(SDOT photo of Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project work, taken and provided last week)
Early warning just in from SDOT:

The contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation to widen the Spokane Street Viaduct (the raised roadway that connects I-5 to the West Seattle Bridge) tentatively plans to close the westbound lanes of the viaduct on Wednesday night.

Crews plan to work from 10 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27 to 5 a.m. on Thursday, October 28 to stripe the roadway and install a temporary barrier in preparation for widening the easternmost portion of the Spokane Street Viaduct.

During this work, traffic from southbound I-5 that would otherwise take the Spokane Street Viaduct will instead be directed to the Forest Street exit to access surface streets. Traffic from northbound I-5 and westbound traffic from Columbian Way will be detoured to surface streets at Sixth Avenue South.

At yesterday’s Alaskan Way Viaduct project-related South Portal Working Group meeting, SDOT reiterated that the Spokane Street Viaduct project is on schedule. The next key component to open will be the new 1st Avenue South on-/off-ramp on the westbound side, expected to be done by next fall.

(Photos courtesy Seattle Department of Transportation)
That’s one of the photos SDOT shared this week when we asked if they had any new construction-progress photos from the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project. We have a few more – but first, SDOT has just finalized plans for this weekend closure as part of the ongoing construction:

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will close the westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct Saturday night, Oct 16, for work required on the viaduct widening project. (The Spokane Street Viaduct is the raised structure that connects the West Seattle Bridge to I-5.) Crews will work from 10 p.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. Sunday. During this work, southbound I-5 traffic will be directed to the South Forest Street exit to access surface streets. Northbound I-5 traffic and westbound traffic from South Columbian Way will be detoured to surface streets at Sixth Avenue South.

Note that this does NOT overlap with the Alaskan Way Viaduct closures this weekend, which are scheduled for 6 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday. Meantime, three more views courtesy of SDOT:

As for the project’s overall status, according to SDOT’s Marybeth Turner: “The project remains on schedule for completion by spring 2012, with the new First Avenue on/off ramp complete by the fall of 2011.” Previous WSB coverage, dating back to the announcement of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project in spring 2008, is archived here (newest to oldest).

3 months earlier than expected, the first major component of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project is officially open to drivers, now that a morning media tour and ceremony are over. The 1st vehicles were project trucks, at 10:17 am, applauded by the SDOT onlookers; the first “unofficial” driver came just a few minutes later:

The $42 million ramp starts with one lane at the top, though it’s wide enough for two once the entire SSVWP is done, according to project manager Stuart Goldsmith; by the time you get to the bottom, there are three lanes – one left turn (south), one to go straight or turn right, one turning right. More to come! (P.S. Apropos to the fact some refer to it as the “Costco” ramp since it provides a direct route from The Bridge, a Costco rep was in the crowd to watch.) ADDED 11:47 AM: Prior to our complete followup later with more details and a look ahead – a few images from the “media tour” pre-opening, all by Christopher Boffoli:

That’s the view from the top of the ramp, looking back at West Seattle (obviously those barrels are gone now). Next, the view looking down toward 4th Avenue:

And the crew putting finishing touches on the traffic signals, up till the last moment:

In addition to City Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen and Sally Clark, plus County Councilmember Jan Drago and SDOT boss Peter Hahn, WSDOT’s leader for the entire Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project, Ron Paananen, was there to help cut the ribbon and say a few words about the role this plays in “viaduct replacement” – with an extra path downtown for West Seattle drivers. We talked to CM Rasmussen about that too.

(The “south portal” section of the Viaduct/99 project itself also has an offramp in the stadium vicinity, just before the entrance to what WSDOT still refers to as “the proposed deep-bore tunnel.”)

Just in from SDOT:

The contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will close all eastbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct from First to Fourth avenues S overnight, beginning Sunday night, to prepare for the Monday morning opening of the Fourth Avenue S Off-ramp. The closure is necessary to remove the concrete barrier and to patch surface concrete where the barrier was connected to the viaduct deck.

Crews will place temporary barriers where the new off-ramp meets with the upper roadway to allow for a daylight opening of the ramp.

All eastbound lanes will be open by 5:00 a.m. Monday and the new Fourth Avenue S Off-ramp will be opened after the morning commute. The overnight closure begins at 10:00 p.m. Sunday, August 15, and will be complete by 5:00 a.m. Monday, August 16.

