Seattle's SR-99 tunnel shutting down for 2 weekends in October
The first round of inspections for the State Route 99 tunnel are about to get underway. While crews work on their tests, some closures will be in effect this October.
The first round of inspections for the State Route 99 tunnel are about to get underway. While crews work on their tests, some closures will be in effect this October.
Seattle firefighters use viaduct to train for earthquake response
SEATTLE -- The Alaskan Way Viaduct is, slowly but surely, disappearing from Seattle's waterfront.
SEATTLE -- The Alaskan Way Viaduct is, slowly but surely, disappearing from Seattle's waterfront.
Crews begin filling Seattle's Battery Street tunnel
Now that the SR-99 tunnel under downtown Seattle is open to drivers, the Battery Street tunnel is not only defunct - it's what WSDOT calls "seismically deficient." As the Alaskan Way Viaduct is demolished, crews are carting the rubble few blocks across Seattle and using it to fill in the decommissioned tunnel.
Now that the SR-99 tunnel under downtown Seattle is open to drivers, the Battery Street tunnel is not only defunct - it's what WSDOT calls "seismically deficient." As the Alaskan Way Viaduct is demolished, crews are carting the rubble few blocks across Seattle and using it to fill in the decommissioned tunnel.
Transit Tunnel closes to buses Saturday, adding 800+ buses to Seattle streets
SEATTLE – Starting Saturday, more than 800 metro buses will invade the streets of Seattle once the transit tunnel closes to buses.
SEATTLE – Starting Saturday, more than 800 metro buses will invade the streets of Seattle once the transit tunnel closes to buses.
Window damaged at historic Polson Building during viaduct demolition
SEATTLE - It’s been almost three weeks since crews began demolishing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and some businesses near the demolition are noticing an impact.
SEATTLE - It’s been almost three weeks since crews began demolishing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and some businesses near the demolition are noticing an impact.
Viaduct demolition brings out curiosity, emotions
SEATTLE -- We're wrapping up the first week week of demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.The tear down has become a spectator sport, bringing out all sorts of emotions and anticipation.Woody Macleod and his wife Candy of North Bend wanted to see it for themselves.
SEATTLE -- We're wrapping up the first week week of demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.The tear down has become a spectator sport, bringing out all sorts of emotions and anticipation.Woody Macleod and his wife Candy of North Bend wanted to see it for themselves.
Demolition begins on Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct
Crews on Friday began dismantling Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct.
Crews on Friday began dismantling Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct.
Belltown businesses see little impact after viaduct closure
SEATTLE -- Some restaurants hoped that the increased commute times between the closure of the Alaska Way Viaduct and the opening of the SR 99 tunnel would mean more business.Edgar Carbajal, General Manager of Wasabi, says that wasn't the case for his Belltown restaurant.For the last three weeks he has watched as hundreds of cars crawled past his business, and he was ready for them.
SEATTLE -- Some restaurants hoped that the increased commute times between the closure of the Alaska Way Viaduct and the opening of the SR 99 tunnel would mean more business.Edgar Carbajal, General Manager of Wasabi, says that wasn't the case for his Belltown restaurant.For the last three weeks he has watched as hundreds of cars crawled past his business, and he was ready for them.
'I get goosebumps' -- The SR 99 tunnel, a project a decade in the making, opens Monday
SEATTLE - It's been a very, very long time coming.“I get goosebumps right now talking about it,” David Sowers of WSDOT said.About a decade has passed since WSDOT penned the contract for the double decker underground tunnel.How can we forget Bertha the tunnel boring machine and all the issues leading to delays and cost overruns?“Labor pains, we’ve seen all the gore,” Sowers said.The labor pains forgotten at least for this moment as the state gets ready to give birth to the tunnel.“It's a very exciting moment for us because we get to share it with the public,” Sowers said.WSDOT released new video on Thursday giving us a peek at what it will be like to drive through the tunnel.The two mile stretch may feel a little claustrophobic at first with only two openings; one by the Seattle Center, the other by the stadiums.“When you get into the meat of the tunnel, it's 11 foot lanes, there is an 8 foot shoulder that's on the West side of the corridor,” Sowers said.Also there are 16 sets of emergency doors and water pipes throughout in case of a fire.Unlike I-90, the tunnel is equipped with miles of water pipes instead of foam to fight fires.WSDOT also has 300 cameras installed inside the tunnel.Flammable content will never be allowed, and for a little while, Metro buses will not use it.“We wanted to hold back," Terry White of KC Metro said.White says they are still evaluating the timing of traffic.Over the weekend WSDOT will still be working to tie up loose ends to open early Monday.
