Alaskan Way Viaduct Project Update – October 2013

Semiannual Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection, utility work to close SR 99 through Seattle this weekend

The Washington State Department of Transportation will close the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct for a semiannual safety inspection from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Additionally, crews working on the City of Seattle’s Mercer Corridor Project will close a section of SR 99 north of downtown, including the Battery Street Tunnel, to install a sewer line from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

The closures were scheduled on the same weekend to avoid creating backups on multiple weekends. Travelers should expect increased congestion in and near downtown Seattle and allow extra time to reach their destination.

Closure details

Friday, Oct. 4, to Monday, Oct. 7 (Mercer Corridor Project):

All lanes in both directions of SR 99/Aurora Avenue North will be closed between the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

Saturday, Oct. 5 (viaduct inspection):

All lanes in both directions of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed between South Spokane Street and the Battery Street Tunnel from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 6 (viaduct inspection):

All lanes in both directions of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed between South Spokane Street and the Battery Street Tunnel from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WSDOT recommends leaving early, carpooling or taking transit. Drivers can stay up to date with all closures and roadway conditions by checking the Seattle traffic page, the What’s Happening Now page, or WSDOT mobile app.

Milepost 31 Speaker Series — Archaeology and the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program

Past meets future as Bertha, the SR 99 tunneling machine, begins digging through Seattle’s first neighborhood, Pioneer Square. Join us for this month’s speaker series to hear how the Washington State Department of Transportation is protecting 20th century history as we build this 21st century project. See what archaeologists have uncovered in the south and north portal areas, and learn about their monitoring plans as the project continues.

Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013

6 – 6:30 p.m.

Milepost 31, 211 First Ave. S., Seattle

After the talk, be sure to leave enough time to explore the rest of the First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square. Milepost 31 is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and stays open until 8 p.m. on First Thursdays. Free parking is available for First Thursday Art Walk patrons in Pioneer Square. Please visit www.FirstThursdaySeattle.com for information about participating garages.

Route 99: Now an Easy Connection to Downtown

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a bit of construction along the Central Waterfront, as well as in and around Pioneer Square. One of the impacts beginning on Saturday, September 28^th is the re-route of Metro Bus Route 99. The route will no longer run a Waterfront/1^st Ave loop and instead will run north/south on 1^st Ave from Broad Street in Belltown down through the International District. We for one think this will make getting to and from downtown a snap!

http://metrofutureblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/99rev.pdf

Letter from the West Precinct Commander

September 14th, 2013

To Our Pioneer Square Residents, Business Owners, Employees, Guardians and Visitors:

Many of you may know by now, a horrific double stabbing occurred in Pioneer Square last night at 2nd Ave. Ext. S. & S. Jackson St. at approximately 10:30PM. An adult male has since been pronounced dead at Harborview Medical Center and an adult female is being cared for there. We believe that only one suspect was involved and he was placed into custody at the scene by two of our SWAT Officers who were patrolling nearby at 5th S./S. Jackson when the 911 call was broadcast. The adult male suspect was booked into King County Jail early this morning.

SPD Homicide detectives continue their investigation in order to provide as complete a picture as possible for the King County Prosecutors Office to present charges in court.

West Precinct Officers on all three watches and other support units will continue to provide proactive foot, bike and car patrols in Pioneer Square and its surrounding neighborhoods as they were last night. As previously planned for, we will also have significantly more staffing in Pioneer Square and adjacent neighborhoods tomorrow afternoon and night as 67,000+ community members come to CenturyLink Field. I will be on site and in command of all Seattle Police Units working inside and outside CenturyLink Field and surrounding neighborhoods tomorrow.

No words can adequately express the sorrow we have for the victims, their families, friends and co-workers. We want to thank the witnesses who called 911 and who stepped forward to help the two victims, putting themselves at risk by doing so.

Captain Dermody

West Precinct Commander