You heard it here first last night, after SDOT’S Tracy Burrows gave the 34th District Democrats the scoop – and now her department has issued the official news release: The new 4th Avenue S. offramp from the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct WILL open Monday, but not till AFTER the morning commute. (They’re having a “media tour” so we’ll be there to show you what happens; here’s our report on the last “media tour” of the ramp in May.)

At the 34th District Democrats‘ meeting (The Hall at Fauntleroy): At the start of a transportation-issues discussion, with panelists including Councilmember Tom Rasmussen (who chairs the Transportation Committee), SDOT‘s Tracy Burrows just announced that the new 4th Avenue S. offramp from the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct (the ramp some have nicknamed “the Costco offramp”) will open MONDAY. (SDOT had told WSB earlier this week that an opening next week was possible – but this is the first official announcement of the date; this means that stretch of the SSV will return to 2 lanes.) More from this meeting later, in a separate story.

That’s the word late today from SDOT – the concrete pour for the connection between the existing Spokane Street Viaduct and the new eastbound offramp at 4th Avenue is done, but it has to cure for two weeks before they can put on the finishing touches, then open the ramp and reopen the lane:

Today the contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) completed the final concrete pour to close the gap between the new eastbound Fourth Ave S off-ramp and the Spokane St Viaduct. The concrete will take approximately two weeks to cure; then crews will place an epoxy coat on the roadway and stripe it.

Please note, during concrete curing the area must be left clear to properly solidify, so crews will not be out on site.

If all goes well, that means the total closure will be closer to four weeks than the “up to six” first predicted.

It’s been one week since eastbound traffic on the Spokane Street Viaduct section of the West Seattle Bridge lost a lane to construction work. And while the eastbound bridge is seldom a picnic, some drivers say it’s become even more of a “parking lot” – the term Twitter user @allrachel used while sending the shown-above cameraphone photo Monday morning. All this brings us to a note we received from West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee. “I am concerned about the backups on the Spokane Street Viaduct. Recently I inquired whether SDOT would be able to speed up the work on the completion of the offramp from the Spokane Street Viaduct.” He attached the e-mail he got back – read ahead to see it:Read More

(“Live” eastbound West Seattle Bridge camera moved up to another story)
The first morning commute is in the books, kicking off up to six weeks with a key stretch of the eastbound Spokane Street Viaductt down to one lane, so the new 4th Avenue offramp can be connected. Commuters have been sharing their thoughts in a variety of ways, including this WSB comment thread, a discussion on the WSB Facebook page, and via Twitter. We asked SDOT for their take, and here’s what Marybeth Turner had to say:

With one eastbound lane closed on the Spokane Street Viaduct, we did observe backups this morning in traffic heading for the West Seattle Bridge. SDOT will continue to look for opportunities to make adjustments to traffic signals to improve the flow of traffic.

We expect there will be a period of adjustment while people get used to the viaduct lane closure and as more drivers use alternate routes. We hope that drivers understand that this six-week lane closure is an essential last step for the full opening of the new Fourth Avenue S off-ramp.

In an informal analysis of the reaction, what seemed to be most notable is that the backup lasted longer than the “normal” morning commute mess – a WSB team member had to head toward SODO for a 10 am appointment and reported it was still a slog; same thing tweeted by Rhonda from The Mortgage Porter (WSB sponsor). On the other hand, we have a few reports that it was better than usual in the very early going – Scott C sent a cameraphone photo around 5:15 am to that effect; this comment says 6:45 am was close to the usual speed. ADDED 12:10 PM: Here’s an e-mail report from longtime WSB’er Kevin McClintic, who saw it at two times during this morning’s drive – read on:Read More

(12:01 pm Tuesday note – Live bridge-cam picture moved up to newer story in the lane closure)
ORIGINAL 10:39 PM REPORT: We’ve put up the “live” bridge cam tonight as a reminder that the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct – the section of the West Seattle Bridge between 99 and I-5 (which doesn’t have a live cam, but this one will show any resulting backups) – is completely closed all night tonight, due to reopen by 5 am. The closure that was supposed to kick in at 9 pm hadn’t taken effect by 9:20 pm, when we went over to take a look, but it’s in place now, according to SlickPix Photography‘s David Rosen. When the road reopens, it will be only one lane wide eastbound between 1st and 4th Avenues, round the clock, for up to six weeks, while the new 4th Avenue offramp is connected to the existing outside lane. (Tonight’s detour details are here.)

This won’t affect your commute tomorrow – but if you use The Bridge eastbound, it probably will, starting Tuesday. After a complete overnight closure 9 pm Monday-5 am Tuesday, the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct (between 1st and 4th Avenues) will be down to one lane for up to six weeks, around the clock, so the new 4th Ave. offramp can be connected to the existing roadway. Here’s the best explanation of what’ll be going on (including a reminder that the lower eastbound Spokane St. lanes are open in that same stretch).