SEATTLE - It's been a very, very long time coming.“I get goosebumps right now talking about it,” David Sowers of WSDOT said.About a decade has passed since WSDOT penned the contract for the double decker underground tunnel.How can we forget Bertha the tunnel boring machine and all the issues leading to delays and cost overruns?“Labor pains, we’ve seen all the gore,” Sowers said.The labor pains forgotten at least for this moment as the state gets ready to give birth to the tunnel.“It's a very exciting moment for us because we get to share it with the public,” Sowers said.WSDOT released new video on Thursday giving us a peek at what it will be like to drive through the tunnel.The two mile stretch may feel a little claustrophobic at first with only two openings; one by the Seattle Center, the other by the stadiums.“When you get into the meat of the tunnel, it's 11 foot lanes, there is an 8 foot shoulder that's on the West side of the corridor,” Sowers said.Also there are 16 sets of emergency doors and water pipes throughout in case of a fire.Unlike I-90, the tunnel is equipped with miles of water pipes instead of foam to fight fires.WSDOT also has 300 cameras installed inside the tunnel.Flammable content will never be allowed, and for a little while, Metro buses will not use it.“We wanted to hold back," Terry White of KC Metro said.White says they are still evaluating the timing of traffic.Over the weekend WSDOT will still be working to tie up loose ends to open early Monday.
SR-99 tunnel to open in time for Monday morning commute
The long-awaited SR-99 tunnel under downtown Seattle will be open in time for Monday's morning commute.
The long-awaited SR-99 tunnel under downtown Seattle will be open in time for Monday's morning commute.
Viaduct demolition brings out stories, emotions about elevated highway's rich history in Seattle
SEATTLE -- In less than two weeks, crews will begin demolishing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which wraps up a chapter in our region’s history.For more than 65 years, the elevated highway offered drivers a way to skirt downtown, right along the waterfront.
SEATTLE -- In less than two weeks, crews will begin demolishing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which wraps up a chapter in our region’s history.For more than 65 years, the elevated highway offered drivers a way to skirt downtown, right along the waterfront.
100,000 people expected to attend SR-99 tunnel opening events this weekend
City transportation leaders expect roughly 100,000 people to participate in several events planned for the SR-99 tunnel opening this weekend (Feb. 2-3).
City transportation leaders expect roughly 100,000 people to participate in several events planned for the SR-99 tunnel opening this weekend (Feb. 2-3).
Second week of viaduct closure begins; SR 99 tunnel connection progresses
SEATTLE - The second week of the viaduct closure started slow, with light holiday traffic seen around the area Monday.Traffic volumes were lighter than normal because of the Dr.
SEATTLE - The second week of the viaduct closure started slow, with light holiday traffic seen around the area Monday.Traffic volumes were lighter than normal because of the Dr.
Seattle city leaders propose new cameras to catch drivers who block intersections, crosswalks or use transit lanes
SEATTLE -- With the viaduct closure, we’re already seeing traffic congestion getting worse by the day.If you ask some city council members, drivers who block intersections are part of the problem.
SEATTLE -- With the viaduct closure, we’re already seeing traffic congestion getting worse by the day.If you ask some city council members, drivers who block intersections are part of the problem.
WSDOT: Travel times 'close to normal' on many routes amid viaduct closure
Work on realigning the SR-99 tunnel is proceeding as planned thanks to dry weather, and overall, travel times are close to normal on many routes amid the viaduct closure, according to the Washington Department of Transportation.
