Traffic alert! Southbound I-5 this long holiday weekend

The state Department of Transportation posts on our Facebook page:

You have the power to avoid the heartache of a traffic jam on I-5 in Seattle this weekend. We’re reducing southbound I-5 to one open lane between Spring Street and I-90.

It then refers you, in the usual social media way, to: @WSDOT_Traffic afternoon gal’s blog.

What Traffic Afternoon Gal has to say, basically, is that two of three lanes of southbound Interstate 5 will be closed “anytime from 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 through 5 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Her tips:

Avoid southbound I-5 into the city if possible. SR 99 is the best alternative.

All on- and off-ramps in downtown Seattle will remain open.

We’re keeping the I-5 express lanes open southbound until 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. This helps provide more access to the downtown Seattle on- and off-ramps, especially useful for carpoolers (hint, hint). However, and I stress however, they will not help you avoid the big closure because where they end, the construction begins. The I-5 express lanes will operate southbound on Monday from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Can you carpool? Take public transit? Take rail? Maybe work from home if you don’t get Presidents Day off?

Local streets are also good alternates.

If you plan to travel south of downtown, consider using southbound I-405.