Knowledge Builders

what is replacing the viaduct in seattle

by Tianna Jakubowski Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Removal of viaduct is opening up downtown waterfront to the public. The Seattle underground scene has a new star: The Alaskan Way Tunnel, a nearly two-mile-long, double-decked road tunnel that is improving travel through the city's downtown and paving the way for a revitalized public waterfront.May 1, 2020

Full Answer

What is the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement program?

The Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program consists of 30 projects led by the Washington State Department of Transportation, King County, the City of Seattle and the Port of Seattle. The Federal Highway Administration is a partner in this effort.

What is the port contribution to the viaduct replacement program?

In August 2013, the Port and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) entered into an agreement for a Port contribution of $281 million to the Viaduct Replacement Program so that it achieved the best balance among retaining and creating jobs, sustaining regional economic vitality, and benefiting the environment.

When was the viaduct in Seattle built?

Following the Nisqually earthquake in February 2001, the State of Washington and the City of Seattle realized that the viaduct, built in 1953, suffered not only from decades of daily heavy use but was vulnerable to substantial damage in an earthquake. Replacing it became critical to public safety.

When was the viaduct replacement program started?

Work on the Viaduct Replacement Program began in 2007 when stabilization of four viaduct columns near Yesler Way started. In January 2009, Governor Christine Gregoire, Mayor Greg Nickels, and County Executive Ron Sims announced a bored tunnel hybrid as the preferred alternative to carry forward for further study.

What is the final project in the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program?

How many projects are there in the Alaskan Way?

What is the final EIS for the Alaskan Way Viaduct?

Where is the new Alaskan Way?

When was the Alaskan Way Viaduct built?

How long is the SR 99 tunnel?

Where is the Alaskan Way surface street?

See 4 more

About this website

image

What will replace the Seattle viaduct?

The nearly two-mile-long, double-decked road tunnel replaces the seismically vulnerable Alaskan Way Viaduct (AWV) – a fixture of downtown Seattle's Elliott Bay waterfront for 65 years that is soon to be demolished. The tunnel opened to State Route 99 traffic on Feb.

Why did Seattle remove the viaduct?

The viaduct, which was considered seismically vulnerable following the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake, was removed from Seattle's waterfront as a part of a new program to transform that part of the city. Some traffic has already been moved to a deep new SR 99 tunnel, and a new Alaskan Way surface street will be built.

What happened to the Alaskan Way Viaduct?

The viaduct was closed permanently on January 11, 2019, and the new tunnel opened three weeks later on February 4. Demolition of the viaduct began weeks later, and was complete by late 2019....Alaskan Way ViaductNorth endSR 99 (Battery Street Tunnel) in BelltownLocationCountryUnited StatesStateWashington13 more rows

Who is financing the SR 99 tunnel project?

Design and funding The project is estimated to cost US$3.29 billion, with $2.8 billion coming from the state and federal governments to cover the tunnel boring and a new interchange in SoDo.

Is the tunnel under Seattle finished?

Project overview The SR 99 tunnel replaced the Alaskan Way Viaduct along Seattle's central waterfront, carrying State Route 99 beneath downtown Seattle. The 2-mile tunnel opened to drivers in February 2019.

Where did almost all the rubble from the Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition end up?

As the roadway sections came down, the materials were first hauled to Terminal 25 adjacent to the West Seattle Bridge, where they were crushed into small pieces, and then transported back to the north end of the viaduct, where they were used as fill material in the decommissioned Battery Street Tunnel.

Why are there no sidewalks in Seattle?

To understand why Seattle lacks this much pedestrian space, you have to go back to 1954, when the city annexed 10 square miles of unincorporated King County to expand its northern border. King County did not have the same sidewalk development requirements as Seattle, and the city never prioritized building them.

How long until the West Seattle Bridge is fixed?

SEATTLE — It's a day more than two years in the making. The day residents of West Seattle have been waiting for. The West Seattle Bridge will reopen to traffic on Sept. 18, 2022.

Is there a underground Seattle?

The Seattle Underground is a network of underground passageways and basements in the Pioneer Square neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. They were located at ground level when the city was built in the mid-19th century but fell into disuse after the streets were elevated.

Who objected to the Alaskan Way viaduct?

The Seattle City Council objected, voting 6-3 to put two alternatives on a March 2007 advisory ballot: a new elevated highway or a four-lane shallow tunnel. Gregoire then said she wanted to hear what voters thought, clarifying, “I will never, ever say that a vote of the people is a waste.”

