CHOKEPOINTS

Weekend roadwork expected to cause delays

Oct 6, 2018, 8:00 AM

cle-elum...

One westbound lane near Cle Elum will remain closed through the weekend for the safety of the public. (WSDOT)

(WSDOT)

Emergency road repairs are going to make getting around the region much tougher this weekend.

On Saturday night, I-5 southbound out of Seattle will be reduced to just one lane at Spokane Street to repair an expansion joint and damaged concrete. The work was planned for Friday night, but the Washington State Department of Transportation moved the date to coincide with better weather conditions.

“Consider alternative routes or other methods of transportation, like light rail. Even if half the people who normally take I-5 do something else, we’re still going to see delays,” WSDOT Traffic Engineer Mike Swires said about the work last weekend for the same closure.

You should also expect changes to the Express Lanes schedule over the weekend, as workers clean out the drains on the Ship Canal Bridge. Below is the typical weekend schedule and more information about closures:

Saturday & Sunday

For those of you heading east over I-90, be prepared for emergency repair work near Cle Elum. It’s not the drive over that will get you, but the return drive. Even with detours in place, westbound drivers should expect big delays.

WSDOT said the stretch of roadway has lost its traction. Crews will work on grinding the surface.

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