Work on realigning the SR-99 tunnel is proceeding as planned thanks to dry weather, and overall, travel times are close to normal on many routes amid the viaduct closure, according to the Washington Department of Transportation.
The Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed, but when does the new SR 99 tunnel open?
SEATTLE -- The Alaskan Way Viadcut, a major thoroughfare for commuters along downtown Seattle's waterfront, closed last Friday forcing nearly 100,000 commuters a day to find alternate routes.Despite a relatively uneventful Monday morning commute, officials still say this could be one of the most painful traffic periods in Western Washington history.
SEATTLE -- The Alaskan Way Viadcut, a major thoroughfare for commuters along downtown Seattle's waterfront, closed last Friday forcing nearly 100,000 commuters a day to find alternate routes.Despite a relatively uneventful Monday morning commute, officials still say this could be one of the most painful traffic periods in Western Washington history.
Monday was first workday traffic test of 3-week viaduct closure
SEATTLE - The City of Seattle is thanking commuters for changing their schedules to help ease the traffic for the next three weeks before the expected opening of the tunnel replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
SEATTLE - The City of Seattle is thanking commuters for changing their schedules to help ease the traffic for the next three weeks before the expected opening of the tunnel replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
Earlier start makes normal West Seattle commute a snooze
SEATTLE – The commute into downtown from West Seattle started about an hour-and-a-half earlier than normal, but by the time seven o’clock rolled around, most drivers called it a Sunday morning stroll.“I've not really experienced that much of a difference than a weekend drive,” said West Seattle resident David Griffiths.But we were expecting carmaggedon.“I think we were all expecting it to be carnage this morning,” said Griffiths.Either way, David Griffiths no longer makes his 45-minute commute from West Seattle to Shoreline.“My commute is a short stroll down the stairs holding a cup of coffee,” said Griffiths.While David now works from home, Jen Lennon stayed home to sleep in.“I figured it would be pretty horrible, so I took today off,” said Lennon.Her husband hit the road at 5 a.m. to make it to a downtown Seattle meeting by 8 a.m., just in case.“He just figured it would be really terrible.
SEATTLE – The commute into downtown from West Seattle started about an hour-and-a-half earlier than normal, but by the time seven o’clock rolled around, most drivers called it a Sunday morning stroll.“I've not really experienced that much of a difference than a weekend drive,” said West Seattle resident David Griffiths.But we were expecting carmaggedon.“I think we were all expecting it to be carnage this morning,” said Griffiths.Either way, David Griffiths no longer makes his 45-minute commute from West Seattle to Shoreline.“My commute is a short stroll down the stairs holding a cup of coffee,” said Griffiths.While David now works from home, Jen Lennon stayed home to sleep in.“I figured it would be pretty horrible, so I took today off,” said Lennon.Her husband hit the road at 5 a.m. to make it to a downtown Seattle meeting by 8 a.m., just in case.“He just figured it would be really terrible.
End of an era: Alaskan Way Viaduct closes to make way for new SR 99 tunnel
SEATTLE -- It was 10-years ago this spring that then Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire signed legislation that put into motion the new tunnel underneath downtown Seattle.The Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to close forever.Once closed, the Washington State Department of Transportation says it will take about 3 weeks to get the highway aligned with the new tunnel.Crews have much work remaining including tearing down some temporary walls and pouring new concrete.
SEATTLE -- It was 10-years ago this spring that then Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire signed legislation that put into motion the new tunnel underneath downtown Seattle.The Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to close forever.Once closed, the Washington State Department of Transportation says it will take about 3 weeks to get the highway aligned with the new tunnel.Crews have much work remaining including tearing down some temporary walls and pouring new concrete.
What happens after the Alaskan Way Viaduct closes?
SEATTLE -- Q13 News is looking ahead to what will happen after the three-week closure period for the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
SEATTLE -- Q13 News is looking ahead to what will happen after the three-week closure period for the Alaskan Way Viaduct.