The Alaskan Way Viaduct, looking southeast

The Alaskan Way Viaduct, completed on April 4, 1953, is an elevated section of Washington State Route 99 that runs along the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle's Industrial District and downtown Seattle. It is the smaller of the two major north-south traffic corridors through Seattle, carrying up to 110,000 vehicles per day.^[1] The viaduct runs above the surface street, Alaskan Way, from S. Nevada Street in the south to the entrance of Belltown's Battery Street Tunnel in the north, follows previously existing railroad lines. The Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle, Washington from Victor Steinbrueck Park. ... The Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle, Washington from Victor Steinbrueck Park. ... State Route 99, abbreviated SR 99, commonly called Highway 99, is a numbered state highway in the U.S. state of Washington extending just over 50 miles from Fife in the south to Everett in the north. ... Elliott Bay and the Seattle waterfront, looking north from the Pacific Coast Co. ... Nickname: The Emerald City Location of Seattle in King County and Washington Coordinates: Country United States State Washington County King County Incorporated December 2 1869  - Mayor Greg Nickels Area    - City 369. ... The Industrial District is an industrial neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, USA. It is bounded on the west by the Duwamish Waterway and Elliott Bay, beyond which lies West Seattle; on the east by Interstate 5, beyond which lies Beacon Hill; on the north by S. King and S. Dearborn Streets... Downtown Seattle, from top of Space Needle (looking south) Map of Downtown Seattle Downtown is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. ... Belltown Belltown is the most densely populated neighbourhood in Seattle, Washington, United States, located on the citys downtown waterfront. ... The Battery Street Tunnel, built in 1952, runs 3,140 feet under Battery Street in Seattle, Washingtons Belltown neighborhood from Western Avenue in the southwest to Denny Way in the northeast. ... Railway tracks running through a railway station in North East England A railway yard in Portland, Oregon. ...

The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake destroyed the similarly designed Cypress Street Viaduct in Oakland, California with considerable loss of life. The 2001 Nisqually earthquake, damaged the viaduct and its supporting Alaskan Way Seawall and required the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to invest $3.5 million U.S. in emergency repairs. Experts give a 1-in-20 chance that the viaduct could be shut down by an earthquake within the next decade.^[1] Since the Nisqually Earthquake occurred, semi-annual inspections have discovered continuing settlement damage. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Loma Prieta earthquake occurred on Tuesday October 17, 1989, in the greater San Francisco Bay Area in California at 5:04 p. ... Portion of the collapsed Cypress Street Viaduct after the Loma Prieta Earthquake The collapsed Cypress Street Viaduct seen from ground-level. ... Oakland, founded in 1852, is the eighth-largest city in California[1] and the county seat of Alameda County. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nisqually earthquake occurred on February 28, 2001, and was one of the largest recorded earthquakes in Washington state history. ... The Alaskan Way Seawall is a seawall which runs for 7,000 feet along the Elliott Bay waterfront southwest of downtown Seattle from Bay Street to S. Washington Street. ... The Washington State Department of Transportation, or WSDOT, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the states transportation infrastructure. ... In probability theory and statistics the odds in favor of an event or a proposition are the quantity p / (1 − p), where p is the probability of the event or proposition. ... An earthquake is a phenomenon that results from the sudden release of stored energy in the Earths crust that creates seismic waves. ...

Due to damage from earthquakes and sinking, a group of faculty from the University of Washington urged the mayor of Seattle (in 2005) to close the viaduct within a two-year timeframe.^[2] Whether to remove, replace, or rebuild the viaduct is a politically charged issue. Proponents of removing the viaduct cite successful examples of this such as The Embarcadero Freeway in San Francisco, in which demolition and routing traffic along surface streets enhanced the city's waterfront. Proponents of viaduct rebuilding project that surface streets might not be able to handle the traffic that the viaduct currently supports without extensive surface street improvements. Proponents of viaduct replacement with a tunnel argue that, while the tunnel is an expensive project, it would maintain traffic capacity and also create new opportunities for downtown city redevelopment, with potential benefits of low-income housing, new park space, and new retail and office space. Section of the Embarcadero Freeway in front of the Ferry Building during demolition The Embarcadero Freeway was a freeway in San Francisco. ...

Future Plans

Governor Christine Gregoire stated "no action" is not an option for the viaduct. There is consensus that some action needs to be taken with the viaduct and the seawall that supports the viaduct in the near future.^[3] However, there is not consensus on whether to remove, replace, or rebuild the viaduct. Christine OGrady Gregoire (born March 24, 1947) is the Democratic governor of the U.S. state of Washington. ... Seawall protecting homes from storm waves and beach erosion. ...

