SR 520 Westbound Montalke Off-ramps Closed This Weekend Overnight

WSDOT published this information:

Reminder: Westbound SR 520 off-ramps to Montlake area closing nightly this weekend New temporary, transit-only shoulder lane coming to the Montlake Boulevard exit Oct. 8 As a reminder, starting this Friday evening we will begin restriping the westbound SR 520 exit to Montlake Boulevard to create a temporary, transit-only shoulder lane. This modification – a response to what we’ve heard from transit riders – will allow bus drivers to “jump the queue” of waiting cars at the Montlake Boulevard exit. The shoulder lane will be in place for about six months until the area undergoes reconstruction from the upcoming SR 520 Montlake Project. To complete the restriping, we must close the exits to both Montlake Boulevard and Lake Washington Boulevard during nighttime hours. What to expect over the Oct. 5-8 weekend: The westbound SR 520 exits to Montlake and Lake Washington boulevards will close overnight during the following times: 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, to 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, to 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, to 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8 Nighttime travelers can use the next available exits to Roanoke Avenue East or I-5 during these closures. Nighttime construction: Crews will have a temporary noise variance from the city of Seattle to work at night and ensure that the new transit-only shoulder lane is ready for the Monday morning commute on Oct. 8. Crews will use equipment to remove the current lane stripes on the exit ramps, restripe the ramp lanes, and add new signs indicating the transit-only shoulder lane. This work is weather-dependent; rain may postpone the work to another weekend. Map of weekend closure limits and new configuration: Click here for larger image. What to expect Monday morning, Oct. 8: Buses will use a temporary transit-only lane on the north shoulder of the Montlake Boulevard exit. Bus operators will have the option to “jump the queue” and bypass much of the traffic on the ramp. As buses approach the traffic signal at Montlake Boulevard, they will merge back into the general-purpose lanes before turning north onto Montlake Boulevard. Single- and high-occupancy vehicles will continue to use the off-ramp’s two existing general-purpose lanes. Why is the new transit-only shoulder lane temporary? We need to reconfigure much of the Montlake interchange over the next few years during construction of the Montlake Project. We’ll have several traffic shifts and, due to the constraints of the Montlake interchange, this off-ramp area will likely be part of the construction work zone. The transit-only shoulder lane will be in place for approximately six months, depending on the construction schedule of the Montlake Project contractor we select in the coming weeks. What will the permanent configuration look like? Upon completion of the Montlake Project, the new interchange will include new direct-access ramps to and from a new Montlake lid for transit and carpools. This configuration will allow buses and carpools to bypass the regular SR 520 westbound exit to Montlake Boulevard. We expect Montlake Project construction to begin in early 2019 and continue for approximately four to five years. How to reach us and stay informed about SR 520 construction: Call the SR 520 information line (206-770-3554) with questions or concerns.  Email SR 520 staff with your questions about the project or construction activities. Visit the SR 520 Orange Page for the most up-to-date information on closures and construction impacts. Visit the SR 520 Program website to find general information about the project. Follow us on Twitter @wsdot_520 to get key news and updates about the SR 520 program.