Viaduct-closure countdown: Got a plan? Got questions?

(WSDOT photo via Flickr – equipment ready to tear down much of the Viaduct’s southern section during the closure)
We’ve been talking about it for four and a half months – and now, the nine-day, ten-night Alaskan Way Viaduct closure is finally almost here. The official bullet points (the unofficial stuff is coming up separately):

*Scheduled to start 7:30 pm this Friday (October 21) and end by 5 am a week from Monday (October 31)
*Entire southbound stretch will be closed that entire time
*Northbound, West Seattle Bridge to Royal Brougham will be closed the entire time, but from Royal Brougham (stadium zones) on, it’ll be open 5 am-7 pm weekdays (and “special events”)
*Extra Metro buses, plus reroutes (which start at 7 pm Friday) – details here
*Extra King County Water Taxi runs (here’s the special schedule), plus bigger shuttles and parking at Don Armeni
*Travel times and city cams (including live WS Bridge video) on the Travelers’ Information map

Lots of other details from our reports in recent weeks … but those are the toplines. If you still have a question about getting around during the closure, or about the project, post a comment and we’ll seek out answers. And/or PLEASE join us and our friends at KING 5 – with whom we’re teaming up next week for maximum traffic-tackling oomph – for a last-minute online chat on Friday morning, 11 am-noon: The page is already set up – find it here!

bridge to somewhere October 19, 2011 (2:03 pm)

ok, now what’s this viaduct replacement all about? ;-)

marty October 19, 2011 (2:57 pm)

My plan? Vegas

AIDM October 19, 2011 (3:24 pm)

When north bound 509 backs up south of the West Seattle bridge (as it will when the viaduct is closed) there is a tendency for the big port of Seattle trucks to run the red lights while getting onto 509 at the W. Marginal/99/Holden light, which turns the entire intersection into gridlock. I’m wondering if SPD is going to post an officer here to direct traffic during the morning commute (7-10AM)? I think this would help a lot.

RP October 19, 2011 (3:31 pm)

Is this ‘expected’ to be finished on time?

WSB October 19, 2011 (3:58 pm)

RP – If it isn’t, one official told me the other day, there is a GIANT penalty. If anything, there apparently is a slight chance it might even be done early. (You might recall the lane restriping a few months back that brought the south end down to two lanes – that was done WAY early.)

deb October 19, 2011 (3:33 pm)

The signs on the bridge/viaduct say it is closed until October 30 at 5 a.m., what is the correct date?
Thanks for keeping us all up-to-date on everything…

WSB October 19, 2011 (3:56 pm)

Where did you see a sign saying that? It is till 5 am on Monday, October 31st – Halloween – until and unless they finish early. (See for example the ad in our right sidebar.) Seriously, if you remember where you saw the erroneous sign, I’ll send word to whomever would have jurisdiction (state or city), because they’ll want to fix it!

MJ October 19, 2011 (4:07 pm)

AIDM- I would love to see an officer there. Also people coming from Marginal and right turn on to the ramp for 509…they are “lane cheaters” who go all the way to the stop light and then turn from a non turning lane. Very frustrating!

Neo-Realist October 19, 2011 (4:16 pm)

Will the morning northbound buses use the 1st Ave S exit (with the bus lane running straight to it) or the 4th Ave S one where the bus has to get back on the spokane street bridge with the rest of the traffic?

tk October 19, 2011 (4:34 pm)

WSB- I just drove down Admiral, across the bridge to 99 north, then back onto 99S at the Art Institute and all the signs I saw said the 30th.

WSB October 19, 2011 (5:03 pm)

Update on the signs: We sent word to the communications folks who always help out with our inquiries to SDOT, and they have in turn asked their agency and the state to check the signs. Let us know if you still see 30th somewhere oh, say, tomorrow … TR

Robert October 19, 2011 (4:45 pm)

I wonder if the construction company is putting their people up in hotels downtown to insure their workers can get to the job site next week.

