As previously announced, the First Avenue South on-ramp to the Spokane Street Viaduct will close before the morning commute on Monday, May 17, and the detour will be in place. During the 18 months that a new First Avenue ramp is being built, much of the traffic that would otherwise use the First Avenue Ramp will instead use the low-level Spokane Street swing bridge to get to West Seattle.

SDOT has requested that marine vessels voluntarily provide advance notification when they will require the swing bridge to open, enabling drivers to plan accordingly. When SDOT receives advance notification of an opening to occur during the afternoon peak travel time (3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays), this opening will be announced on the “Dynamic Message Signs” (DMS) now operating at Terminal 5 and at Fourth and Spokane. SDOT staff will also send the message with a specific time, if available, using Twitter. (Sign up to receive the Twitter messages at http://twitter.com/seattledot) The closure will be posted on the Travelers Information Map on SDOT’s website, http://www.seattle.gov/transportation

If vessels requiring a bridge opening do not provide advance notification, the bridge tender will provide at least a 15 minute advance notice enabling SDOT to post the message on the DMS and send a Twitter message at that time.

For information: LeAnne Nelson, (206) 684-3897

Media contact: Marybeth Turner, (206) 684-8548