First weekend of #SouthKingSlowdown complete | Department of Transportation

The first week of #SouthKingSlowdown on southbound Interstate 5 in SeaTac and Des Moines is in the books. For the most part drivers heeded the warnings and used alternative routes or transit. That kept the longest backups to about 4 miles, which created delays of about 30 minutes.

July 18, 2016 5:30 pm
File image.
File image.

The first week of #SouthKingSlowdown on southbound Interstate 5 in SeaTac and Des Moines is in the books. For the most part drivers heeded the warnings and used alternative routes or transit. That kept the longest backups to about 4 miles, which created delays of about 30 minutes.

During last weekend’s lane reductions, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation replaced 48 concrete panels with asphalt and repaved 2.7 miles of the interstate using the crack, seat and overlay process. All lanes of the interstate were open on schedule, by 5 a.m. today, July 18.

“We want to thank drivers for their patience during this work,” said WSDOT Traffic Engineer Mike Swires. “Because drivers used alternatives, it limited backups and delays on I-5. We saw more delays on I-405 between Bellevue and Renton, but traffic moved well on state routes 99, 167 and 509. We need drivers to keep using those alternatives.”

The weekend-long lane reductions are necessary to do work that cannot be completed during overnight shifts. Much of the project work is being done during overnight lane reductions. Crews have used those since March to replace concrete panels, grind the interstate to eliminate ruts and other maintenance work. The overnight lane reductions will continue into 2017.

Weekend lane reductions continue this week

Four more weekends of work remain, which will reduce southbound I-5 south of Seattle to two lanes. The next is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Friday, July 22. Crews will replace concrete panels with asphalt and repave the three left lanes from South 188th Street in SeaTac to State Route 516 in Des Moines. The work, which is weather dependent, will be complete by 5 a.m. Monday, July 25.

Other weekend lane reductions on southbound I-5 are scheduled for:

  • July 29-Aug. 1: South 188th Street to SR 516
  • Aug. 12-15: Duwamish River Bridge to Klickitat Drive
  • Aug. 19-22: Duwamish River Bridge

Drivers can help

By planning ahead, drivers can take steps to limit backups and delays:

  • Allow extra time to travel through the work zones or on alternate routes.
  • Ride transit, carpool or use other forms of transportation.
  • Travel early in the morning before 9 a.m. or later in the evening after 9 p.m., or reschedule discretionary trips.
  • Check the Seattle Traffic page for updated traffic conditions.
  • Download WSDOT’s mobile app.