Many Seattle leaders, including Mayor Greg Nickels and state and city transportation officials, favor building a tunnel. Plans for a six-lane double-decker tunnel were developed.^[4] The tunnel was envisioned as a solution to not only the viaduct's traffic limitations and safety problems, but also to allow better uses for the waterfront real estate, including parks, housing, and retail developments. While future development of the Alaskan Way real estate corridor may have enabled future tax revenue for the city, many state lawmakers claimed the originally proposed six-lane tunnel project was too costly. In response to concerns of the cost of the originally proposed tunnel construction, the city council created a scaled down four-lane hybrid tunnel option. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels Gregory J. Greg Nickels (born August 7, 1955) became the 51st and current mayor of Seattle, Washington on January 1, 2002. ...

In mid-December of 2006, Governor Gregoire stated the decision was at a stalemate and called for an advisory ballot on March 13th for Seattle residents.

Surface-Tunnel Hybrid ^[4]

• Tunnel would be four lanes: two lanes each direction, side-by-side.
• The tunnel’s 14-foot shoulders would be used as an extra travel lane each way during periods of high demand.
• Transit service would be increased during peak commuter periods.
• Cars entering and exiting from Elliott and Western Avenues would each have a dedicated lane.
• Third Avenue would become a permanent transit corridor.
• Cost estimate for the four-lane tunnel: $3.4 billion

On February 13th, 2007, Governor Christine Gregoire rejected the scaled down four-lane tunnel hybrid option, saying that the recent WSDOT review showed the tunnel proposal "does not meet state and federal safety standards." Of particular concern is that the use shoulders as traffic lanes during peak traffic times would leave no additional lanes for emergency access. It's likely that the March 13, 2007 advisory vote will take place as planned, but Gregoire's spokeswoman, Holly Armstrong, said that regardless of the election's outcome, the tunnel option is dead.^[5] Christine OGrady Gregoire (born March 24, 1947) is the Democratic governor of the U.S. state of Washington. ...

Elevated Structure ^[4]

• Replace current viaduct with updated seismic standards. The seismic update would block the views of Puget Sound visible to motorists on the current structure. ^[6]
• Lanes on new structure would be 12 feet wide, with new shoulders on each side for a total width of 75 feet across. The current structure has no shoulders and lanes are less than 10 feet wide in some areas.
• Current on and off ramps at the northern and southern portion of the viaduct in Seattle will remain the same with an additional full intersection at South Atlantic Street and South Royal Brougham Way. The First Street off ramp would be removed.
• Plan would include a complete replacement of the sea wall.
• Cost estimates elevated structure: $2.4-2.8 billion.
• Construction duration: 10-12 years.

Many prominent leaders and organizations are against an elevated structure and believe this is a unique opportunity to remove the viaduct and connect downtown Seattle to the waterfront. Former Governors Dan Evans and Gary Locke, former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton, and the American Institute of Architects recommend against rebuilding the viaduct.^[7] Daniel Jackson Evans Daniel Jackson Evans (born November 11, 1925) served three terms as governor of the state of Washington from 1965 to 1977, and represented the state in the United States Senate from 1983 to 1989. ... Former Governor Gary Locke Gary F. Locke (born January 21, 1950 in Seattle, Washington) was the Democratic governor of Washington (1997-2005), and the first Chinese American governor in United States history. ... Slade Gorton Thomas Slade Gorton III (born January 8, 1928) is an American politician. ... The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the professional organization for architects in the United States. ...

Remove the Viaduct^[8]

This option is strongly backed by King County Executive Ron Sims, and by the People's Waterfront Coalition.^[9]. This options is not on the ballot, but a rejection of the other two proposals could indicate support for this alternative. The state and county currently have experts exploring the proposal and will report back to leaders when their assessment is complete.

Proponents offer examples of successes in other cities and outline the plan and its potential benefits as follows:

• Remove the viaduct completely and devote the waterfront area to public use. Proponents envision a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that mixes commercial, retail, and public park spaces.
• Traffic needs would be addressed through improvements to existing streets, I-5, and public transit.
  • Similar improvements will be necessary other proposals as well, due to closure of the viaduct during construction (estimated at 6-12 years)
• The total cost of removal of the viaduct, repairing the seawall, and improvements to I-5 and existing streets is unofficially estimated to be $1.6 billion U.S.
• Highway removal or downsizing has worked in other cities.
• Opportunity to improve connectivity in the street grid and improve public transit offerings.
• Potential to improve the tourist economy, create jobs, and encourage a denser and more residential downtown through the offering of a generous waterfront park.

