Information from Seattle Department of Transportation
 

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has begun construction to repave the South Spokane Street Viaduct between the West Seattle Bridge and I-5. This work will require ongoing weeknight and weekend closures starting tonight. 

There will overnight lane closures most weeknights from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., and each weekend from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. During the first two weeks of construction all eastbound lanes and all eastbound off-ramps to SODO surface streets will be closed on many nights and all weekend long. During the full eastbound directional closures, all eastbound vehicles using the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge will be directed onto northbound SR 99.

Weekend and weeknight closures will continue throughout the summer and fall. Future closures may also result in closures of the westbound lanes or the I-5 off-ramp towards the West Seattle Bridge. 

A list of closures during the first two weeks of construction is available on this webpage. This schedule is subject to change and will be updated over time.  

The South Spokane Street Viaduct is the elevated roadway that goes through SoDo to connect the West Seatle Bridge and I-5. This is a different structure from either the West Seattle Bridge or the Spokane St Swing Bridge. Maps of the work area are available on the SDOT Blog.

These closures are necessary to repair damaged pavement which is prone to potholes and “alligator skin” cracking. Crews will repave the bridge deck and apply a synthetic polymer sealant to the road surface to help ensure it remains in good condition over time. Crews will also make drainage improvements and bridge deck repairs on the westbound lanes. 

This work is funded by a $5 million federal grant from the Federal Highway Administration Bridge Improvement Program which is funded in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and then passed to the WSDOT’s Local Bridge Program.

Detour Options:

Most closures during the first few weeks will close all of the eastbound lanes. There will be different detour route options depending on which lanes and ramps are closed: 

• The eastbound off-ramp from the West Seattle Bridge to northbound SR 99 will remain open. To get from the West Seattle Bridge to I-5, take SR 99 north towards downtown, then use 1st Ave S to get to the Edgar Martinez Dr S freeway on-ramp.   
• The off-ramps to SODO surface streets will sometimes be closed. When these ramps are open, eastbound drivers can also take S Spokane St (the ground-level street beneath the raised viaduct) to I-5.
• The West Seattle Low Bridge (a.k.a. Spokane St Swing Bridge) will be open and is another option to get to SODO or to I-5 via surface streets.