Heads-Up: Viaduct Closed For Inspection and Testing Today and Tomorrow

Six months just flies by! If you were planning on traveling by the SR-99 viaduct this weekend, you might want to think of a creative detour. It is once again time for its semiannual inspection, the ones that have happened every six months for the past ten years, since the Nisqually quake, that ideally keep it from falling down at the drop of a hat. In addition to the normal maintenance and inspections, the Washington State Department of Transportation will be testing a new system with sensors, apparently similar to railroad gates, equipped to monitor the early signs of a moderate to severe earthquake. The goal is to clear traffic within two minutes of any seismic activity with a magnitude of 5 or higher.

Those of you living or working near the viaduct (I'm looking at you, 619!) might hear ringing over the weekend as the sensors are tested, and anyone with a view of the viaduct might see flashing beacons. Do not worry, it's not the apocalypse, and it's (hopefully!) only a test.

It will be closed to traffic both today and tomorrow from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. West Seattle residents take note.