go figure.

RobertSeattle July 28, 2010 (4:18 pm)

Saw this today: “premature mergulation” – Seattle drivers are prone to this. Use all the lanes, people.

Shane July 28, 2010 (6:19 pm)

Speed limit drive at 6:15 am

mar3c July 29, 2010 (7:11 am)

chris and ex-westwood: umm, the work IS being done by a private contractor, mid-mountain construction. SDOT doesn’t build anything bigger than a pothole infill, they only maintain.
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since the city (we, the people) is the client, they must pay their employees the prevailing wage and follow all overtime and shift laws to the letter. and i know for a fact that mid-mountain is not a union contractor. at least they weren’t the last time my company subcontracted for them.
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justin and truckdriver: spot on. repaint the gore point lines and have a motorcycle cop at the fauntleroy/spokane/delridge merge.
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my opinion is that if you can’t SIGNAL, check your mirrors or blind spots, and merge at speed – all without running into the car in front of you – you have no business behind the wheel.

slackmaster July 29, 2010 (8:24 pm)

Late merging is a big help in reducing backups, there’s been a fair amount of research to confirm this (see this study, for example).

I’m not optimistic that most Seattleites can be trained to fight their instinct to jump into the ‘proper’ lane at the earliest, least-efficient opportunity, though.

Sorry, comment time is over.