Traffic alert: ‘Emergency’ overnight closure for 1st Avenue S.

From SDOT:

The contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will completely close First Avenue South between Horton and S Spokane streets tonight to make emergency repairs to temporary shoring for the new Spokane Street Viaduct First Avenue S on-/off-ramp. The shoring was knocked out of alignment this morning after being struck by a truck. The closure begins at 11 p.m. with the expectation that lanes will re-open for use by 5 a.m. Wednesday, April 20. Detours will be provided for both southbound and northbound traffic.

Though that’s some distance south of the stadiums, it’s still worth noting there’s a Mariners night game at Safeco Field (which will be over by then unless it runs extra-long) .

6:04 PM UPDATE: Also note that, apparently unrelated to this, there currently is a traffic problem right at 1st/Spokane, northbound, affecting people coming off the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, related to a crash: SDOT says, “Traffic inbound from West Seattle must either continue on S Spokane St eastbound to I-5 or take a right turn and head south on 1st Ave S. Traffic northbound on 1st Ave S is being diverted to E Marginal Way S.” We’ll update here when we get word this has cleared.

rockyraccoon April 19, 2011 (6:18 pm)

Admittedly, I know nothing about this type of construction, but it is mind-boggling to me that the building of an on-ramp should be such a long, slow process. Seems like we used to be able to get things done in this country, but no longer. Makes you realize how devastating the big earthquake will be and how exceedingly long the rebuilding process.

LB April 19, 2011 (7:09 pm)

There’s currently a height restriction of 13’6″ in that area. I wonder if the truck exceeded that restriction.

Genesee Hill April 19, 2011 (7:16 pm)

Seems quite fast to me, considering that they are building a parallel two lane elevated highway adjacent to the existing Spokane Street Viaduct.

Silly Goose April 19, 2011 (7:45 pm)

So So excited to be able to get on WS Bridge from 1st Ave without going across the swing bridge in Semi Hell. When is it suppose to be done?

rockyraccoon April 19, 2011 (8:22 pm)

I believe it’s scheduled for completion sometime this fall. Doesn’t seem at all fast to me, for a couple of ramps. If you didn’t have so many hands in the pie, different unions and government entities involved, I bet it could be done much quicker. But that’s not the way the world works.

JayDee April 19, 2011 (8:28 pm)

Rockyraccoon:

Remember, they didn’t build the first ramp from First Ave to the Spokane viaduct to specs, so they tore it down, and have been rebuilding it since. Granted, the rebuild is on their dime, but not our time…

LB April 20, 2011 (6:47 am)

And it was only a small portion of the bottom of the ramp that had to be torn out and rebuilt (from what I can tell, the rebuilding is completed).

As for how fast the new ramp is being built, remember that it connects with the widened structure so until that gets done the ramp would be of no use.

rw April 20, 2011 (8:57 am)

The work actually seems to be moving fairly quickly from my perspective. Keep in mind that the ramp work is sandwiched between single lanes of south- and north-bound First Ave traffic. I drove through their yesterday a.m. and can’t say I’m surprised that a passing truck knocked some of the framing out of alignment. Cars and trucks that drive by there are really close to the action.

Sorry, comment time is over.