New update from SDOT, as 9 pm Monday approaches – that’s when the right lane of the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct (aka the West Seattle Bridge between Highway 99 and I-5) closes round-the-clock for up to six weeks of work. The first night will kick off with a total eastbound closure, according to what SDOT just sent, which includes the latest on a lower-roadway milestone tomorrow:

Work to connect the new 4th Ave S eastbound off-ramp to the Spokane St Viaduct starts Monday night, July 19. From 9 p.m. Monday to no later than 5 a.m. Tuesday both eastbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed in order to set up temporary barriers, with traffic diverted to the lower roadway. Lower eastbound Spokane St opens to traffic tomorrow, Friday, July 16. As of 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 20, only the eastbound right-hand lane of the Spokane St Viaduct will remain closed, for up to 6 weeks. Once this work is complete, the new 4th Ave S eastbound off-ramp will open for use.

Again, that right-lane eastbound closure will be around-the-clock till it’s done. And this is the “West Seattle Bridge lane closure” you’d been seeing on the overhead signage the past day or two – SDOT indicated they’ll change the verbiage to make it clearer that this is NOT the main (high) bridge, but rather the Spokane Street Viaduct section.

(WSB photo from May, showing where the top of the new ramp will be ‘fused’ to the old roadway)
First warning of this came during the May media tour of the Spokane Street Viaduct‘s soon-to-open 4th Avenue exit ramp (from the eastbound side), and now the date’s set for the lane closure that will finish the process, but cause backups for several weeks in the meantime. From SDOT:

The new eastbound Fourth Avenue S off-ramp from the Spokane Street Viaduct (the raised roadway that links the West Seattle Bridge to I-5) is nearing completion. The Seattle Department of Transportation’s contractor begins work to connect the new off-ramp to the viaduct the night of July 19th. This work requires closing the eastbound right-hand lane of the viaduct, between approximately First and Fourth avenues S, for up to six weeks starting at 9 p.m. July 19th. Electronic sign boards will notify the travelling public in advance of the upper roadway lane closure.

On July 16th, two eastbound lanes of lower Spokane Street will re-open between East Marginal Way S and Fourth Avenue S, with one lane continuing to Sixth Avenue. The change means drivers on lower Spokane, who were restricted to East Marginal Way S for south-bound travel, will be able to continue to Fourth Ave S to turn right and head south. Also, on July 15th, the sidewalk on the south side of Spokane Street will open for use.

(WSB photo from last month, showing where the top of the new ramp will be ‘fused’ to the old roadway)
SDOT mentioned it during the “media tour” we covered on the new 4th Avenue offramp in May – and now, they’re sending out a reminder: When they are ready to connect that new ramp from the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct to the existing roadway, they will have to close the right-hand eastbound lane for up to six weeks – meaning a traffic bottleneck between 99 and I-5. (On the bright side, they had said in May that it could last up to EIGHT weeks.) Read on for the advance warning SDOT sent around Tuesday night:Read More

Just got an update from SDOT – they did NOT reopen lower Spokane Street eastbound from East Marginal to 1st Avenue South today after all, because of “electrical problems.” (The aforementioned ramp closure did happen on schedule, though.) More to come.

We’ve been reporting on it for months, and, for the past week or two, publishing reminders almost daily – but better over-reminded than under-reminded – tomorrow is the day that the 1st Avenue South onramp to the westbound (high) West Seattle Bridge closes permanently, as part of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project. SDOT says it will be closed first thing in the morning. It will be replaced by a new ramp to the westbound side of The Bridge, but SDOT says that will take at least 16 months to build. So if you’re trying to get to West Seattle from SODO, you will either have to use the “low bridge” detour – per the map on this page – or take the “back way” (head to the 1st Avenue South Bridge and enter West Seattle via Highland Park Way or Myers/Roxbury).

Remember that SDOT will use electronic signs and Twitter to warn of “low bridge” openings during rush hour, in hopes you will be forewarned if you’re heading to West Seattle that way; you don’t have to be a Twitter member to check out what SDOT posts at twitter.com/seattledot – that works as a regular weblink – but in case you lose the link, we’ve added it to the top of the WSB Traffic page. And also remember that bus routes are affected (Metro’s explanation here). If you use the low-bridge detour by car, bus or bike tomorrow, please consider sharing your story – any of these ways – about how it goes. One more reminder – for eastbound surface-street drivers in the area – as SDOT announced during the media tour we covered on Friday, lower S. Spokane Street will reopen by tomorrow morning, from East Marginal to 1st.