Why is it called Alaskan Way?

The moniker was adopted in 1936 by the city council after a lengthy debate over the name of the city's new waterfront promenade, with the winning suggesting coming from the Alaska-Yukon Pioneers Association to honor the Klondike gold rush.

Is Big Dig worth it?

In the end, the Big Dig was a success and worth the wait. The tunnel did, in fact, alleviate congestion, and carbon emissions in Boston dropped by 12% because cars were moving instead of idling in traffic.

Is Big Bertha still stuck in Seattle?

Tunnel boring was completed on April 4, 2017, and the finished tunnel opened to traffic on February 4, 2019. Practically none of Bertha's components were reusable, and most of its steel was melted and recycled. The final, disassembled pieces of Bertha were removed from the tunnel portal in August 2017.

Does Elon Musk own a tunneling company?

The Boring Company (TBC) is an American infrastructure and tunnel construction services company founded by Elon Musk. Its ongoing and proposed projects are designed for intra-city ("loop") transit systems. U.S. TBC completed two tunnels in Las Vegas for loop travel.

Is Seattle built on top of another city?

Seattle, known as the Emerald City and founded in 1851, was metaphorically built on the logging industry and geographically established on marshes at sea level. The first neighborhood settled by the ever-so-humble pioneers came to be called Pioneer Square.

Can you go to underground Seattle without a tour?

You cannot do the tour on your own. Each underground is locked, and the tour companies pay rent to the property owners to go through their tour route under each property. over a year ago.

How much does it cost to go through the Seattle tunnel?

Weekday toll rates (Monday through Friday)Monday through FridayGood To Go! PassPay By MailMonday through Friday 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.Good To Go! Pass $2.70Pay By Mail $4.70Monday through Friday 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.Good To Go! Pass $1.50Pay By Mail $3.504 more rows

When was the Alaskan Way viaduct taken down?

The southern mile of the viaduct was demolished in 2011 as part of the Holgate to King Street Project. Crews began demolishing the remaining span in January 2019 and the final piece was removed in November 2019. Demolishing the Alaskan Way Viaduct is part of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program.

When did the Alaskan Way viaduct come down?

2019Alaskan Way Viaduct / Destruction date

When was the Alaskan Way viaduct built?

1949Alaskan Way Viaduct / Construction started

When did Seattle viaduct come down?

2019Alaskan Way Viaduct / Destruction dateThe southern mile of the viaduct was demolished in 2011 as part of the Holgate to King Street Project. Crews began demolishing the remaining span in January 2019 and the final piece was removed in November 2019.

What happened to the Seattle Pier?

SEATTLE — Construction began this week on the new Pier 58 on the Seattle waterfront two years after the old structure collapsed. The former Pier 58, also known as Waterfront Park, was removed in spring 2021 after significant deterioration led to its collapse in September 2020.

Why did Seattle ban houseboat rentals?

The Future of Seattle's Shoreline According to SDCI and the Washington State Department of Ecology, houseboats pose a threat to water quality because they typically handle graywater—which is water from sinks and showers, but not toilets—by discharging it right into the water around them, like most regular boats do.

What happened to the USS Seattle?

Decommissioned on March 15, 2005, the SEATTLE was subsequently laid-up in Philadelphia, Penn. The SEATTLE was sold for scrapping in September 2005 to ESCO Marine Inc., Brownsville, Tx. The ship was towed to Brownsville arriving there on February 9, 2006 and scrapping was completed on January 26, 2007.

WSDOT - Data

WSDOT - Data

Washington State Department of Transportation

Washington State Department of Transportation

Full closure of SR 520 and the Montlake Bridge planned for Nov. 20-21 ...

Old Lake Washington Boulevard off-ramp crossing SR 520 to be removed. SEATTLE – Travelers should plan ahead and find alternate routes for trips across Lake Washington and through Montlake, Saturday, Nov. 20, and Sunday, Nov. 21, as both State Route 520 and the Montlake Bridge will be closed all weekend.

What is the viaduct at Seattle airport?

In addition to freight mobility and terminal facility access, many people use the viaduct to access the Port's Pier 66 Central Waterfront complex, Cruise Terminal, Pier 69, Terminal 91, Port marinas, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The viaduct also is key to the regional highway system, carrying 25 percent of the north-south traffic ...

What route does the Port of Seattle use?

The Port of Seattle relies heavily on State Route 99 and the Alaskan Way Viaduct for freight mobility, Port facility access, and regional mobility. While our container trucks don’t travel on the viaduct, it nonetheless carries more than 100,000 vehicles every day that otherwise would be on Duwamish area surface streets and conflicting with freight and rail lines.

