Bart Treece, communications, 206-440-4698

SEATTLE - The right lane of the southbound State Route 99 Aurora bridge will remain closed around-the-clock this week.

Travelers should plan for delays, especially during the morning and afternoon commutes, if traveling toward downtown Seattle through Fremont and Wallingford.

During an in-depth inspection of the structure, Washington State Department of Transportation bridge inspectors found advanced deterioration of steel on the underside of the Aurora bridge.

While the bridge is still safe to cross, the southbound right lane will remain closed around-the-clock as a precautionary step until repairs are developed and implemented. Additional closures may be needed. An update will be provided once a firm timetable has been established.

Plan for delays

With the southbound SR 99 reduced to two lanes across the bridge, travelers should expect delays in the area and consider alternatives:

Take the bus.

Carpool.

Walk or bicycle – the walkways will remain open.

Before heading out the door, travelers can check get real-time traffic information with the WSDOT mobile app and the WSDOT Traffic Twitter feed.