Sprague exit from SR 16 now closed until 2011 | Transportation

Photo courtesy of WSDOT

The work on the Nalley Valley Viaduct has gone to a new phase, and that means big changes for drivers, especially those who usually take the Sprague exit.

That's because the exit from Highway 16 to Sprague has been closed.  It will stay close until the entire Nalley Valley project is finished in 2011.

Westbound traffic on Highway 16 is now being routed onto a temporary roadway while the new viaduct structure is being finished.  Detours are in place, new striping has been done and drivers will see a much different commute on Monday.

But that's not all.  The on-ramp from I-705 to I-5 southbound has been reconfigured to help relieve congestion for those trying to get from I-5 to Highway 16.

The $120 million project will be completed next year.  It is hoped that the reconfigured Nalley Valley viaduct and I-5/SR 16 interchange will reduce crashes by 60 percent and eliminate the bottleneck in the area.