Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project

Upcoming closures and alternate detours

Revised March 16, 2010

Other closures in effect, as work on the South Spokane Street Viaduct Project continues, include the following:

• The existing westbound Spokane Street Viaduct off-ramp to Fourth Ave S permanently closed in late January and is now demolished

• All lanes of westbound lower Spokane Street (from Sixth Ave S to First Ave S) are closed to through traffic for the duration of the project. Local business access, however, will be preserved throughout the duration of the project.

• Fourth Ave S between S Horton and Industrial Way S is reduced to one lane in each direction over the next several months. This may include full closures of the northbound lanes at night for up to a week.

• Parking is restricted on First Ave S between S Spokane St and Hinds St permanently and between Hinds St and Horton St for the duration of the project.

When complete, the South Spokane Street Viaduct Widening project will nearly double the width of the elevated roadway. Seattle commuters and the freight community will enjoy improved access between I-5, SODO (the area south of downtown) and West Seattle, and significantly improved traffic flow and safety on this key east-west route. The $168 million viaduct effort, SDOT’s largest project currently in construction, is expected to be complete by 2012.

Current Signed Detour route: Spokane eastbound detour

For through traffic from East Marginal Way toward I-5:

• North on EAST MARGINAL to HANFORD,
• East on HANFORD to 1 ST,
• North on 1st to LANDER,
• East on LANDER to 6th, and
• South on 6th to return to the SPOKANE STREET lower roadway

The same detour, in the reverse direction, applies during westbound street closures. Signals along these routes have been adjusted to reduce congestion, but greater congestion and slower transit times should be expected.

Pedestrian access on South Spokane Street and local business access will be maintained by the contractor.

Alternate Routes:

Alternate routes for commuters from West Seattle into downtown include:

• North on SR-99 to downtown exits at Seneca and Western Ave.
• North on East Marginal Way S/Alaskan Way S to Atlantic, Royal Brougham, King, Main, or Yesler.
• Stay on the Spokane Street Viaduct to I-5, then North on I-5 to downtown exits.

Alternate routes for commuters from West Seattle southbound include:

• South on East Marginal Way to Michigan, east to I-5
• South on East Marginal Way to First Avenue South Bridge, connect to I-509
• South on East Marginal to Lucille, then east to First or Fourth Avenues or Airport Way, then north or south on any of those arterials

Alternate routes for commuters from downtown to West Seattle include:

• North on First Avenue S to east on Edgar Martinez Drive S, onto SR519 to I-5 southbound
• North on Fourth Avenue S to the SR519 on-ramp, north of Holgate, to I-5 southbound
• North to First Avenue to Columbia Street, to SR99/Alaskan Way Viaduct southbound
• South on Fourth Avenue S to east on S Michigan Street, to I-5 northbound I-5
• South on First Avenue S across the First Avenue Bridge, to West Marginal Way SW exit north

Tools to help motorists get around during construction include the following:

• Travelers Information Map – Visit this SDOT Web page to better plan your driving route: http://web5.seattle.gov/travelers/
• Way To Go SoDo – Get information on alternative transportation at this SDOT Web site: http://www.seattle.gov/waytogo/wtg_sodo.htm

Questions? LeAnne Nelson, SDOT Community Relations, at 206-684-3897 or by email at LeAnne.Nelson@seattle.gov. Thank you!