Business as usual, despite I-5 worries

For all the concerns about traffic tie-ups due to the Interstate 5 resurfacing project, businesses big and small reported no major disruptions Monday.

"It was surprising to us how few people were on the road," said Darcy Garneau, vice president of Legacy Partners Residential, a development company with 10 employees on Mercer Island — all of whom made it to work on time.

At the Port of Seattle, spokesman David Schaefer said, "We're watching to see what happens, but so far, so good."

The resurfacing project, which is expected to run until Aug. 30, requires that two or three northbound lanes on I-5 near South Spokane Street be closed. So far, at least, people appear to be heeding the prevailing advice to take public transit or just stay home.

Businesses said they've been encouraging employees to take vacation or use any number of alternatives to driving solo.

"We've really tried to spread the word and encourage as many people to plan ahead and use the resources that are available for either adjusting their commute schedule or avoiding the commute altogether," said Boeing spokesman Dean Tougas.

Boeing has about 70,000 employees in the Seattle area; of those, 10,000 are set up to telecommute, 9,000 are on something other than a regular 9-to-5 schedule and 8,000 ride to work in "high-occupancy" vehicles, Tougas said.

Boeing has about 20 trucks daily on Interstate 405, carrying airplane parts to Auburn, Renton and Everett.

"We suspect that there will be heavier traffic on 405" as people steer clear of I-5, Tougas said. "But at this point, we've not seen the need to make any drastic changes."

That sentiment was shared by Sean Hyatt, managing director of state operations for Trammell Crow Residential, which has two construction projects under way.

Neither project experienced any problems Monday. "Nobody locally has even batted an eye," said Hyatt said.

Still, Hyatt said he's telling business partners from outside the area to avoid traveling to Seattle, if possible, over the next two weeks.

Also, he worries that people will return to their single-occupancy vehicles before the resurfacing is complete, and fulfill the predictions of traffic snarls. "People get cocky," he said.

Amy Martinez: 206-464-2923 or amartinez@seattletimes.com