April 2018

On a rainy April 5th during First Thursday Art Walk, Pioneer Square celebrated the completion of Nord Alley and Pioneer Passage. Both alleys now feature beautiful new brick surfaces and improved stormwater drainage systems. The event started off with remarks from Barry Blanton – Co-Chair of the Alliance board, Todd Vogel – former Director of the International Sustainability Institute, Leslie Smith – former Executive Director of the Alliance, and Ward Van Allen – Pioneer Square BIA member and owner of Casco Antiguo. A ribbon cutting ceremony followed directly after in both alleys.

Event attendees had the chance to enjoy music from local musicians Just Us and Explosions Everywhere!, as well as watch live painting demonstrations by artists Sam Day and Baso Fibonacci. The Alliance would like to thank everyone who came out for helping to commemorate this exciting neighborhood achievement.

On April 26th, the Downtown Seattle Association is hosting a meeting in Pioneer Square to go over their involvement in the park, and to give you the opportunity to share your ideas about the future of this vibrant public space. Meet your neighbors and chat over complimentary snacks and refreshments.

Cherry Street Public House
210 Occidental Ave S

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Spring is here! Join us on Saturday, April 28^th for the annual Pioneer Square Spring Clean! It’s a fun and free community event for all ages and abilities. Make Pioneer Square an even more beautiful and welcoming place by sprucing up the neighborhood with your friends and coworkers. Scheduled activities include litter pickup, graffiti removal, gardening, and more! Snacks and refreshments will be provided, and free T-shirts will be available while supplies last.

WHERE: Meet at Occidental Square Park
WHEN: Saturday, April 28^th, 2018
                Check-in: 8:30am
                Cleanup activities: 9:00am – 12:00pm

Sign Up Now!

Upstream 2018 Discounted Tickets

A double-deck highway now runs end to end inside the new SR 99 tunnel. Earlier this month, contractor Seattle Tunnel Partners installed the last of the 1,152 road panels that together form the lower (northbound) roadway. Here is a video of the last panel being installed.

Now, crews are installing and testing the tunnel’s operational and safety systems. It’s a big job. Thousands of components that make up systems like fire suppression and ventilation will be tested at least three times – once to make sure they work, then to make sure they work as a system, then together with other systems to make sure all systems are integrated and functional. Together, these systems will make the SR 99 tunnel one of the ‘smartest’ tunnels ever built. This video explains how the critical air quality and fire safety systems work together.

After the systems are all certified, STP will hand the tunnel over to the Washington State Department of Transportation so a different contractor can realign SR 99 and build the final ramp connections to and from the tunnel. WSDOT estimates that the tunnel may open to traffic as early as this fall.

Send an email to viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov if you would like to be added to email lists for updates on the viaduct demolition and/or the SR 99 Connections Project.

Construction Roundup