Both westbound lanes of the 14th Avenue tunnel in Olympia will be closed from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning June 10 so that new energy-efficient, white-light LED fixtures can be installed.

The westbound lanes will be closed for about ten days, not including weekends.

Once the installation is complete above the westbound lanes, both eastbound lanes will be closed. These lanes will also be closed about ten days from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m.

All lanes of the tunnel will be reopened each day by 5 a.m.

This work had been scheduled to begin June 3, but was postponed to make changes to the traffic management plan. The original plan called for only one lane to be closed at a time.

Detour signage and cones will be placed at both ends of the tunnel: on Capitol Way and both sides of the Jefferson Street roundabout. No flaggers will be present.

The same energy-efficient, LED fixtures were installed in Capitol Campus parking garages earlier this year. The lighting work in the tunnel is the final phase of this project.

The lighting project is expected to save the state about $145,500 annually through lower utility bills, fewer repairs and less money spent on capital expenditures compared to current costs. Enterprise Services will also receive more than $650,000 in energy-conservation incentives from Puget Sound Energy. The state should recover the $2.2 million project costs in about 10 years.

In addition to being more energy efficient, the new lights are brighter, which should improve safety in the garages and tunnel.