WSB October 19, 2011 (4:52 pm)

A few hotels are starting to offer Viadiscounts…

clark5080 October 19, 2011 (5:10 pm)

I still wonder how they are going to fit two lanes of traffic in the existing 1st ave northbound ramp

deb October 19, 2011 (6:23 pm)

I see the sign every morning where the bridge merges onto hwy 99 onramp

mookie October 19, 2011 (8:17 pm)

Thank you WSB so very much for your comprehensive coverage on all this, and the plethora of preparation info.

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Still, expect several of us (oh ok, ME) to have the random freakout next week…
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Also: “Viadiscounts.” Niiiice!

bockrock October 19, 2011 (10:49 pm)

How about a direct bus from West Seattle to Bellevue? Oh that’s right, sound transit wants to send the bus to pick up people in Kent and Renton halfway. Come on, even Microsoft figured this out with their shuttle service. For all the money we pay in taxes the best they give us is a one and half hour bus ride for $7. Umm… My car is still faster and cheaper.

seattlecris October 19, 2011 (11:27 pm)

bye bye Viaduct. The varump varump varump on our way home always woke me up on my mom’s lap and I knew we were almost there. I remember seeing the lights reflect in the chrome grid dashboard of the woodie station wagon we rode in. And the bell on the floor board.. oops I got started! Bye Bye.

Smitty October 20, 2011 (6:49 am)

Prediction:

Monday – better than normal
Tuesday – normal
Wednesday – horrible
Thursday – normal
Friday – better than normal

It seems that more than enough people are altering their schedules for one week to off-set this closure. Literally half the people I know are either taking some time off, altering their schedule or working from home.

The problem will come AFTER when the green crowd starts to think a one-week shutdown is evidence for permanent shutdown or lane reductions.

deb October 20, 2011 (8:18 am)

WSB – dates were off of the signs this a.m. on the onramp from the bridge to the viaduct…all it says now is “7:30pm to 5am”…hope that they put the right dates by tomorrow for the last date that the viaduct is open for awhile

WSB October 20, 2011 (8:26 am)

Interesting. I went looking last night and they all said “starts 7:30 pm Friday” which is what I’d seen for some days. SDOT says they couldn’t find any evidence of error.

JDD October 20, 2011 (8:57 am)

Airport Way is listed as an alternate route, however through Georgetown it is presently one lane each way because of construction. Will that return to two lanes each way during the shutdown?

WSB October 20, 2011 (9:00 am)

The mayor said at the downtown briefing we covered on Monday that Airport Way construction would not be under way during the closure.

lindynw October 20, 2011 (9:03 am)

I am wondering if there will be any adjustment in the timing of the traffic lights that control the traffic that has exited from the WS bridge (eastbound) onto First Ave or Fourth Ave. It seems like a lot of the cars that want to go north (especially in the morning commute hours) will be exiting at one of these spots and will try to get back onto the viaduct northbound at the stadiums. If the traffic lights aren’t adjusted to account for the added traffic, there could be some nasty backups. Maybe SPD will have officers directing traffic/overriding the lights?

WSB October 20, 2011 (9:27 am)

Officers will be there but the signal timing is more the job of the Traffic Management Center folks – as explained at the Monday briefing we covered – and the city insists they will be monitoring that to hopefully ease those “nasty backups.”

deb October 20, 2011 (11:23 am)

WSB – I guess tk and myself have seeing problems…

RobertSeattle October 20, 2011 (12:02 pm)

Noticed there is ongoing construction at a house across from the Water Taxi dock – they are taking up several parking spots – hope they have legitimate permits for taking up those parking spots.

bluegirl October 20, 2011 (12:34 pm)

viadiscounts….
Sixth Avenue Inn, Best Western Loyal Inn, and Best Western Plus Executive Inn (all downtown) are offering $79 plus tax per night- includes free parking and breakfast.

Sorry, comment time is over.