How much did the Port of Washington contribute to the SR 99 project?

In August 2013, the Port and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) entered into an agreement for a Port contribution of $281 million to the Viaduct Replacement Program so that it achieved the best balance among retaining and creating jobs, sustaining regional economic vitality, and benefiting the environment.

What is the name of the tunnel that carries traffic through Seattle?

The tunnel, which carries traffic along Washington State Route 99, replaced the Alaskan Way Viaduct (AWV) – a fixture of downtown Seattle’s Elliott Bay waterfront for more than 65 years. Between 1953 and 2019, the AWV was one of the main north-south highway corridors through Seattle, until recently carrying approximately 100,000 vehicles per day.

What is WSP video simulation?

WSP created a video simulation to show, from a “worm’s eye view,” the proposed route for the tunnel and its proximity to other underground structures, including utilities and buildings. Another lifelike video prepared by WSP and released by WSDOT in 2009 showed a simulation of the viaduct’s collapse from a hypothetical seismic event similar to the Nisqually Earthquake.

What is WSP animation?

Using highly sophisticated virtual design and construction (VDC) and building information modeling (BIM) techniques prior to construction, WSP created dynamic, three-dimensional animations to illustrate conditions at the site and help WSDOT officials visualize the impacts of proposed solutions.

What is WSP in Seattle?

WSP is part of the team helping deliver this new amenity. As a subconsultant to the City of Seattle, WSP is leading the engineering component of the project and has provided 3D design visualization, cost risk assessment, project management, civil engineering, traffic engineering, stormwater management, storm drainage, electrical duct banks, ...

What is WSP in construction?

WSP drew upon computer-aided design (CAD) and geospatial data to develop digital 3D and BIM for all major parts, pieces and processes of the project. These models enabled the project team to understand the project, design alternatives, and view traffic impacts and construction phasing from any point of view, allowing for more informed decision making by multiple stakeholders, while supporting public outreach efforts.

Why was the TBM taken apart?

When the TBM’s tunneling and ring-building work ended, the massive machine had to be taken apart to allow road building to continue.

When did the TBM fail?

Tunneling moved forward until December 2013, when the TBM failed. At that time, only 10 percent of the tunnel had been built. The contractor, Seattle Tunnel Partners, and the machine manufacturer, Hitachi Zosen developed a bold plan to raise the machine from below ground for extensive repairs above. Bertha was fully repaired and resumed digging in February 2016, and on April 4, 2017 broke through into the disassembly pit—building the tunnel’s final ring shortly after.

What is WSP video simulation?

WSP created a video simulation to show, from a "worm's eye view," the proposed route for the tunnel and its proximity to other underground structures, including utilities and buildings . Another lifelike video prepared by WSP and released by WSDOT in 2009 showed a simulation of the viaduct’s collapse from a hypothetical seismic event similar to the Nisqually Earthquake, which struck the southern end of the Puget Sound region in February 2001. “That video attracted huge media attention and heightened public awareness about the life-safety risk of the seismically vulnerable structure,” Rigsby said.

What is WSP in construction?

Since 2001, WSP has served as general engineering consultant (GEC) to the WSDOT for the $3.3 billion program and been involved in every aspect of the work from planning through construction. WSP provided the conceptual design and developed the technical requirements for the design-build tunnel project, prepared environmental documents and final design of some major project elements, and coordinated and managed a consultant team consisting of 62 subconsultants.

How many acres are there in the Alaskan Way Viaduct?

The completion of the Alaskan Way Viaduct program will create nine acres of revitalized open public space adjacent to the downtown Seattle waterfront.

What is the Alaskan Way Tunnel?

The Seattle underground scene has a new star: The Alaskan Way Tunnel, which improves the commute through the city’s downtown and paves the way for a revitalized public waterfront. map marker United States | Thursday, February 14, 2019. Reading Time : 8:30 minutes.

What is an example of an extraordinary effort?

An example of the team’s extraordinary effort was with an early design-bid-build enabling project —the Holgate to King Street Viaduct Replacement. While the project was out for bid, a late change in the adjoining bored tunnel project required revising and resubmitting 75 percent of the design documents, which included changing and reprinting 1,400 documents over three months.

How many people attended the SR 99?

