For the Reporter
After a break for Seafair weekend, the #SouthKingSlowdown resumes the weekend of Aug. 12-15 with bridge expansion joint replacement and drainage repair on Interstate 5 near Tukwila.
This is the first of two big weekends of work in South King County.
The second weekend is planned for Aug. 19-22 construction on southbound I-5 in Tukwila and southbound State Route 167 in Algona/Pacific. The Washington State Department of Transportation encourages drivers to stay alert, plan ahead and know their alternate routes and transit options.
Aug. 12-15 weekend work information
This weekend, a variety of work will occur on southbound I-5 in Tukwila.
• Replacement of four bridge expansion joints on the right side of the southbound I-5 Duwamish River Bridge.
• Concrete panel repair between the Duwamish River Bridge and Klickitat Drive.
• Drainage repairs near the State Route 518 on-ramp to southbound I-5.
• Removal of hazardous trees near the State Route 518 on-ramp to southbound I-5.
• Grinding concrete panels on southbound I-5 near the I-405 interchange.
Aug. 12-15 lane and ramp closure information
Lane closures:
• Southbound I-5 will be reduced to two lanes from Martin Luther King Jr. Way South/SR 900 to Klickitat Drive.
• Lanes begin closing at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, with I-5 reduced to two lanes at 10 p.m. At least two lanes will be open at all times except during overnight hours on Friday and Sunday, when only one lane may be open.
• All lanes will be open by 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15.
Ramp closures from 9 p.m. Friday. Aug. 12 to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15:
• Southbound I-405 ramp to southbound I-5
• Southbound MLK Jr. Way South on-ramp to southbound I-5
• Southbound I-5 off-ramp to Interurban Avenue.
• Southbound SR 599 right side ramp to southbound I-5.
• Eastbound SR 518 and the Klickitat Drive ramps to southbound I-5 will be closed from 3:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 and 3:30 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14.
“We appreciate how patient and prepared drivers have been over the previous three weekends of work in this area,” said WSDOT Project Engineer Mike Askarian. “We ask drivers to continue to stay alert and engaged, which helps minimize the effect of the closures on the region.”
These lane reductions are part of a 13-mile I-5 concrete rehabilitation project that will continue into 2017.
Final #SouthKingSlowdown work includes SR 167 in Algona/Pacific Aug. 19-22
The second and final weekend of work for the #SouthKingSlowdown is scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Tukwila and Algona/Pacific.
As lanes are reduced on I-5 in Tukwila to finish replacing expansion joints on the Duwamish River Bridge, crews will close all lanes of southbound SR 167 in Algona/Pacific to complete construction of a 386-foot-long fish passable culvert. SR 167 will be closed from 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 22 between Ellingson Road and 8th Street East.
The culvert work on SR 167 and the I-5 lane reductions are 18 miles apart, with several alternate routes for drivers to navigate around them.
This work is a part of the SR 167 Southbound HOT Lane Extension project.
Drivers can help limit backups
The remaining two weekends of highway work will create traffic backups. By planning ahead, drivers can take steps to limit 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, before 9 a.m., or later, after 9 p.m., or reschedule discretionary trips.
• Check the Seattle Traffic page for updated traffic conditions.
• Download WSDOT’s mobile app.
• Follow the hashtag #SouthKingSlowdown on Twitter for updates from WSDOT, local media outlets and other agencies.
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