The Mercer Mess

Have you recently exited from I-5 at Mercer Street? North or south bound. If you are like me, perhaps you found yourself tightening your grip on the steering wheel? Wondering if you were going to be able to cut across lanes or if some other driver would let you into the requisite lane? No question about it, it is a bottle neck affectionately (or not so affectionately) known as the Mercer Mess!

That shouldn’t be surprising however!

Mercer Street, Exit 167

Did you know that over 80,000 vehicles a day use this corridor daily!!!

Over 200 accidents occur annually in this area!

The infrastructure itself is obsolete.

The utilities are 80 to 100+ years old!

The pavement, sidewalks and traffic signals are old and in very poor condition.

No wonder it is such a “Mess”!

Drivers sit up!

Breathe!

Things are about to change as the City of Seattle prepares to revamp the Mercer Mess!
On February 17, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Seattle was awarded $30m in stimulus funds; part of the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant Program. The last and very necessary piece of funding for the Mercer Street project; a $191m project. The Mercer Street project was one of only 51 projects out of 1,400 applicants to receive a piece of the $1.5b in available federal funds granted by the US Department of Transportation.

So, what does this all mean?

How will this improvement affect us?

What will happen to Mercer Street during the improvements?

First, the project will create about 1200 new jobs.

Fixing the Mercer Mess is the first step, according to Governor Gregoire, in moving us forward to replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct. It will help resolve congestion, while promoting tourism. The improved traffic flow will improve access to the the South Lake Union area, Seattle Waterfront (including ports), and Seattle Center.
The improvements will be phased in three stages, estimated to be completed over a three year period. At completion, the four eastbound-only lanes on Mercer will be replaced by three lanes in each direction, as well as sidewalks and greenscaping.

Stage 1: Later this month (MARCH), eight buildings just north of Mercer and to the west side of Fairview, between Mercer and Valley Streets will be demolished. Once these buildings are demolished, road expansion will begin in JULY. Old utility lines will be replaced, and new lanes added to the north of the present eastbound-only lanes

Stage 2:  Will begin in mid-2011. At that time, eastbound traffic will be shifted to the newly created westbound lanes. This will be the biggest shift for drivers as the eastbound traffic will shift (temporarily) to the future westbound lanes while old Mercer Street is torn up and rebuilt.

Stage 3: Is slated to begin in mid-2012 to spring 2013. Improvements include replacing Valley Street with a two-lane with sidewalks and bike lanes.
Traffic impacts are expected to be light, and lane closures are slated to be limited to a few night or weekend closures when the contractors are building new detour ramps or ramps where Mercer meets I-5.

In the end, taking the Mercer Exit will be a much improved experience! Less greenhouse gas emissions. Visually more appealing. Significantly less congested. Improved safety. Supportive of 22,000 potential new jobs in the South Lake Union area.  Don’t know about you, but my shoulders have come down already, and my hands are less tense just thinking about it!
For more information: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_mercer.htm