Weather permitting, next week design-builder Tacoma Narrows Constructors (TNC) will close alternating single westbound and eastbound lanes of State Route 16 during night hours. During the lane closures, crews will shift both eastbound SR 16 lanes to the north (toward the westbound lanes) as part of the ongoing Tacoma Narrows Bridge project.

Between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. on Monday, August 8, motorists can expect westbound SR 16 to be reduced to one alternating left or right lane from the Jackson Street interchange to the bridge. Then between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9, motorists can expect one left or right alternating lane to be closed in the eastbound direction across the bridge and through the Jackson Street interchange.

During the single-lane closures, crews will restripe the lanes, pave, and relocate both eastbound lanes into the median area so they can begin reconstruction activities on the future permanent eastbound lanes. At all times during the work, at least one eastbound and one westbound lane will remain open. In the event of rain, the closures and traffic shift will be postponed.

This traffic revision is one of many TNC crews have implemented during construction of the new lanes to support the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The bridge is scheduled to open to traffic in the spring of 2007. When the new bridge opens, traffic will remain in a temporary configuration for the next year while crews improve the deck of the existing bridge.
For more information on the new bridge, visit http://www.tacomanarrowsbridge.com.