Delays and detours on local roads this weekend

The Washington State Department of Transport WDOT has released information for motorists getting around Seattle and the Eastside this weekend to help them avoid or anticipate road closures and disruptions.

April 16, 2009 7:34 pm

The Washington State Department of Transport WDOT has released information for motorists getting around Seattle and the Eastside this weekend to help them avoid or anticipate road closures and disruptions.

With sunny skies and Mariners home games this weekend, drivers will need to plan ahead for road construction on Interstate 5 in north Seattle and SR 520 in Bellevue.

Contractor crews will close two of four lanes on northbound I-5 near Northgate to repair broken and cracked concrete panels.

Crews in Bellevue are closer to the end.

This weekend’s work is the second to last weekend closure for major bridge panel replacement work.

Starting Friday night, crews will close two of four lanes on westbound SR-520 from 124th Avenue Northeast to I-405, as well as the ramp from westbound SR-520 to northbound I-405.

I-5 in north Seattle

www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/seattlepavementrepair/

This weekend, contractor crews will replace cracked and broken concrete panels on northbound Interstate 5 between 85th and 145th streets.

• Crews will close two of four lanes on northbound I-5 from 8 p.m., Friday, April 17, through 5 a.m., Monday, April 20.

• Drivers headed northbound and southbound on I-5 through Seattle should expect up to 45-minute delays between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

• The off-ramp from northbound I-5 to Northgate Way will close. Drivers will be directed to exit at NE 130th Street and follow a signed detour to reach the Northgate area.

• The express lanes will be open all weekend in the northbound direction to help ease traffic congestion. At the north end of the express lanes, one lane will be open to create a safer merge back onto the general purpose lanes.

• The on-ramp from 70th Street to northbound I-5 will also be closed for guardrail repair.

SR 520 Bellevue

www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr520/i405towlakesampaving/

Contractor crews in Bellevue will replace worn-out bridge approach panels in two places just east of I-405 this weekend. This project will eliminate the bone-jarring bumps between the concrete bridges and the asphalt road.

• From 11 p.m., Friday, April 17, through 5 a.m. Monday, April 20, crews will close two of four lanes of westbound SR 520 from 124th Avenue Northeast to I-405.

• The ramp from westbound SR 520 to northbound I-405 will be closed all weekend.

• The 124th Avenue Northeast on-ramp to westbound SR 520 will be closed all weekend.

• Drivers will be detoured to 108th Avenue Northeast or 148th Avenue Northeast to get to SR 520 and I-405

• Drivers should expect 108th Avenue Northeast near SR 520 to be very congested.

• WSDOT is working with the city of Bellevue to maximize signal timing on city streets to keep traffic moving.

I-90 Floating Bridge repair

www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/HomerHadleyBridgeRepair/

Drivers should also begin planning ahead for the 19 day closure of the I-90 floating bridge express lanes. The lanes will be closed around-the-clock from May 4 – 23.

Contractor crews will replace the 40-ton expansion joints which allow the bridge to flex with changing temperatures and Lake Washington water levels. The existing joints are 20 years old and need replacing. Drivers are strongly encouraged to take alternate routes or plan for delays.