Read all of this there are 2 dates of closing.

Date:  Sunday, July 22, 2007

Contact: Paul Johnson, WSDOT Engineer, 206.473.0875
Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, 206.714.1636

SEATTLE – Crews working for WSDOT will close up to three lanes of southbound I-5 in downtown Seattle between I-90 and Spokane St. Sunday through Wednesday nights this week to repair old expansion joints.

“This is part of the I-5 expansion joint work,” said Paul Johnson, WSDOT engineer. “But our contractor, Concrete Barrier Inc, was able to complete this southbound portion of the work at night. We’re thrilled to be able to do this without too much disruption to traffic.”

Crews will:

    * close lanes on southbound I-5 starting at 8 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday night
    * close up to three lanes by 11 p.m.
    * keep two lanes open at all times
     open all lanes by 5 a.m.

On Wednesday, July 25, crews will close:

    * the three right lanes
    * the southbound collector distributor lanes to southbound I-5
    * west and eastbound I-90 to southbound I-5 ramps
    * southbound I-5 to Forest St.

During the closure, crews will install new bolts and tighten existing bolts on 40 expansion joints between I-90 and Spokane St. Expansion joints cover the small gaps between slabs on concrete which make up the bridge. When complete, there will be a bolt every four feet of expansion joint to provide extra security to hold down the joints.

This work on I-5 is not nearly as intensive as the work scheduled for northbound I-5 August 10-19. During those round-the-clock closures, crews will break apart and remove the concrete surrounding the expansion joint, take out the joint and replace it with an entirely new piece. During this northbound work, WDOT contractors will close up to three lanes of northbound I-5 24/7 for 19 days in August. They will also close critical ramps.

Drivers are asked to prepare for those closures by carpooling, vanpooling, taking transit, or adjust their work schedules. WSDOT estimates that 50% of the current drivers must take alternate routes to prevent around-the-clock gridlock.

To find out what options are available go to: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/SpokaneStreetBridgeRepair/CommuteOptions.htm