Due to removal, construction, or earthquake, there will be a multi-year period when the viaduct is closed. During this time, the city of Seattle could move forward with improvements to the downtown traffic grid and public transportation, while collecting information on whether additional transit capacity is needed.^[10] This approach would allow Seattle to determine whether it can replicate the success of The Embarcadero in San Francisco. The Ferry Building, on The Embarcadero at Market Street The Embarcadero is the eastern waterfront roadway of the Port of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, along San Francisco Bay. ...

Ballot Options

The advisory ballot allows citizens to vote yes/no on whether they support a surface-tunnel hybrid and yes/no on whether they support an elevated structure alternative.^[11] It is unclear what it means if voters approve both options.^[12] Rejecting both options indicates a preference to remove the viaduct without replacing it, an alternative proposed by the People's Waterfront Coalition, a group of scientists, urban planners, and concerned citizens.

Earthwork

Excavation for the tunnel option will involve both excavation along the waterfront, but also a re-excavation of the existing Battery Street Tunnel which is level with the viaduct. The experience of Boston's Big Dig project, where a viaduct was converted into an underground tunnel, albeit not a cut-and-cover tunnel as would be the case in Seattle, illustrates the schedule and budget challenges of such a large project. Proponents have taken pains to distinguish Seattle's "Little dig" from Boston's I-93 tunnel project.^[13] The Battery Street Tunnel, built in 1952, runs 3,140 feet under Battery Street in Seattle, Washingtons Belltown neighborhood from Western Avenue in the southwest to Denny Way in the northeast. ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... Metropolitan Highway System Big Dig is the unofficial name of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project (CA/T), a megaproject to reroute the Central Artery (Interstate 93), the chief controlled-access highway through the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, into a 3. ... A disused railway tunnel now converted to pedestrian and bicycle use, near Houyet, Belgium A tunnel is an underground passage. ...

Costs

Money is a major issue in the viaduct debate: Seattle's budget in the early 2000s was stretched thin because of unemployment, the loss of Boeing jobs and the lingering effects of the dot-com crash. Replacement options under consideration range in cost from $2.5 billion to $4.1 billion and a completion time of up to 12 years. The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is an aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ... The dot-com bubble was a speculative bubble covering roughly 1997–2001 during which stock markets in Western nations saw their value increase rapidly from growth in the new Internet sector and related fields. ...

On September 7, 2004, WSDOT announced that the alternatives had been narrowed down to two: September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

1. Rebuilding the viaduct (estimated cost, $3.2 to $3.5 billion; estimated time, 6-8 years)
2. Replacing the viaduct with a six-lane tunnel (estimated cost, $3.6 to $4.1 billion; estimated time, 7-9 years)

However, due to the costs and scope of the project, the other options are still being discussed in the local media. ^[14] Seattle City Council member Peter Steinbrueck notes that "While the mayor's first choice is the tunnel, he supports the City Council's resolution that designates a surface and transit alternative as a backup." ^[15] Peter Steinbrueck is a member of the Seattle City Council. ...

Current funding

• $2 Billion - 2005 Gas Tax (Partnership Funding)
• $177 Million - Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel Funding)
• $207.5 Million - 2005 Federal Earmark Funds
• $19 Million - Other Funds
• $2.4 Billion - Total Funding Available From All Sources

Mayor Greg Nickels is attempting to attract $1 billion of funding from the federal government; his department has also outlined a financial plan which adds additional sources of funding which potentially total $2.6 billion ^[16] With the termination of the Seattle Monorail Project, the Downtown Seattle Association is arguing for funding source used for the monorail project be used to replace the viaduct. The source for the monorail project was an excise tax based on tables approximating the value of vehicles registered within Seattle. The valuation tables have generated their own controversy, which resulted in the state wide tax vehicle excise being repealed. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels Gregory J. Greg Nickels (born August 7, 1955) became the 51st and current mayor of Seattle, Washington on January 1, 2002. ... Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels Gregory J. Greg Nickels (born August 7, 1955) became the 51st and current mayor of Seattle, Washington on January 1, 2002. ... The Green Line was the first phase of a proposed five-line monorail system to be constructed in Seattle, Washington by the Seattle Popular Monorail Authority, also known as the Seattle Monorail Project. ... The KL Monorail in Kuala Lumpur, a colourful straddle-beam monorail Gyroscopically Balanced Monorail (1907) by Brennan and Scherl The term monorail or industrial monorail is used to describe any number of systems in which a chair or carrier is suspended from, or rides on, an overhead rail structure for... The KL Monorail in Kuala Lumpur, a colourful straddle-beam monorail Gyroscopically Balanced Monorail (1907) by Brennan and Scherl The term monorail or industrial monorail is used to describe any number of systems in which a chair or carrier is suspended from, or rides on, an overhead rail structure for...

