Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Tunnel

[Bruce]

When will the project be completed, meaning everything cleaned up, landscaping in place, signals and signs installed, etc.?

Rick

2023. There are a lot of elements (including new streets and bridges) that have to be lifted into place.

[Beltway]

When will the project be completed, meaning everything cleaned up, landscaping in place, signals and signs installed, etc.?  Rick

Plus what about the boulevard part of the project?

[Henry]

The definitive viaduct video from WSDOT:

The difference is as clear as night and day, and I stand by the post I made before it:

I must admit, downtown Seattle looks a million times better without the viaduct!

[kkt]

I must admit, downtown Seattle looks a million times better without the viaduct!

Yes!

Almost the same view as from the viaduct can still be had from several points along 1st Ave. and Pike Place Market.  On the whole, it's probably better that people get out and walk to enjoy the view rather than watch the view while they are driving.

[mgk920]

Agreed, the highway served its purpose, and well, but it was time to move on.  When that structure was built, that was an industrial and port wasteland.  Now it is the center of the city's 'vibe'.

Also, until the bypass tunnel was built a century or so ago, mainline railroads used Alaska Way, 'street running' style, too.

Mike

[jakeroot]

Also, until the bypass tunnel was built a century or so ago, mainline railroads used Alaska Way, 'street running' style, too.

Yeah, Alaskan Way was nuckin' futs for a while. Many freeways were designed to cut off the nice areas from the industrial or poor areas, but the viaduct was purely designed to pass over the craziness of the old road, even after the tunnel opened. Of course, it was also designed to tie into several other freeways, and that never happened. But it served its primary purpose quite well for a very long time.

[TEG24601]

Also, until the bypass tunnel was built a century or so ago, mainline railroads used Alaska Way, 'street running' style, too.

Yeah, Alaskan Way was nuckin' futs for a while. Many freeways were designed to cut off the nice areas from the industrial or poor areas, but the viaduct was purely designed to pass over the craziness of the old road, even after the tunnel opened. Of course, it was also designed to tie into several other freeways, and that never happened. But it served its primary purpose quite well for a very long time.

It also doesn't help that people didn't care for the waterfronts in most cities until the 70s.  They were where the docks were, and the dock workers, which were seen as lower people.  People also didn't care much for views, as the water was often polluted and smelled bad.  So all the things that people didn't want were along the waterfront, which explains all the freeways built along waterfronts.


And the Railroad tunnel, was one of the biggest reasons that those pro-99 Tunnel were so gung-ho, as we knew it would work, and knew how safe they were.  Then again, it would have been a lot cheaper and faster to do the original cut-and-cover Tunnel/Seawall under Alaskan Way that was proposed starting in the mid-90s.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdXCedSGWec

Tolling to start in the tunnel on November 9, 2019. Get your Good to Go! transponder ready!

[jakeroot]

Got a video of the first day of tolling. You can see the final signage here. Couple of errors in what I said, which I've corrected in the video description.

https://youtu.be/c5q-srPmRfQ

[nexus73]

Got a video of the first day of tolling. You can see the final signage here. Couple of errors in what I said, which I've corrected in the video description.

https://youtu.be/c5q-srPmRfQ

The drive through the tunnel seemed longer than expected.  Oh well, at least you get your money's worth of tunnel vision!

Rick

[jakeroot]

The drive through the tunnel seemed longer than expected.  Oh well, at least you get your money's worth of tunnel vision!

It's a surprisingly long tunnel! Definitely worth it. The fact that so many people may refuse to pay the toll boggles my mind. It saves an insane amount of time. Nevermind the pedestrians downtown who would obviously appreciate a few less cars getting in their way.

[TEG24601]

Having driven it, it seems well worth the $3 to avoid downtown traffic, especially if heading to West Seattle or the Airport and I-5 is bogged down.

[jakeroot]

Having driven it, it seems well worth the $3 to avoid downtown traffic, especially if heading to West Seattle or the Airport and I-5 is bogged down.

Hell, it's only $1 during off-peak hours with a G2G pass. I don't know why people wouldn't get one. You'll make up the cost to buy the Flex Pass within eight rides, and only three with the regular sticker pass (probably sufficient for this tunnel).

[Truvelo]

I guess this view now looks a lot different to this photo I took in March 2018.

Jakeroot's video shows the shoulder in the tunnel is on the left. Is there any reason for this?

[ErmineNotyours]

Oops!

Accidental alert causes brief panic in Seattle tunnel during Thursday commute

[Bruce]

I guess this view now looks a lot different to this photo I took in March 2018.

Jakeroot's video shows the shoulder in the tunnel is on the left. Is there any reason for this?

The viewing platform (aka part of the ferry terminal) has also been demolished recently.

[jakeroot]

Jakeroot's video shows the shoulder in the tunnel is on the left. Is there any reason for this?

I believe it has to do with the emergency doors, which are on the left. If you have to abandon your car for whatever reason, you don't have to run across the carriageway to escape the tunnel. If I'm not mistaken, the southbound carriageway has a right-side shoulder for the same reason, just in reverse.

[stevashe]

Jakeroot's video shows the shoulder in the tunnel is on the left. Is there any reason for this?

I believe it has to do with the emergency doors, which are on the left. If you have to abandon your car for whatever reason, you don't have to run across the carriageway to escape the tunnel. If I'm not mistaken, the southbound carriageway has a right-side shoulder for the same reason, just in reverse.

That is correct, it's to have room to get to the doors, and it is on the right southbound since both directions are stacked on top of each other.

Having driven it, it seems well worth the $3 to avoid downtown traffic, especially if heading to West Seattle or the Airport and I-5 is bogged down.

Hell, it's only $1 during off-peak hours with a G2G pass. I don't know why people wouldn't get one. You'll make up the cost to buy the Flex Pass within eight rides, and only three with the regular sticker pass (probably sufficient for this tunnel).

Yeah I don't get it, the tolls are really very reasonable, not complaining much though, just means it'll be even faster for those that do use it! And even during peak hours, the highest toll is only $2.25 with the pass.

[The Ghostbuster]

If I ever go to Seattle (unlikely), the first thing I will do is take a ride through the Alaskan Way Tunnel. In the meantime, I'll use Streetview on Google Maps to travel through the tunnel.

[compdude787]

The last parts of the viaduct are coming down this week. https://komonews.com/news/local/the-final-piece-of-seattles-viaduct-comes-down

And you can get pieces of the viaduct from Friends of the Waterfront: https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/library/advisories-and-updates/the-viaduct-is-rubble-and-you-can-have-a-piece

[Bruce]

I got my chunk and walked it down to the viaduct.

[MikieTimT]

I got my chunk and walked it down to the viaduct.

If enough others do the same, maybe you guys can put it back together!

[Bruce]

The last column of the viaduct was removed on Thursday.

Latest WSDOT drone video:

[qguy]

Kilroy!   

[Henry]

And so the transformation is complete!