The significance of this project was highlighted by the attendance of an estimated 100,000 people at the Feb. 2-3 grand opening celebration, where visitors walked through the tunnel and learned about its path to construction, and bid farewell to the viaduct while welcoming the modern SR-99 tunnel to Seattle’s downtown landscape.

How many monitoring devices were used in the tunnel?

Typical vibration and noise monitoring was done for the portal constructions. Ultimately, more than 4,000 monitoring devices were used on the program.

How long did it take to demolish the Viaduct?

The demolition of the viaduct has taken nearly a year . It began in February and spanned 10 months.

When was the Alaskan Way Viaduct torn down?

Updated: 9:15 AM PST November 23, 2019. The final piece of the Alaskan Way Viaduct along Seattle's waterfront was torn down this week, and now we're taking a look at the dramatic transformation of the waterfront.

Is Friends of the Waterfront Seattle a nonprofit?

Friends of the Waterfront Seattle, a nonprofit teaming up with the city to help with the next phase of waterfront construction, is holding small concrete pieces of the viaduct in their office for anyone who wants a piece - free of charge.

What is the final project in the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program?

The final project in the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program is the South Access - Surface Street Connections project. There are no other opportunities for community engagement with the AWV Program.

How many projects are there in the Alaskan Way?

The Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program consists of 30 projects led by the Washington State Department of Transportation, King County, the City of Seattle and the Port of Seattle. The Federal Highway Administration is a partner in this effort.

What is the final EIS for the Alaskan Way Viaduct?

The final environmental impact statement (final EIS) describes the permanent effects, construction effects, cumulative effects, and proposed mitigation for the project's proposed alternatives for construction.

Where is the new Alaskan Way?

New Alaskan Way: A new Alaskan Way surface street along Seattle's central waterfront that provides multimodal connections between SR 99 and downtown.

When was the Alaskan Way Viaduct built?

The Alaskan Way Viaduct, an elevated section of State Route 99 in Seattle, was built in the 1950s, and decades of daily wear and tear took a toll on the structure. The structure was weakened in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, requiring emergency repairs. Because of the viaduct’s age and vulnerability to earthquakes, replacing it was critical to public safety. The Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program consists of 30 projects that replace the viaduct and provide safety and mobility improvements to Seattle's central waterfront.

How long is the SR 99 tunnel?

The SR 99 Tunnel: A two-mile-long tunnel beneath downtown Seattle.

Where is the Alaskan Way surface street?

People interested in learning about the design or construction of the new Alaskan Way surface street along Seattle's central waterfront should contact the City of Seattle's Office of the Waterfront.

image

1.Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program | WSDOT

Url:https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/major-projects/alaskan-way-viaduct-replacement-program

17 hours ago WebThe Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program consists of 30 projects that replace the viaduct and provide safety and mobility improvements to Seattle's central waterfront. The …

2.Videos of What Is Replacing the Viaduct in Seattle

Url:/videos/search?q=what+is+replacing+the+viaduct+in+seattle&qpvt=what+is+replacing+the+viaduct+in+seattle&FORM=VDRE

14 hours ago Web · Representatives from the state, city and county have worked for more than a year to come up with a replacement after Seattle voters in 2007 killed two competing …

3.Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Transforming Seattle …

Url:https://csengineermag.com/alaskan-way-viaduct-replacement-transforming-seattle/

20 hours ago WebThe existing bridge and viaduct to it from I-5 are built on deep pilings. The whole route used to be either the Duwamish River delta or tideflats. It’s all mud. You’d have to dig too deep …

4.Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Transforming Seattle …

Url:https://www.wsp.com/en-us/insights/alaskan-way-viaduct-replacement-program

25 hours ago Web · November 14, 2008 by Andrew Smith. WSDOT has this site detailing eight options for the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement. The plans differ pretty remarkably, …

5.Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement to reshape Seattle’s …

Url:https://www.worldfinance.com/infrastructure-investment/alaskan-way-viaduct-replacement-to-reshape-seattles-future

30 hours ago

6.Viaduct replacement: Down to just 2 options? | The …

Url:https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/viaduct-replacement-down-to-just-2-options/

32 hours ago

7.Is the tunnel that is replacing the Viaduct in Seattle a bad …

Url:https://www.quora.com/Is-the-tunnel-that-is-replacing-the-Viaduct-in-Seattle-a-bad-idea

4 hours ago

8.Before and after: Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct is now a …

Url:https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle-tunnel/before-and-after-seattles-alaskan-way-viaduct-is-now-a-piece-of-history/281-957400d4-0c08-4d69-9d39-1ddd613f1898

15 hours ago

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9