What: Approximately three-week-long closure of SR 99, from the Battery Street Tunnel to South Spokane Street.

When: Began 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019.

Why: To complete the highway and eight ramps connecting the new tunnel to SR 99 and local streets. This WSDOT blog post explains the work that has to happen to open the tunnel to drivers.

Ramps near stadiums close early and open late

The northbound SR 99 on-ramp at South Royal Brougham Way and the southbound SR 99 off-ramp at South Atlantic Street closed a week earlier, at 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 4.

Closing these ramps allowed crews to get started on the large amount of work required at the tunnel’s south end near the stadiums. The new northbound off-ramp to downtown just south of the tunnel opened Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, approximately two weeks after the tunnel opened.

After the closure ends

When the closure ended, the tunnel opened and SR 99 drivers now have a direct route from the stadiums to the Space Needle. The viaduct and Battery Street Tunnel are both permanently closed as part of viaduct removal.