17 Aug SR 99 – S. Holgate Street to S. King Street viaduct replacement update

Did you feel that?
If you live or work near the sports stadiums, you may notice the ground shaking during daytime hours next week. No need to jump under your desk, it’s not an earthquake. Crews are using a vibratory device attached to a crane to wiggle metal sheets out of the ground. The sheets were originally installed in June to prevent soil from filling trenches as crews worked to relocate and install new utilities. Learn more about construction noise and vibration<http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/HolgateToKing/Noise2011.htm>.

First Avenue South and SODO ramps closed next Thursday night
First Avenue S. through SODO will look a bit different next week. On Thursday, Aug. 18, crews will install new directional signs over First Avenue S. and the Royal Brougham Way S. on- and off-ramps. To safely install the signs, crews will close all lanes of First Avenue S. between South Royal Brougham Way and South King Street and the State Route 99 on- and off-ramps at Royal Brougham Way S. from 7 p.m., Thursday to 5 a.m., the following morning.  First Avenue S. traffic will be detoured to Occidental Avenue S.

Nine-day-long viaduct closure on the radar for October
In mid-to-late October we will close all lanes of the Alaskan Way Viaduct for nine days to demolish up to 300 yards of the viaduct and open a section of the new State Route 99<http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/HolgateToKing/>. We plan to announce the specific closure details later this month. You can learn more about what to expect here<http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/HolgateToKing/ViaductNineDayClosure.htm>.

Quick links:
*         Seattle Traffic – Real-time conditions on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Seattle area freeways, and many connecting streets:  WSDOT Seattle Area Traffic Map<http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/> and the city of Seattle’s Traveler’s Information Map<http://web5.seattle.gov/travelers/>

*         Construction – Weekly updates about construction closures in the downtown Seattle and SODO<http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/King/Seattle.htm> areas

*         Commute Trip Reduction – WSDOT-funded trip reduction programs<http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/TDM/CTR> remove trips from SR 99 and key alternate routes during construction

*         Transit – Additional bus service<http://metro.kingcounty.gov/> to and from southwest Seattle and an expanded system to track Metro travel times<http://metro.kingcounty.gov/oltools/tracker.html> along bus routes affected by construction

*         Bike/Walk – Maintaining a safe and reliable path for bicyclists and pedestrians<http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/HolgateToKing/BikePed.htm> who rely on Alaskan Way S. and other routes