Federal Way commuters could experience a standstill during their northbound commute

Federal Way commuters who travel northbound on I-5 for work should expect some inflated driving times in an already busy and sluggish commute towards Seattle.

In eight days WSDOT begins the biggest construction closures ever in downtown Seattle. For a 19-day stint beginning August 10 and concluding August 29, WSDOT contractor crews will close up to three lanes on northbound Interstate 5 and multiple ramps around the clock.

Workers will remove and replace old expansion joints and repave the entire 1.1-mile section between Spokane Street and I-90.

The cause

The existing I-5 bridge deck is worn and rutted from over 40 years of use. Steel rebar is exposed in some areas and the expansion joints are under stress from heavy traffic. The condition of the bridge deck is an increasing risk to drivers and requires constant maintenance. These repairs are costly and require disruptive and repeated emergency lane closures.

WSDOT will replace expansion joints and resurface 1.13 miles of freeway on the northbound bridge deck between I-90 and Spokane Street. On southbound I-5, crews are repairing existing expansion joints.

Improved expansion joints and paving will enhance safety and create a smoother, safer ride for drivers. They will also eliminate the need for constant and disruptive repairs.

To keep traffic moving, WSDOT traffic engineers say at least half of the drivers on northbound I-5 - more than 65,000 vehicles - must find alternate ways to work, leave early, take transit or carpool, telework or take vacation.

Sound Transit, King County Metro Transit, and Pierce Transit have stepped up to help drivers navigate these tough closures with extra buses and trains, rerouted trips, and added capacity on existing systems.

Sound Transit adds additional

Sounder runs

Sound Transit announced last week an additional morning and afternoon Sounder Commuter Train between Puyallup and Seattle. This extra run is added to the current four weekday daily round-trip runs on the south corridor for a total of five round-trip runs each weekday.

The four regular Sounder's south corridor trains will serve Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent, Tukwila and Seattle.

The additional train that will run during the I-5 construction will serve all of those stations except Tacoma.

"There's never been a better time for people to try Sounder and see for themselves how nice it is to ride right past the traffic jam," said Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl.

"The extra round-trip train that BNSF has agreed to add will immediately increase our Sounder commuter rail passenger capacity and give our passengers more options."

King County Metro Transit today announced it will add an additional trip to the Elliott Bay Water Taxi schedule during the I-5 construction period. That trip will leave Seacrest Marina in West Seattle at 6:10 a.m. Monday through Friday.

In addition, King County Metro Transit will increase capacity on each sailing from 149 to 250 passengers per trip. There also will be two vans, instead of one, operating on Metro's Route 773 shuttle that serves the Seacrest dock during both the morning and afternoon commute periods.

Transit agencies reroute buses during I-5 closures

Twenty-two King County Metro Transit routes will be rerouted off I-5 to avoid the work zone, and many will use a truck and transit HOV lane on Airport Way South. Metro will also have vanpool and vanshares available so people don't have to commute alone.

Sound Transit Express routes 586, 590, 591, 592, 594 and 595 will be detoured when traveling north into Seattle and the University District.

Buses will depart at their scheduled time. However, bus riders should expect delays on northbound trips. The buses will serve all their regular stops except at Spokane Street at the SODO Busway.

Pierce Transit suggests that commuters use a local Pierce Transit bus to a transfer point such as the Tacoma Dome Station where a Seattle Express Bus or the Sounder Train will provide service into King County.

Additional free parking is available at the Tacoma Dome Lot A weekdays only, Aug. 13 through 29. It is a short walk to the Sounder Train or Seattle Express Buses.

WSDOT taking steps to ease congestion

WSDOT workers are also doing their part. Officials will activate the emergency operations center and put extra traffic engineers and communications staff in the traffic management center. We plan to use those extra staff members to communicate with the public about traffic conditions 18 hours a day for the entire 19-day closure.

Some of the steps WSDOT is taking to ease congestion include: