TRAFFIC ALERT: Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing-project lane closures have begun

SDOT confirms that overnight lane closures for resurfacing work on the Spokane Street Viaduct started tonight. When dates for the work were announced last week, SDOT said the lane closures could start “as soon as” tonight, so we checked to see if it was still a go, given the wet weather. When they confirmed to us that it’s a go for tonight, a spokesperson also said they’ve changed the hours – in the original announcement, the overnight lane closures were described as “between 10 pm and 5 am,” but now they’re planned for “typically between 7 pm and 6 am.” (Per the traffic-cam screengrab above, the lane-closure work zone tonight starts just after the eastbound bridge exit to NB 99.) They may also have some “full directional closure(s) overnight” in addition to the five weekend full-directional closures, scheduled to start this weekend – closed eastbound (plus the inside westbound lane) 10 pm Friday, August 2, to 5 am Monday, August 5. The work is expected to continue until early October.

valvashon July 29, 2024 (9:32 pm)

Hoping that they are doing a real resurfacing that will last, and not just patching up holes or throwing asphalt over the broken parts. I was just noticing today how rough this viaduct surface has become. Not that a rough surface makes it unique among Washington State bridges and overpasses.

WSB July 29, 2024 (9:45 pm)

From our previous story: “Crews will repave the bridge deck and apply a synthetic polymer sealant to the road surface to help ensure it remains in good condition over time. Crews will also make drainage improvements and bridge deck repairs on the westbound lanes.”

Brat July 30, 2024 (12:27 am)

How does this impact bike traffic? Except for full closures can we still bike before 5am? Its a good route for very early am commute. Thanks for the reporting.

WSB July 30, 2024 (1:25 am)

No direct effect on bicycle traffic. This is the Spokane Street Viaduct, elevated east half of the West Seattle Bridge,
between 99 and I-5. Bicycle riders travel on the surface streets below.

AMPM July 30, 2024 (1:44 am)

Did you mean to write “between 10PM and 5AM”?

WSB July 30, 2024 (1:58 am)

Fixed.

CarDriver July 30, 2024 (5:22 am)

Any hope that the upcoming warm/hot weather will speed up their work?

snowskier July 30, 2024 (11:09 am)

I hope they actually get it right this time. I am glad it’ll be a fresh surface going into the dark, wet times so the jarring potholes won’t sneak up on drivers.

daddad July 30, 2024 (1:21 pm)

It always struck me as funny that when the bridge reopened the pavements on the two far ends that are more simply structured were left in a wrecked state. No way this work could have possibly have been done during the 2+ years of closure. Max disruption to taxpayers is a feature, not a bug, it’s a congested area so the contractors gets to bill 150% now.