Alliance for Pioneer Square – Page 111 – The Alliance for Pioneer Square works to help preserve what makes Pioneer Square the most authentic, engaging and dynamic neighborhood in Seattle.

Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Construction Closures: Highlights for Friday, Sept. 7 – Monday, Sept. 17

Visit WSDOT’s website for a complete list of closures. Closure information changes frequently, so remember to check for updates throughout the week.

Highlights for Friday, Sept. 7 – Monday, Sept. 17

Corridor-wide:

Viaduct reinforcement work will close all lanes of southbound SR 99 between the north end of the Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Bridge at the following times:
- 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, Sunday, Sept. 9 – the morning of Friday, Sept. 14.
- 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly. Sunday, Sept. 16 – the morning of Friday, Sept. 21.

North:

Monday, Sept. 10 through Wednesday, Sept. 12

John Street between Sixth Avenue North and Taylor Avenue North will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The sidewalk and north parking lane also will be closed through Sept. 14. Local access maintained from Taylor Avenue North.

Monday, Sept. 10, through Friday, Sept. 14

The north parking lane and sidewalk on John Street between Sixth Avenue North and Taylor Avenue North and between Aurora Avenue North and the alley will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Thursday, Sept. 13 and Friday, Sept. 14

Flaggers will direct traffic on Sixth Avenue North between Denny Way and John Street from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Central:

Monday, Sept. 10, through Friday, Sept. 14

The southbound parking lane on Western Avenue between Marion and Columbia streets will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
The north-side parking lane and one eastbound travel lane on Marion Street between Alaskan Way and First Avenue will be closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly.

South:

All lanes of northbound SR 99 will be closed between South Royal Brougham Way and the West Seattle Bridge from 11 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.

Quick links:

Current work: The most up-to-date resource for construction related to the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement.
Traffic: Real-time conditions on Seattle area highways and many connecting streets.
Transit: WSDOT funded additional bus service along routes affected by construction.
Bike/walk: We maintain a safe and reliable path for bicyclists and pedestrians through the construction area.

Website links

Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program

SR 99 Tunnel Project | South Holgate Street to South King Street Project

Seattle Parks and Recreation Begins Repair on Pioneer Square Pergola

Seattle Parks and Recreation, with contractor and Ron Wright and Associates, begins repair to the historical Pioneer Square Pergola on Monday, September 10, 2012. It is anticipated work will complete on Wednesday, September 12, 2012. During construction, a portion of the multipurpose lane on First Avenue, both north and south of Yesler Way, will be blocked off. Temporary signage will be installed to direct pedestrians around the construction zone.

The work includes repair of the portion of the Pergola damaged by a truck collision in April 2012, and installation of a new, stronger bollard. This new bollard will be anchored into the ground providing extra strength and protection.

In 2001 the Pergola was hit and knocked down by a semi-truck. The Pergola was completely renovated at that time, and a surface mount bollard was installed to protect the historical structure from further strikes. However, the Pergola and bollard have been hit several times since 2001, necessitating repair and reinstallation of the old bollard. Now Seattle Parks and Recreation is collaborating with the Seattle Department of Transportation to install an in-ground bollard that will provide even more protection to keep this iconic piece of Seattle’s past in
tact.

The repair work will also include the replacement of the concrete sidewalk in this area, as well as the replacement of the existing ramp from the street to the sidewalk. A new cornice piece on the Pergola will be installed at a later date.

Constructed in 1909, the Pergola in Pioneer Square Park provided shelter for passengers waiting for the cable car that ran along Yesler Way. It was built in a Victorian style, out of iron and glass. It was restored in 1972, and designated a historic landmark in 1977.

For more information on the project, please contact Ron Wright of Ron Wright and Associates at rwright[at]rwaa.com or 206-728-4248.

Marketing the Square

Pioneer Square has always been the heart and soul of Seattle, and Seattle needs a compelling reminder that this is still true. Over the last two years, the Alliance has been working with the community to implement a 5-year multifaceted initiative to improve the overall business health of Pioneer Square. Part of this plan tasks us to effectively market, brand and promote Pioneer Square while simultaneously working to make other improvements to our beloved neighborhood. Below is an overview of the current efforts.

On the Street

Groundwork has been laid and you will see promotions throughout 2012, with more coming in 2013! If you peek out your window, you might be able to see the brand new banners installed just this week. 170,000 copies of the Pioneer Square Map & Guide are being distributed throughout Western Washington, on the ferry system and at the airport. An online ad campaign as well as printed advertisements in HomePort and Alaska Air magazine will run through December 2012.

Staying true to our techie upper floor industry, we have worked to build an active social media presence. We encourage you to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all that is happening in the Square and to help us spread the word. In addition, we will be adding upper floor business profiles to PioneerSquare.org to make the site even more robust and a better resource for users!

Staying True to Our History

Trail to Treasure is a project that was launched to tell the story of Pioneer Square… how the people and events shaped the neighborhood into what it is today. This summer we were able to offer FREE historic walking tours, which will continue to run every Friday through the end of September. Historic walking tour maps are available throughout the neighborhood, and production is under way for informational waysides (to be installed spring 2013). A strong partnership with our urban national park, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, has made this possible.

Art, Art and more Art

The Pioneer Square Art Walk has evolved over the years and we are working to help keep the event top of mind and to remind people that Pioneer Square is the place to be on the First Thursday of every month. The First Thursday Seattle website centralizes information about gallery openings and FAQ visitors may have. In addition, Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FirstThursdaySeattle) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/1Tseattle) are used to keep people up to date and encourage conversations about Seattle’s first Art Walk.

Partnerships

2012 has also brought some new opportunities for unique promotions. The City of Seattle has chosen Pioneer Square to participate in the Only in Seattle Program, launched to promote Seattle’s small independent retailers.

We have also been working with WSDOT, SDOT, the Waterfront and Downtown Seattle Association to launch DowntownSeattleParking.com, a resource for drivers to use to find safe parking at an affordable rate during construction of the deep bore tunnel. Representatives will be reaching out over the next couple of weeks to assist businesses interested in posting information for their customers.