Starting next week, SDOT will be working on repairs to the West Emerson overpass – the last overpass before the Ballard Bridge. The overpass was built in 1959 and has taken a beating by trucks with over-height loads. Chunks of concrete are missing, and SDOT will be repairing the overpass and repaving it.
A big heads up that this project is not a short one. SDOT will close the overpass to both vehicles and pedestrians starting next Thursday, October 9th through the end of the year. SDOT estimates that the repair work will be complete around January 1, 2015. (assuming no delays)
Here are the details from SDOT, plan ahead for trips to/from Ballard and expect delays on 15th Ave W as detours will be in effect.
W Emerson Overpass Repair Project
The project requires both nightly closures of 15thWest on the weekend of 10/10 – 10/12 and a long-term closure of the W Emerson overpass which begins the morning of Thurday 10/9.
SDOT has decided to combine the replacement of this girder, which will require demolishing the northern side of the overpass, with the renewal of the road surface on top of the road deck. This resurfacing will protect the existing road structure from future corrosion as well as provide an even driving surface for the portion of the overpass that must be replaced.
The project will require both a long-term closure of the overpass (beginning October 9) and a short-term closure of 15th Avenue W underneath the overpass.
15th Ave W Closure: October 10, 8pm to 9am and October 11 8pm to 3am
At 8pm on the night of Friday October 10 both north and southbound traffic on 15th Ave W will be detoured to the west using W Emerson Place, Gilman Drive W, 20th Avenue W and W Dravus Street.
Between 8pm and 9am the next morning, the contractor will break apart and remove the northern edge of the overpass and the damaged girder.
15th Avenue W will reopen to traffic Saturday morning, once the demolition is complete and the protection placed for the road below has been removed. The next night, October 11, new bearing pads and a replacement girder will be installed, with 15th Avenue W reopened before traffic resumes Monday morning.
Long Term Nickerson-Emerson Overpass Closure: October 9 through the end of 2014
The repair work will also require the complete closure of the W Emerson Street overpass to all traffic (including pedestrians) beginning on October 9, 2014. This closure will last through the duration of the work, approximately 12 weeks. The detour for west-bound vehicular traffic on W Nickerson Street will be a double crossing of the Ballard Bridge (using Leary Way NW for the turnaround) to reach W Emerson Street.
The detour for east-bound vehicular traffic on W Emerson Street will be turning south on 15th Avenue W and using W Dravus Street as the turn-around for accessing the W Nickerson Street exit from northbound 15th Avenue W.
We anticipate physical completion of the project within a few weeks of January 1, 2015.
