The Port of Seattle is making some changes ahead of the permanent closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
On Thursday, representatives were part of a panel of regional and local leaders that unveiled plans for the January 11 closure. The plans include King County Metro changing multiple routes, and the City of Seattle shifting parking off streets to help handle the increased traffic.
Peter McGraw with the Port of Seattle said Terminal 46, in particular, will open for freight activity two hours earlier at 5 a.m., instead of 7 a.m.
The hope is that the earlier opening will enable freight traffic to avoid peak travel times around Seattle.
“There is no mistaking it, they're going to see a lot of traffic,” said McGraw, when talking about the earlier hours.
The port and city also plan to open up a southbound bypass from Alaskan Way to Terminal 46 and East Marginal Way as a way for freight to get into the spot.
McGraw said the port has already been working with its partners to develop different travel plans.
“If they're coming from Eastern Washington that they look into taking 405 south and coming up north from Tukwila, or maybe even I-5 south to the Michigan exit - and coming up East Marginal Way to get to T-46,” said McGraw.
Washington State Department of Transportation spokesperson Laura Newborn also revealed that Harrison Street will be reconnected as soon as the Seattle tunnel opens on February 4. It will be one of three streets that will be reconnected on the North Portal of the tunnel.
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The City of Seattle has consistently pointed to Harrison, John, and Thomas streets as potential relief valves for drivers looking to avoid Mercer or Denny ways. The roads were cut off by the opening of State Route 99.
WSDOT said John and Thomas streets should be reconnected by the summer of 2020.
Join KING 5's Seattle Tunnel Traffic Facebook group to stay up-to-date on the latest Seattle tunnel and Viaduct news and get tips to battle traffic during the three-week Viaduct closure in January.