Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Tunnel

[jakeroot]

Whereas I find it interesting that they put the wide shoulder on the left instead of the right. I guess it corresponds to where they put the emergency exits.

That's a good observation; I think you're onto something. Better to funnel pedestrians in the wider section, obviously. Cars should be stopped, but you never know what kind of emergency could be going on down below.

[Beltway]

No tiles, like other new tunnels such as the Midtown Tunnel in Norfolk.   Modern LED lighting is so bright that the fireproofing material panels have sufficient reflectivity.

What kind of ventilation system?  I don't see jet fans in those photos.

[ErmineNotyours]

No tiles, like other new tunnels such as the Midtown Tunnel in Norfolk.   Modern LED lighting is so bright that the fireproofing material panels have sufficient reflectivity.

What kind of ventilation system?  I don't see jet fans in those photos.

The four yellow exhaust pipes you see in the middle distance of the upper photo are atop the ventilation building.

[jakeroot]

No tiles, like other new tunnels such as the Midtown Tunnel in Norfolk.   Modern LED lighting is so bright that the fireproofing material panels have sufficient reflectivity.

What kind of ventilation system?  I don't see jet fans in those photos.

The four yellow exhaust pipes you see in the middle distance of the upper photo are atop the ventilation building.

Also note, in the image below, the vents on the left. These suck air out through a central ventilation system to the aforementioned exhaust stacks:

[silverback1065]

when will this be open

[Bruce]

when will this be open

October-ish. The opening date won't be announced for a few more weeks.

[edwaleni]

My prediction is this will be the last deep-bored road tunnel to be constructed in the United States. Given that other tunnels (Gowanus Tunnel, 710 extension) have gone down in flames, I'd be very surprised if any more are constructed. I would love for more road tunnels like this one to be constructed, but given the expense (and in 710's case, NIMBYS), and other factors, I don't see any more being built.

Same prediction they made about the 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood Convertible. "Last of its kind" they said.

Meanwhile the Boring Company is bidding on several proposed tunnels across the US. I think its the opposite.  We will see more of them built.

[MantyMadTown]

Is there a new name for this tunnel? Or is WSDOT just going to name it "SR 99 tunnel" or "Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel"?

[Bruce]

A name has not been announced. Most guesses boil down to naming it for a governor (Gregoire, Locke, or perhaps the late Spellman), for Alaskan Way, or something city-specific.

I'm in favor of calling it the Bertha Knight Landes Tunnel, as it would properly honor the mayor and the TBM, but the duplicity might not work for some people.

[nexus73]

My prediction is this will be the last deep-bored road tunnel to be constructed in the United States. Given that other tunnels (Gowanus Tunnel, 710 extension) have gone down in flames, I'd be very surprised if any more are constructed. I would love for more road tunnels like this one to be constructed, but given the expense (and in 710's case, NIMBYS), and other factors, I don't see any more being built.

Same prediction they made about the 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood Convertible. "Last of its kind" they said.

Meanwhile the Boring Company is bidding on several proposed tunnels across the US. I think its the opposite.  We will see more of them built.

That is the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible you are referring to.  The Fleetwood in 1975 was a 4-door sedan and never offered as a convertible.

Rick

[Beltway]

The viaduct was named after the street it parallels, Alaskan Way.

Why not call it the Alaskan Way Tunnel?

[Bruce]

The viaduct was named after the street it parallels, Alaskan Way.

Why not call it the Alaskan Way Tunnel?

It's not the same corridor and the viaduct's reputation is not something that anyone wants to stick onto the new tunnel (despite its own reputation).

"Waterfront Tunnel" would be a safe, generic name.

[MantyMadTown]

The viaduct was named after the street it parallels, Alaskan Way.

Why not call it the Alaskan Way Tunnel?

I like that name.

[jakeroot]

"Aurora Tunnel" would make more sense, since it has more to do with that road than Alaskan Way. Aurora Ave is the natural extension of the road after the tunnel.

There is no name for the freeway north of East Marginal Way, otherwise, I'd suggest "East Marginal Tunnel".

"Waterfront Tunnel" might be too generic.

[Beltway]

The viaduct was named after the street it parallels, Alaskan Way.
Why not call it the Alaskan Way Tunnel?

It's not the same corridor and the viaduct's reputation is not something that anyone wants to stick onto the new tunnel (despite its own reputation).
"Waterfront Tunnel" would be a safe, generic name.

It curves away from the waterfront as it heads north. 

Perhaps Downtown Tunnel would be appropriate.

[Bruce]

"Downtown Tunnel" would refer to the Downtown Transit Tunnel, completed in 1990 and carrying more people than the projections for the SR 99 Tunnel.

I'd rather save "Aurora Tunnel" for the future light rail tunnel that will inevitably built in the 2040s to replace the E Line.

I feel like we'll get a mix of names...a memorial designation + "Waterfront" as a suffix. "John Spellman Waterfront Tunnel" doesn't sound too wordy and has good shortened forms.

[Beltway]

They could just call it the Route 99 Tunnel.

Given that it has aboveground sections as well, maybe just call the whole facility the North-South Downtown Expressway.

[Alps]

The viaduct was named after the street it parallels, Alaskan Way.

Why not call it the Alaskan Way Tunnel?

I like that name.

I get the feeling most people will call it this; like Tappan Zee, people get used to names.

[Rothman]

Bertha's Hole.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Ken Griffey Jr Drive

[nexus73]

The Time Tunnel!  Irwin Allen would love that...

Rick

[Beltway]

What is going to happen with the pre-existing Route 99 tunnel under Battery Street?

[Great Lakes Roads]

What is going to happen with the pre-existing Route 99 tunnel under Battery Street?

As part of the viaduct demolition, the tunnel will be filled in...

[Bruce]

The Battery Street Tunnel is just too expensive to maintain or retrofit. It was built in a hurry and without modern safety systems (fire suppression, communication, lights, earthquake engineering, etc.).

Some groups have wanted to retain it for pedestrian/bicycle use, but it's not really a good fit. One group of architects proposed tearing Battery Street open and creating an understreet park, which would be awesome but a huge logistical/security/accessibility nightmare.

[Plutonic Panda]

That would be really cool. Yes there are issues but build it and deal with it! That'd instantly be a landmark like the high line.