information from WSDOT

Beginning as soon as March 7, construction crews building the roads leading to the north entrance of the State Route 99 tunnel will close a single lane of SR 99/Aurora Avenue North in each direction between Valley Street in South Lake Union and the southern end of the Aurora Bridge.

The lane closures are necessary to create a safe work zone for contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation to build foundations for the large traffic signs approaching the north entrance of the new SR 99 tunnel.

“We understand these closures may inconvenience drivers during peak hours of the commute,” said Dave Sowers, deputy program administrator of operations for the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program. “So we’re doing this critical work in winter and early spring to take advantage of typically lower traffic volumes and to avoid conflicts with the recent football season and upcoming major summer events.”

Details of the lane closures

Northbound SR 99 between Valley Street and the Aurora Bridge

· One lane will be closed for approximately eight weeks; two lanes will remain open.

· An additional lane may close at night and during some weekend days.

Southbound SR 99 between the Aurora Bridge and Valley Street

· One lane will be closed for approximately 12 weeks; two lanes will remain open.

· An additional lane may close at night and during some weekend days.

What drivers and bus riders should know

· Beginning as early as Saturday, March 7, drivers and bus riders should expect additional congestion on Aurora Avenue North, especially during peak commute times.

Northbound and southbound trips may take longer than normal since buses will travel and make stops in the outside lanes with other vehicle traffic. The southbound, bus-only lane will be open to all traffic during this work.
If you must travel through the area during the lane closures, know before you go using WSDOT travel tools or visit the SDOT traveler’s information page.

Construction schedules are unpredictable due to weather and other factors. Durations are approximate and may change.
This work is part of construction for the north end of the SR 99 Tunnel Project in which WSDOT contractor Atkinson Construction is building roads and connections to the north entrance of the tunnel near the Space Needle. Utility relocation work in this area is nearly complete since work began in spring 2014, and the future on- and off-ramps that will connect the tunnel to nearby streets are taking shape.