West Seattle traffic alerts: Next week’s Spokane St. Viaduct plan

Just in from SDOT – what you can expect for the next week-plus in terms of Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project closures. Right now, no bridge closures after tonight, but there are several surface closures of note, including a three-day shutdown of two blocks of eastbound surface Spokane Street. Details ahead:

For the coming week, the roadway closure with the largest impact to motorists will be the two-day closure of the eastbound lanes of surface S Spokane Street from Fourth to Sixth Avenues S in order for the Union Pacific Railroad to rebuild their rail crossings at S Spokane Street. The closure will begin on Wednesday, June 27 at 5 a.m. and continue until 5 a.m. on Friday, June 29.

Calendar of Upcoming Project Traffic Impacts:

Thursday, June 21

· The westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct between I-5 and SR 99 will be closed overnight from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Friday morning. The SR 99 off-ramp to West Seattle will remain open, providing an opportunity to avoid the closure.

Thursday, June 21 – Friday, June 22

· Northbound traffic on East Marginal Way S at S Spokane Street will be detoured to the east frontage roadway under SR 99 both nights from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning. Northbound traffic wishing to turn west at S Spokane Street will execute a U-turn at S Horton Street.

Monday, June 25

· North/south traffic at the intersection of Fourth Avenue S and S Spokane Street will likely be limited to one lane in each direction at times between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for construction activity that will proceed across the intersection. One lane of traffic will be closed at a time while construction is done in that lane, before the work shifts to the next lane.

Wednesday, June 27 – Thursday, June 28

· The eastbound lanes of surface S Spokane Street will be closed between Fourth and Sixth Avenues S, beginning Wednesday, June 27, at 5 a.m. and continuing until 5 a.m., Friday morning, June 29. The closure will permit the Union Pacific Railroad to rebuild their rail crossings at S Spokane Street.

To access the on-ramps to I-5 or Columbian Way on Beacon Hill, eastbound vehicles coming off the Spokane Viaduct will be detoured north onto First Avenue S to S Lander Street, and then to Sixth Avenue S. Eastbound traffic on surface S Spokane Street will be directed south at Fourth Avenue S to Industrial Way to access the I-5/Columbian Way ramps.

Mel June 21, 2012 (8:49 pm)

“To access the on-ramps to I-5 or Columbian Way on Beacon Hill, eastbound vehicles coming off the Spokane Viaduct will be detoured north onto First Avenue S to S Lander Street, and then to Sixth Avenue S.”
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To be clear, reading this as written would mean that the Spokane St. Viaduct (aka the East half of the West Seattle Bridge) will be closed to eastbound traffic. Is that correct or is it just really badly written?

WSB June 21, 2012 (8:52 pm)

It’s only supposed to refer to the surface closure. There are NO weekday bridge closures (nor, next week, overnight bridge closures either) in the works. If it’s confusing, I can just delete that paragraph till suggesting an SDOT rewrite tomorrow.

WSB June 22, 2012 (4:41 pm)

And a clarification from SDOT today:
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“As outlined in our advisory on traffic impacts associated with the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project for the coming week, the eastbound lanes of surface S Spokane Street will be closed between Fourth and Sixth avenues S for two days. The closure will begin Wednesday, June 27, at 5 a.m. and continue until 5 a.m., Friday morning, June 29. It will enable the Union Pacific Railroad to rebuild their rail crossings at S Spokane Street.

Eastbound surface traffic seeking to access the on-ramps to I-5 or Columbian Way on Beacon Hill will either be detoured north to S Lander St and then back south on Sixth Avenue S, or south on Fourth Avenue S to Industrial Way. Eastbound viaduct traffic can remain on the viaduct to reach the I-5 on-ramps or Columbian Way.”

MikeC June 21, 2012 (9:25 pm)

This isn’t necessarily the proper place for this comment, but…

Despite how horrific it has been getting out of West Seattle, there is one “temporary” modification that has mitigated going east on the SSV. It gets my vote for becoming a permanent modification. I am referring to the barrier between the 99-on ramp and the SSV where the on ramp comes up from East Marginal. Not having to deal with trucks and cars merging across two lanes to the left while others are trying to go through or go to the 1st Ave exit keeps things moving!

It seems safer too.