Brace yourselves for a weekend of detours and delays as multiple closures are set to take place on SR 520 and the I-405/SR 167 corridor from Friday night, Aug. 23 to the early hours of Monday, Aug. 26. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has announced that the extensive closures are necessary for a varied scope of works, including testing of lighting, a new fire suppression system, soil conditions analysis and critical bridge maintenance.
Specifically, the SR 520 will see a complete shutdown stretching from I-5 in Seattle all the way to 92nd Avenue Northeast in Clyde Hill. The closure includes not just the highway, but also the off-ramps, and the SR 520 Trail for those on foot, bicycle, or mobility devices. The start time for these disruptions is penned in for 11 p.m. Friday, with a scheduled end at 5 a.m. Monday. Contracting crews will be leveraging, this period of low traffic to apply sealant on the floating bridge, an effort to defy the incessant tick of time and corrosion for a structure expected to last up to 75 years. The fragility of our man-made spectacles laid bare by nature's relentless march, a theme repeated across the landscapes of modernity.
Travelers looking to navigate the I-405/SR 167 corridor won't fare much better, with closures impacting northbound I-405 from SR 167 to SR 169, including associated ramps, and southbound SR 167 in Kent from SR 516 to South 277th Street, and its adjoining ramps. These closures are part of the ongoing efforts to improve the I-405/SR 167 corridor, aiming to establish a comprehensive 50-mile transportation system. According to WSDOT, this will aid in providing a more reliable trip for those who use the express toll lanes, regular lanes, and public transit systems alike.
With the known limitations of detour routes, which cannot shoulder the burden of usual traffic volumes, and the works on repaving and bridge maintenance happening concurrently, authorities are urging commuters to plan ahead. Cue the mantra of weekend warriors and weekday commuters alike: "know before you go." WSDOT encourages traveling during off-peak times or postponing nonessential journeys to alleviate potential traffic snarls. Those wishing to parse out the possible pitfalls in their route can turn to WSDOT's real-time travel map for an up-to-the-minute lay of the land.
