In an unfortunate bit of timing the Seattle Department of Transportation is choosing to close the westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct overnight on Thursday Oct. 20 which, combined with the upcoming 9 day Alaskan Way Viaduct closure starting at 7:30 pm Friday, is, to at least one West Seattle resident an insult to the people of West Seattle. Here's what SDOT announced:
press release:
For the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) project to widen the Spokane Street Viaduct, crews will close both westbound lanes of the structure from 10 PM on Thursday, October 20, to 5 AM on Friday, October 21, to test techniques for preparing old deck for new paving. The westbound lanes will be closed between I-5 and State Road 99.
During the one night closure, southbound I-5 traffic will be directed to the S Forest Street exit to access surface streets leading to the lower Spokane Street Swing Bridge. Northbound I-5 traffic and westbound traffic from Columbian Way will be detoured to surface streets at 6th Avenue South to the detour route leading to the swing bridge. Signage will be posted to direct drivers along these routes.
Motorists will also still be able to use southbound SR-99 to access the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge.
See www.seattle.gov/spokane for more details on this project.
Chas Redmond, well known West Seattle community activist is not happy about it. In a letter sent to Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and SDOT Director Peter Hahn, that he shared with the West Seattle Herald he wrote:
To Tom Rasmussen and Peter Hahn,
One day before the viaduct will be closed for 9 days in a row, this is an incredible insult to West Seattle residents. Why not just close the viaduct on Thursday instead of Friday.
Does Seattle Department of Transportation NOT really care about these combined impacts to West Seattleites. I'm beginning to believe that SDOT is deliberately targeting West Seattle for reasons unknown to me and my colleagues, friends and everyone else I speak with who think SDOT is no friend of West Seattle.
Chas Redmond