Two years of WSB reports about the SSV Widening Project are all archived here, newest to oldest.

With three days till the 1st Avenue South ramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge closes, SDOT invited the media to come see the other side of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project this morning.

As we tweeted while on the tour, which took us and 4 regional-media crews up the new 4th Avenue offramp from the eastbound side, that ramp is now running at least five months ahead of schedule and is likely to open in September. The ramp is complete enough that we were able to walk all the way up; the next major stage is the “closure” to fuse it with the existing structure – and that will cause some eastbound headaches during an up-to-8-week period this summer, because it means that stretch of the eastbound path to I-5 and Columbian Way will be down to one lane. Here’s the section of the ramp that will be fused to the existing bridge – the view is westward toward West Seattle, against traffic:

And if you really want to see the ramp in all its glory, we pointed the camera forward while walking back down (sorry we can’t speed it up to something approximating a car’s pace):

In the meantime, concurrent with Monday’s closure of the 1st Ave. South ramp on the westbound side – slated to be replaced over the next 16 months with a new onramp which will actually be entered from 1st, a ways north of the bridge – we were told during today’s tour that a section of lower eastbound Spokane Street is about to REOPEN: By Monday morning, project managers say, the lower eastbound Spokane Street will reopen from East Marginal to 1st. (That means the questions about “why can’t we turn right from the 1st Avenue South ramp?” are about to be moot.)

Something else that’s happening next week – a stoplight will be installed on 4th Avenue South, where the new ramp ends – while it starts as one lane off the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct, it becomes two lanes midway down, and then splits into three at the end.

So to review:
*1st Avenue South onramp to the westbound West Seattle (high) Bridge closes permanently as of Monday (first thing in the morning).
*It will be demolished and replaced by a new onramp, but that will take an estimated 16 months to build. In the meantime, traffic will be detoured to the low bridge – here’s the detour map again:

*SDOT is expecting advance warning of bridge openings for marine traffic, and will put that on dynamic-messaging signage in the area, and will also send it out via Twitter (follow them at @seattledot – even if you are not a Twitter user, you can use that link to see their updates online).
*Other road projects, of course, continue too (while on our way to the tour, we had to get off on 1st to get to 4th – which will change as of Monday – and then got stuck first in construction slowdowns on 1st north of the bridge, then behind a train while taking an east-west street to cut over to 4th). They’re listed here.

If you plan to follow the low-bridge detour while coming home on Monday, we’d love to hear about your experience – tweet, FB, e-mail us, whatever, with the story of how it worked out.

Wednesday afternoon, SDOT used its Twitter account to say the Spokane Street Swing (“low”) Bridge was “closing” – as in, closing to vehicle traffic so marine traffic could get through. We asked if that was a preview of things to come after the 1st Avenue South ramp to the westbound West Seattle (“high”) Bridge closes as of next Monday (part of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project) – and indeed, per an announcement this morning, it is. Though the U.S. Coast Guard said no to officially restricting bridge openings during rush hour, this is part of the “voluntary notification” process worked out – read on to see how you can be sure to get these advance warnings:Read More

We’re counting down this week to the closure next Monday of the 1st Avenue South onramp to the westbound (high) West Seattle Bridge, which will route WS-bound traffic to the “low bridge” unless you get on from 99, I-5 or Beacon Hill, while a new ramp’s being built as part of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project. We’ve reported Metro’s reroute plans before, but they’re out again today with a few routes added to the latest official “buses may be delayed” warning – so we’re publishing that in its entirety – read on:Read More

(Click to see full-size project-overview graphic on SDOT website)
In case you’ve missed all the earlier coverage (archived here) … here’s your one-week warning: The next big closure related to the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project happens next Monday: SDOT will permanently close the 1st Avenue South onramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge, so unless you get onto The Bridge from Beacon Hill, I-5, or 99, you’ll have to take the “low bridge.” This page on the city website lists not only that upcoming closure, but also the detour routes, and other ongoing restrictions. If you ride Metro, they’ve got a special section on their website collecting the information that’s been coming out over the past few months related to routes that’ll have to detour. Also note, that page points out three Fauntleroy ferry terminal-linked routes whose schedules will change next Monday: 116, 118, 119. The graphic above shows the future ramp configuration; the new 1st Avenue ramp is scheduled to open late next year.