Drivers face first test of new 'Mercer Mess'
SEATTLE -- Drivers who use Mercer Street to get from I-5 to Seattle faced their first weekday morning with the new twist to their commute Monday as road crews began the next phase in the project to turn the major arterial into a two-way street.
Mercer Street has shrunk from four to just three lanes - and all lanes of traffic are being funneled onto what will eventually become the westbound lanes. That way Seattle street crews can start construction on the new eastbound lanes.
But it's not just those heading toward I-5 that will see a change. The off-ramp from I-5 to Mercer also underwent some tweaks. Namely, the center lane that forms from the off-ramp from the I-5 Express Lanes will now force a left turn south onto Fairview Avenue. Before, the center lane offered an option to turn right onto Fairview.
To head north on Fairview, you must get in the far right lane, which eventually splits into two right-turn lanes closer to the intersection.
Council member Mike McQuaide insists the changes are all a temporary inconvenience for permanent improvement for what he calls the city's hottest spot - South Lake Union.
"I'm thrilled, I'm excited about what's going to happen here," says McQuaide.
But here's the price - one less lane for traffic, plus drivers lose three streets to access Mercer from the south: Boren, Terry and Westlake. Right hand turns onto Mercer can only happen at 9th Avenue and at Fairview.
"Putting everybody in only a couple streets - it's going to just stop," says motorist Chris Poppe.
South Lake Union businesses are bracing for the traffic changes.
Erin Dodge worries about her customers navigating the construction cones. She says most of her customers are from out of town.
"That's only going to make things worse - I don't even know where we're supposed to go ... or how they are going to do this," says Dodge. "People are going to be turning around - it's going to be insane."
The city encourages carpooling, using transit and checking out its website with more details before drivers venture into the area.
"It wasn't great before, but it better be amazing, is all I can say," says Dodge.
Mercer Street has shrunk from four to just three lanes - and all lanes of traffic are being funneled onto what will eventually become the westbound lanes. That way Seattle street crews can start construction on the new eastbound lanes.
But it's not just those heading toward I-5 that will see a change. The off-ramp from I-5 to Mercer also underwent some tweaks. Namely, the center lane that forms from the off-ramp from the I-5 Express Lanes will now force a left turn south onto Fairview Avenue. Before, the center lane offered an option to turn right onto Fairview.
To head north on Fairview, you must get in the far right lane, which eventually splits into two right-turn lanes closer to the intersection.
Council member Mike McQuaide insists the changes are all a temporary inconvenience for permanent improvement for what he calls the city's hottest spot - South Lake Union.
"I'm thrilled, I'm excited about what's going to happen here," says McQuaide.
But here's the price - one less lane for traffic, plus drivers lose three streets to access Mercer from the south: Boren, Terry and Westlake. Right hand turns onto Mercer can only happen at 9th Avenue and at Fairview.
"Putting everybody in only a couple streets - it's going to just stop," says motorist Chris Poppe.
South Lake Union businesses are bracing for the traffic changes.
Erin Dodge worries about her customers navigating the construction cones. She says most of her customers are from out of town.
"That's only going to make things worse - I don't even know where we're supposed to go ... or how they are going to do this," says Dodge. "People are going to be turning around - it's going to be insane."
The city encourages carpooling, using transit and checking out its website with more details before drivers venture into the area.
"It wasn't great before, but it better be amazing, is all I can say," says Dodge.
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