If you plan to drive over the Aurora Bridge on Sunday, remember that Seattle Department of Transportation is still working on the suicide prevention fence, so you’ll have to deal with lane closures and backups in both directions.
– From 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 29, crews working for WSDOT will close two of three northbound lanes to remove and replace rivets on the east side of the bridge.
– From 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. all six lanes on the bridge and the southbound Fremont Way on-ramp will be closed while crews move construction equipment to the west side of the bridge. WSDOT scheduled this brief full closure at 1:30 p.m. to help southbound traffic heading to Sunday’s Mariners’ game.
– At 1:45 p.m. crews will reopen all northbound lanes and one southbound lane.
– Two southbound lanes and the southbound Fremont Way on-ramp will remain closed until midnight while crews work on the west side of the bridge.
Drivers can avoid the closures and delays by:
– Taking southbound SR 99 across the bridge before 1:30 p.m. Another option is using southbound SR 99 after 7:30 p.m., when delays caused by the closure will be very short.
– Taking northbound SR 99 across the bridge after 2:30 p.m. Drivers also should consider using northbound SR 99 in the morning before traffic volumes increase.
– Checking traffic conditions before hitting the roads. Check SR 99 traffic at web5.seattle.gov/travelers and I-5 traffic at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle, and tune into to radio traffic reports.
Drivers can reduce traffic volumes and minimize delays on SR 99 by:
– Reducing, postponing or combining trips.
– Riding the bus or carpooling.
– Biking or walking.
This Sunday crews will continue work to remove and replace more than 1000 rivets and bolts for the construction of a safety fence to deter suicides. Drivers can expect additional closures for rivet removal in September. Crews are working Sundays because rivet busting is too noisy to do at night. Nearby residents can expect to hear construction noise from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
