Update: City tweaks plan for Fauntleroy Expressway bridge closures

A few changes for the next few weeks of overnight closures for the Fauntleroy Expressway earthquake-safety project – here’s the latest schedule from SDOT:

This week the Seattle Department of Transportation is continuing with a number of nighttime closures to the Fauntleroy Expressway (the raised roadway at the west end of the West Seattle Bridge). These closures are being made to accommodate work that will strengthen and seismically retrofit the structure to better withstand an earthquake. Closures began the week of December 12th and will continue regularly until the project’s completion in June 2012. Future closures may also occur on weekends, though none are scheduled at this time.

Closures will begin at 9:00 p.m. and reopen the next morning at 5:00 a.m. and are planned for the following evenings:

Tuesday, December 27th through Thursday, December 30th
Note – December 30th has been added as a work night since the previous notice
Tuesday, January 3rd through Friday, January 6th

During this week of evening closures the following detours will be in effect:
· Westbound motorists traveling to West Seattle via the West Seattle Bridge will be directed to use the Delridge Way Southwest off-ramp.
· Eastbound motorists on Fauntleroy Way Southwest will be detoured at Southwest Avalon Way and will be directed to the Southwest Spokane Street entrance to the West Seattle Bridge under the Fauntleroy Expressway.

For information on changes to bus service, look for Rider Alert notices at bus stops, visit Metro Online at www.kingcounty.gov/metro or call (206) 553-3000.

Some drivers also have recommended using the Harbor Island offramp if you’re heading westbound, since that will point you toward the “low bridge” and options at its west end.

Lola P December 27, 2011 (4:42 pm)

I guess all of these are great opportunities for everyone to learn new routes home. They’re also great psychology… prepare us by turning up the heat bit by bit until we think the “big discomfort to come” isn’t such a big deal. So thoughtful!

DJ Allyn December 27, 2011 (5:25 pm)

They should be closing these routes after 10PM, not at 9PM. Sure, they lose an hour, but there is still a substantial number of people trying to get home between 9PM and 10PM.

moji December 27, 2011 (6:30 pm)

So is that tonight through Thursday the 29th, or Friday the 30th?

WSB December 27, 2011 (7:02 pm)

I believe Friday but they’ve changed it twice today alone so will doublecheck tomorrow when they’re back in the office …

Look4wrd December 27, 2011 (10:30 pm)

Looks like closure is just happening now. Last few cars slipping by the Delridge exit while the road crew moves cones over.

laeti December 29, 2011 (12:04 pm)

During the closures, is the Admiral exit at the end of the West Seattle Bridge still open?

WSB December 29, 2011 (12:16 pm)

No. Delridge is the last exit.

Devin Cox December 30, 2011 (11:28 am)

Does anyone know the end game for all the bridge construction? Are they planning to eventually open it up to three lanes both ways on the east end of the bridge? I looked on SDOT but couldn’t find the answer.

WSB December 30, 2011 (11:42 am)

The whole thing will be done by next summer, the city says. Besides our coverage going back almost four years (you can click the Spokane St. Viaduct Project “category” in the CATEGORIES list on the sidebar, down low on the right), you can also see the project page on the SDOT site at http://seattle.gov/spokane – TR

Over-the-moon January 6, 2012 (3:00 pm)

I have been searching for information on the construction in the “park & ride” area UNDER the west seattle bridge (Spokane St. between Chelan & 26th Ave) and I can’t seem to find anything. Does anyone know when we will be able to park under there again? It has thrown another wrench in my forever lengthening commute. Thanks!

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