UPDATE: Rain this weekend has caused WSDOT to cancel a project that would have closed SR 500. They will reschedule the closure at a later date.
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People who use State Route 500 between St. Johns Road and Andresen Road should prepare for a full closure of SR 500 this weekend to improve safety on the highway.
This stretch of SR 500 will close in both directions from Friday night to early Monday morning to allow contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation to remove the existing traffic signals at Northeast Falk Road/Northeast 42nd Avenue and Northeast Stapleton Road/Northeast 54th Avenue, install new median barrier, and re-stripe the highway to extend merge lanes.
Following the closure, drivers will still be able to turn right at these intersections, but will no longer be able to turn left or travel north or south across SR 500 at Northeast Falk Road/Northeast 42nd Avenue or Northeast Stapleton Road/Northeast 54th Avenue. Starting with the weekend closure, travelers who use the sidewalks or bicycle lanes will be unable to cross SR 500 at Northeast Stapleton Road/Northeast 54th Avenue until a new grade-separated pedestrian/bicycle crossing is built.
Construction details
- Friday, Oct. 26 to the morning of Monday, Oct. 29: Both directions of SR 500 will be closed between St. Johns Road and Andresen Road from 11 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26 to 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29. During the closure, travelers will need to plan ahead and use alternate routes.
- NOTE: The weekend closure is extremely weather dependent and could be rescheduled if rain is forecasted.
Consolidating this work to one full weekend reduces the impact to travelers during peak travel times and increases the odds that this weather-dependent work can be completed this season.