Drivers, make way for safety inspections and chocolate on State Route 99 this weekend. The Washington State Department of Transportation will close the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct this Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3, for its semiannual inspection.

Sections of Aurora Avenue North and the viaduct will also be closed Sunday morning between downtown and Green Lake for the Hot Chocolate 15/5k run.

Semiannual inspection

Crews will close both directions of the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct between Denny Way and South Spokane Street from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 6 a.m. to noon Sunday. This is the first of two regularly scheduled, semiannual inspections.

During the closure, WSDOT and City of Seattle crews will inspect the structure and perform routine maintenance and preservation work. WSDOT will release preliminary inspection results on March 19.

A sweet run

The SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct and Aurora Avenue North will be closed between Bell Street and North 46th Street 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday. During the closure, 9,000 runners of all ages will take to the streets for the Hot Chocolate 15/5k.

Closure details

Saturday, March 2

• Both directions of the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct between Denny Way and South Spokane Street will be closed 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Sunday, March 3

• Both directions of the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct between Denny Way and South Spokane Street will be closed 6 a.m. to noon Sunday.

The viaduct will be open at least two hours before the start of Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. Seattle Sounders match to give fans plenty of time to reach the stadium; however, drivers should expect increased congestion in and near downtown Seattle during these closures and plan accordingly.

• SR 99 / Aurora Avenue North will be closed between Bell Street and North 46th Street from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday.

This closure includes the Battery Street Tunnel. The Hot Chocolate 15/5k run will also close sections of Elliot and Western avenues as well as streets near the Seattle Center start and finish points. A map of the race route is available at:www.hotchocolate15k.com/seattle/.

WSDOT recommends leaving early, carpooling or taking transit. Drivers can check traffic conditions before they leave atwww.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic. Up-to-the-minute traffic information is also available via 5-1-1, the voice-activated driver information line.

On the web

• SR 99 / Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project  www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/viaduct
• Hot Chocolate 15/5k run www.hotchocolate15k.com/seattle/
• Real time traffic information www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic

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