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Plan Ahead: Nine-day closure of the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct begins October 21

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close the majority of the Alaskan Way Viaduct at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 21 until 5 a.m.  Monday, October 31.

During the closure, crews will tear down large sections of the southern mile of the viaduct, and complete temporary connections to a new SR 99 bridge currently under construction on the west side of the viaduct in SODO. Also, the northbound viaduct between the South Royal Brougham Way on-ramp and the Battery Street Tunnel will open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and for special events at CenturyLink Field, but closed other times.

Drivers are encouraged to consider alternatives to their normal commute. WSDOT suggests the following options: carpooling, vanpooling riding the bus, water taxi, train or light rail; working from home or adjusting work schedules; checking traffic conditions before hitting the roads; using alternate routes where possible; delaying or combining trips.

When SR 99 reopens on Halloween, all traffic will transition into a curved bypass near South Royal Brougham Way. The bypass will connect the new SR 99 bridge to the existing viaduct at South King Street. Drivers will need to slow down in this section, which will have a 25 mph speed limit. The bypass allows SR 99 to remain open to traffic while crews finish replacing the southern mile and building the new SR 99 tunnel.

The speed limit on SR 99 between the Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Bridge will be reduced to 40 mph. The 25 mph advisory speed on the bypass and reduced regulatory speed limits will remain in place until the SR 99 tunnel opens to traffic in 2015.

View a map of the nine-day closure limits.

For more details around the nine day closure, visit: http://wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/HolgateToKing/ViaductNineDayClosure.htm