Watch the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project on YouTube

The Washington State Department of Transportation has a YouTube channel dedicated to the big construction project that has dominated the Seattle Waterfront for the past couple of years. Here you’ll find animated videos of how Bertha the world’s largest tunnel boring machine works, loving goodbyes to the old viaduct which the new tunnel will replace, and milestones throughout the project. Above is a video showing Mario driving a go-cart through a simulation WSDOT originally posted of a temporary route for SR 99.

As we’re learning about what’s really blocking Bertha the Tunnel Boring Machine, you may want to get caught up on what Bertha is doing underneath Pioneer Square and why she’s digging a 2-mile tunnel underneath Downtown Seattle. Visit Milepost 31, the information center dedicated to the area’s history and the technology used in the tunnel boring machine. It’s located in Pioneer Square and tours of the nearby launch site are held regularly, as well as a Speaker Series on First Thursdays. There’s also a fabulous historical website called ViaductHistory.com through which visitors can explore the history of the SR 99 viaduct and surrounding neighborhoods. You can even follow Bertha on Twitter!

Tell Legislators to Preserve Bus Service to Downtown

Via Downtown Seattle Association Public Policy Advocacy

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Action Requested:

Contact King County legislators using the link below, and urge them to develop a solution for funding King County Metro and pass a comprehensive state transportation package:

Move King County Now contact link

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King County Metro transit service is at risk. The special session in Olympia has provided another chance to secure a funding package that will preserve transit service, but that window will soon close. We’ve reached a critical period in which we need to impress upon lawmakers how important Metro service is to the Downtown, and regional, economy and the ability for tens of thousands of commuters to get between work and home each day.

Commuters and employers alike stand to be severely impacted if the state legislature does not adopt a transportation package. Faced with a budget shortfall, Metro cuts will amount to a loss of 17 percent of service, affecting eight out of every 10 riders, with more than 70 routes eliminated completely – click on the map to get a visual depiction of the massive scale of the route reduction:

 

74 routes to be eliminated

Reductions in bus service will place an estimated additional 30,000 vehicles on our roadways each day and make getting around King County more difficult, whether you’re in a car, bus or truck.

What’s at Risk Without a Funding Solution:

  • 74 routes eliminated across the county (35% of Metro system)
  • 107 routes will have services reduced or revised (50% of system)
  • Only 33 routes unchanged but would likely become more crowded (15% of system)
  • 600,000 service hours to be reduced
  • 17% cuts to transit will affect 8 out of every 10 transit riders and make it harder to get to work
  • All areas of the county will be impacted (kingcounty.gov/am/future/)
  • Cuts would mean a loss of 14 million rides annually
  • Of the impacted routes, 43% are peak, 56% are all day and 1% are “night owl” routes
  • Metro’s level of service will be the same as in 1997, despite adding 360,000 more King County residents
  • An estimated 30,000 additional vehicles will be put back on the road due to transit service reductions
  • This is not just a King County problem; failure to pass a funding package will put our state at a competitive disadvantage

 

DSA Public Policy Advocacy Since DSA was founded in 1958, we have been a leader in the revitalization and development of Downtown into a thriving, world-class destination, business center and collection of neighborhoods. Successful leadership and partnerships have earned DSA its reputation as an expert on issues facing Downtown. The strength of our advocacy program is driven by the work and support of distinguished volunteers who lend their expertise to the achievement of our mission to champion a healthy, vibrant urban core. Read our strategic plan.

Seawall construction starts week of November 18

Waterfront meetingFrom Waterfront Seattle:

Seawall Construction Materials (PDF)

After years of careful planning and coordination, we’re ready to begin seawall construction!  Starting the week of November 18, you’ll see construction begin in earnest on the waterfront. The first step is to build a new roadway beneath the Alaskan Way Viaduct that will carry all north/south traffic during construction of the new seawall. To make way for this, angled parking spaces under the viaduct, as well as those spaces between Pike and Virginia streets will be removed and traffic will be shifted to the east. Read below for additional information. For questions about Seawall construction send us an email at seawall@waterfrontseattle.org or call our 24-hour hotline at 206.618.8584.

Seawall construction starts the week of November 18

Near term activities will include:

  • Mobilization of equipment and materials.
  • Placement of safety fencing at the perimeter of the work area.
  • Removal of angled parking adjacent to and under the Alaskan Way Viaduct between Madison and Pike streets initially, and later all the way to Virginia Street.
  • Posting “No Park” signs as early as November 14.
  • Removal of trees and signal poles on the west side of Alaskan Way (in the sidewalk area).
  • Construction of the temporary roadway beneath the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
  • Ongoing utility and telecommunications relocation work.

What you can expect:

  • Construction hours will be Monday through Saturday, both day and night. The noisiest work will stop each day by 10 pm and resume at 8 am.
  • No work is expected on major holidays.
  • One lane in each direction maintained on Alaskan Way.
  • Access to east side businesses maintained on the access road immediately east of the viaduct.
  • The multi-use path on the west side of the viaduct will be open, with interim closures and detours in the vicinity of Pike Street.
  • Increased noise, dust, and vibration.
  • Increased truck and oversized vehicle traffic moving equipment and materials.
  • Contractors can park work vehicles within the construction work zone, but are not allowed to park in on-street, short-term parking.
  • Flaggers will be present at different locations within the work zone to manage construction traffic and public access though the construction area.

Construction snapshot activities over the next week

Seawall

On Friday, November 8 underground utility work will take place on the east side of Alaskan Way between Pike and Union streets. Here’s what to expect:

  • Working hours will be 8 am to 3 pm.
  • On-street parking restrictions will be in place for the duration of the work.
  • Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane.
  • Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times.
  • Work will include pavement removal, jackhammering and excavation.

Waterfront Seattle

Union Street utility investigations started yesterday near Western Avenue and Post Alley. Pedestrian and local access will be maintained throughout the work. Working hours are weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm.

Starting Monday, November 4, crews will be performing geotechnical investigations under the viaduct between Pine and Lenora streets. The work is necessary to gather information about the soil as the design for the future Elliott Way connection over the BNSF railroad progresses. Work will occur weekdays between 7 am and 6 pm and last approximately two weeks. See the attached flyer for more information.

For questions about Seawall construction, send us an email at seawall@waterfrontseattle.org or call our 24-hour hotline at 206.618.8584.