Entrances & exits

West Seattle West Seattle, a hilly district in Seattle, Washington, USA, encompasses all of Seattle west of the Duwamish River. ... The West Seattle Bridge is a cantilevered segmental bridge that serves as the primary connection between West Seattle and the rest of the city. ... Harbor Island is a man-made island in the mouth of Seattle, Washingtons Duwamish Waterway where it empties into Elliot Bay. ... Safeco Field, sometimes simply referred to as Safeco for short or even The Safe, is the home of the Seattle Mariners baseball club. ... Qwest Field is a football stadium in Seattle, Washington. ... Washington state maintains the largest fleet of passenger and auto ferries in the United States and the third largest in the world. ... Downtown Seattle, from top of Space Needle (looking south) Map of Downtown Seattle Downtown is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. ... Belltown Belltown is the most densely populated neighbourhood in Seattle, Washington, United States, located on the citys downtown waterfront. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require removal of excess red links (links to non-existent articles). ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b} WSDOT Projects: Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement
2. ^ Seattle Times:Shut down the viaduct (March 2, 2006)
3. ^ WSDOT - Project - SR 99 - Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement
4. ^ ^{a b c} Seattle Channel -- News Room -- Alaskan Way Viaduct In-depth
5. ^ Gov, lawmakers reject tunnel option to replace Seattle viaduct
6. ^ Seattle Times: The view from the viaduct (March 19, 2006)
7. ^ Open Letter to Governor Chris Gregoire
8. ^ MorePerfect.org: People's Waterfront Coalition
9. ^ KNDO/KNDU: WA gov nixes `surface option' on Seattle waterfront; Sims furious
10. ^ The Seattle Times: Shut down the viaduct.
11. ^ official ballot - King County, WA Special Election, MARCH 13, 2007 (pdf)
12. ^ The Seattle Times: Politics: Viaduct vote set; state may ignore it
13. ^ Seattle Weekly: Seattle's Little Dig (April 19, 2006)
14. ^
15. ^ Seattle Times: Climate's Right For Fresh Viaduct Plan (Oct 10, 2006), which advocates increased high-capacity transit as an alterative to the viaduct and tunnel options.
16. ^ Seattle Times: Mayor finds $2.6 billion more to pay for viaduct tunnel plan (June 23, 2006).

See also

• Big Dig (an elevated-to-tunnel conversion in Boston)
• Gardiner Expressway (an elevated freeway in Toronto with similar future plans)

Metropolitan Highway System Big Dig is the unofficial name of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project (CA/T), a megaproject to reroute the Central Artery (Interstate 93), the chief controlled-access highway through the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, into a 3. ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... View of the Gardiner Expressway, west of downtown Toronto, from the pedestrian overpass at the foot of Roncesvalles Avenue. ...

External links

• SR 99 - Alaskan Way Viaduct & Seawall Replacement Project
• The Mayor's Office - information and videos about the replacement project
• Washington State Department of Transportation
• People's Waterfront Coalition
• Allied Arts of Seattle
• Alaskan Way Viaduct - Puget Sound Transportation projects (unofficial)
• MorePerfect.org: Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement options

News stories

• "Two views of the viaduct", Seattle Times, 2006-09-08. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
  • note: article links to videos which require RealPlayer 10.5

• "State offers 3 decidedly different designs for viaduct", Seattle Times, 2006-08-09. Retrieved on 2006-08-15.

• "Idea of fixing viaduct seen as having merit but problems as well", Seattle Times, 2006-08-02. Retrieved on 2006-08-02.

• "What will happen if viaduct closes? Study takes a look", Seattle Times, 2006-07-25. Retrieved on 2006-07-25.

• "A Longer shelf life for the viaduct", Seattle P.I, 2006-05-03. Retrieved on 2006-06-24.

• "Seattle's Little Dig", Seattle Weekly, 2006-04-19. Retrieved on 2006-06-24.

• "MorePerfect.org "Read More" listing", MorePerfect.org.

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