Some are frightened. Some have made plans, and some haven't.
But, scared or not, with or without plans, the Interstate 5 construction can't be stopped.
Unless, of course, it rains. Assuming it won't rain, though, the I-5 lane closures will not only test drivers' flexibility, but also the flexibility of businesses and residents along the alternate routes.
With an estimate of at least 50 percent of the cars taking alternate routes, the closure will most significantly cause backups through Georgetown, Beacon Hill and Rain-ier Valley.
Although Mayor Greg Nickels advised citizens to take vacation, the best option he said to avoiding the traffic, he also recommended, "Avoid or delay your commute. Go to Starbucks. Fill up, log in and chill out."
EXERCISE RESPECT, PATIENCE
Kathy Nyland, chairperson of the Georgetown merchants association, said, "We're hoping to gain visibility and hopefully tapping in to a new market. If the gridlock is so bad, we've got tons of restaurants that serve breakfast and coffee. There is a lot to do here to pass time."
WSDOT spokesperson Stan Suchan said he hopes drivers will help residents, especially along heavy traffic corridors like Rainier Avenue South and Airport Way.
"We're all in it together. The pain will be spread throughout the region, which doesn't make it any easier, but it gives everyone a reason to try to make it easier," Suchan said.
As for the potential harmful affects to Georgetown businesses Suchan conceded it's a concern for all of the businesses in every neighborhood.
"The sad news is we don't really have a choice here; we're doing it because we need to, not because we want to. The good news is that everyone knows about it. This planned closure is a much better choice because surprise closures would hurt businesses even more," Suchan said.
Apart from the positive spin Georgetown put on the upcoming construction, Nyland said her biggest concern centers on potential disrespect for the neighborhood.
"We're really pleading to the people who are driving through to respect the neighborhood you're in and hoping that people don't use our neighborhood as a thoroughfare. We don't want people cutting through the neighborhood streets," Nyland said.
Nickels also urged residents to exercise patience and help the city by using alternate means of transportation. The city encourages residents to carpool, take the bus or use the water taxi when coming from West Seattle.
And the city's plans to increase green-light time in the north-south direction along Airport Way, Beacon Avenue South, First and Fourth avenues South and Rainier Avenue South.
PREPARING FOR THE WORST
But, as city officials and residents have said, it's a matter of preparing for the worst and hoping the measurements taken beforehand ease the traffic congestion predicted.
"There are financial incentives for our contractor to get done early, and our contractor is very eager to get that money. Every day we can shave off the schedule is critical, and we're doing everything we can to make it happen," Suchan said.
Because the bridge is more than 40 years old, Suchan also iterated the importance of taking care of the city's infrastructure before a major accident happens.
The construction consists of replacing expansion joints and repaving slightly more than a mile of the freeway on the northbound bridge deck between Interstate 90 and South Spokane Street.
In the first phase of construction two of four lanes of northbound I-5 will close, and in the second phase three lanes will close.
"That means we are really telling people that we need at least 50 percent of vehicles to go away, and that means people need to carpool, take a bus or find an alternate route," Suchan said. "We're really counting on the drivers to help us. With that kind of help we can get through these 19 days."
Suchan, who already has his driving routine planned out, said it's important to plan ahead especially since no one will be able to know exactly what the congestion will look like.
"It's the biggest closure of this type that we've ever tried. We're taking a calculated risk here, but it's a risk nonetheless. We can't predict exactly what's going to happen with traffic exactly either," Suchan warned.
Even if the magnitude of the congestion can't be predicted, it seems as if most are preparing for the worst.
While most are focused on how to make it to work or home though, those along the alternate routes are simply hoping that the project won't kill their businesses or harm their neighborhood.
"I think we all know this is going to be a huge burden on so many neighborhoods in South Seattle. We're just realizing that it has to be done and trying to make the best of it," Nyland said.[[In-content Ad]]
