Politics & Government

Community Snapshot: SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct Demolition

WSDOT closed the heavily traveled route Friday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The roadway is expected to re-open on Oct. 31 at 5:30 a.m.

Monday marked the first official commute day during the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct closure.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) closed the heavily traveled route Friday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The roadway is expected to re-open on Oct. 31 at 5:30 a.m. The closure is expected to cause heavy traffic backups.

Northbound viaduct closure details:

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  • Northbound SR 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and South Royal Brougham Way will be closed around-the-clock through Monday, 5 a.m. Oct. 31.
  • Northbound SR 99 between the South Royal Brougham Way on-ramp and the Battery Street Tunnel will open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and for special events at CenturyLink Field.

Southbound viaduct closure details:

  • Southbound SR 99 between the Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge will be closed around-the-clock through 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 31.

Two projects will replace the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct along Seattle’s waterfront: the SR 99 Tunnel Project
and the SR 99 South Holgate Street to South King Street Project.

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Project timeline:

WSDOT completed its first project — column safety repairs — in 2008, and crews moved electrical lines off of the southern mile of the viaduct in 2009.

Construction is now underway to replace the south end of the viaduct between South Holgate and South King streets. This new roadway is expected to be complete in 2013.
Initial construction on the SR 99 tunnel will begin in late 2011. The tunnel is scheduled to open to traffic in late 2015. Visit the program timeline for more information.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement projects are estimated to cost $3.1 billion.

 

*Editor’s Note: Information from this report was provided by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) 


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