TRAFFIC ALERT: Spokane Street Viaduct plan for this weekend changes

(Screenshot from traffic camera, looking westward over Spokane Street Viaduct)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:55 PM FRIDAY: Even though the low bridge HAS reopened to all traffic, SDOT says there WILL be a change in the previously announced plan for lane closures on the Spokane Street Viaduct (the extension of the West Seattle Bridge between 99 and I-5) this weekend, as the resurfacing project continues. Here’s the new plan:

Friday Night Through Monday – 09/20/24 to 09/23/24
NO EB CLOSURES AT ALL
WB Full Lane Closures – 10:00 pm Friday to 5:00 am Monday

Here’s what that means, for that time period:

WB S Spokane St Viaduct – Closed from I-5 Interchange to SR 99.
S Columbian Way Off Ramp to WB Spokane Viaduct – Closed. Ramp to Lower Spokane St will remain open.
NB I-5 Off Ramp to WB Spokane Viaduct – Closed. Ramp to Lower Spokane St will remain open.
SB I-5 Off Ramp to WB Spokane Viaduct – Closed. Ramp to S Columbian Way will remain open.
1st Ave S Off-Ramp – Closed (from WB SSV).
1st Ave S On-Ramp – Closed (to WB SSV).
Port of Seattle Terminals 5-18/Harbor Island/11th Ave SW Off-Ramp – Closed.

EB S Spokane Street Viaduct – All Lanes Open

No estimate yet of how much longer the project will last, but we keep asking.

11:32 AM SATURDAY: Though readers mentioned the I-5 ramps were closed early today, others have since pointed out that right now, there are NO lane closures. We’re trying to reach SDOT to find out what the plan is for the rest of the weekend.

4:23 PM SATURDAY: SDOT has tweeted that the work zone is “clear,” so it appears that means no more closures this weekend.

SeaviewBoi September 20, 2024 (5:17 pm)

Clearly they’re starting work on the Westbound lanes now, so does this mean the current pavement on the eastbound lanes is final? The new eastbound pavement is super splotchy and looks ground down in some spots / not others. No shade intended on SDOT–It’s not what I expected new pavement to look like, but I’m not an expert on pavement materials and quality.

SE September 20, 2024 (8:43 pm)

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It’s absolutely splotchy on east bound. There’s a spot that is so unlevel it drops off like a bad pothole if you don’t hug the right side of the 2nd lane. I expected better for how much it was closed to work
Derp September 20, 2024 (10:57 pm)

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I think that ONCE it is complete, that WSB and SDOT will let everyone know

David September 20, 2024 (11:59 pm)

I live on Vashon island and work late downtown. Last night the west Seattle bridge exit from I 5 south was open , tonight it was closed. Hey SDOT! How about a sign the night before informing commuters to plan for the closure. Also, how about a sign on I 5 that states the exit is closed. By the time you see the closure you must take Columbia ave and find your way to the 99. With some proper signage one can plan a different route. Closing the bridge exit while the Spokane street bridge is out of order forces you to drive south to 99 then up Roxbury to Fauntleroy. This repaving project is taking way longer than it should as well as inconveniencing tax payers such as myself who help pay for the damn thing in the first place. Use some common sense and try not to close too many options for commuters like me.

deejay September 21, 2024 (11:10 am)

and yet, Saturday morning at 11:10am, the SDOT website cameras show all is flowing both east and west with no restrictions, from the camera just east of SR99….maybe these are not updated cameras???? (typical City of Seattle incompetence)

WSB September 21, 2024 (11:15 am)

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As noted elsewhere (but I guess I’d better update this story too), while they were working early this morning (I got a note from someone who had encountered the offramp closures), they don’t seem to be now. I have messages out to SDOT in hopes of finding out if it’s clear for the entire weekend or whether work is resuming at some point.
- Bill September 21, 2024 (4:20 pm)
  
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  4:15 PM Saturday Well – just crossed the Spokane viaduct and it is wide open in both directions – no sign of ANY work done or being done or starting. Does SDOT have ANY idea what exactly they are doing?
- Bill September 21, 2024 (4:22 pm)
  
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  1. 4:15 PM Saturday Well – just crossed the Spokane viaduct and it is wide open in both directions – no sign of ANY work done or being done or starting. Does SDOT have ANY idea what exactly they are doing?
  - WSB September 21, 2024 (4:31 pm)
    
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    After I tagged them on Twitter/X at 10:25 am with the observation that the SSV was fully open but there was no advisory/update about it, they finally tweeted at 1:58 pm that the work zone was “clear.” Haven’t received a direct reply yet about what happened. I have previously pointed out to the project communications lead that on two earlier weekends, we found out about early reopening by checking the live camera, and that it would be helpful to get notification when that happened (and for their Traffic Ops Center to be notified too, which in those cases it clearly hadn’t). I guess for however long the project continues, we’ll just include a lot of caveats about checking the live cam before you go because the plan might change without notice ….
    - CarDriver September 21, 2024 (6:36 pm)
      
      WSB. Maybe you need to Introduce SDOT’s left hand to its right hand. It appears they don’t know each other……….
    - WSB September 21, 2024 (8:09 pm)
      
      The disconnect seems to be between SDOT and their contractor. So far I am still waiting for absolute confirmation that no further work is planned at all this weekend, but SDOT did reiterate that the contractor told them as recently as yesterday afternoon that they planned to work all weekend (which led to the update that I in turn quoted here after getting confirmation) …