Date:  Saturday, February 19, 2011

Contact: Travis Phelps, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program, 206-462-0554 (cell)
Greg Phipps, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program, 206-949-8078 (cell)

Focus now on cleanup and relocating utilities on First Avenue S.

Quick info link

SEATTLE – The first piece of the State Route 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct has been demolished in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood, marking a milestone toward replacing the seismically vulnerable structure.

Crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) fired up the demolition equipment at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, and spent the night crunching and breaking the nearly 60-year-old First Avenue S. northbound on-ramp into bits.

The remains of the former on-ramp are now in trucks bound for the recycling plants.

Although the majority of the demolition work is complete, there’s still much work to be done before Tuesday, Feb. 22, when crews plan to reopen First Avenue S. Crews will spend the next two days removing demolition debris from the roadway, removing the underground foundation of the old on-ramp and relocating utilities.

“The Legislature and our federal partners have worked long and hard to ensure funding was allocated to the viaduct replacement,” said Ron Paananen, WSDOT Alaskan Way Viaduct Program Administrator. “This demolition shows that their efforts are paying off.”

Updated ramp and road closures on or near First Avenue S.Crews reopened the southbound SR 99 off-ramp to S. Royal Brougham Way at 2:43 p.m. Saturday. The remaining ramp work requires closures on two city streets.

Through April 1

• The northbound SR 99 on-ramp from First Avenue S. will be closed.

Through 5 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22

• First Avenue S. will be closed between S. Royal Brougham Way and S. King Street.
• Railroad Way S. will be closed between Occidental Avenue S. and S. King Street.

WSDOT will maintain access to local businesses while these streets are closed to through traffic. This work must be completed by April 1 to avoid substantial disruptions to traffic heading to the stadiums.

Drivers can find out about regularly updated traffic information for downtown Seattle and SODO at WSDOT's construction traffic update web page.

The project’s website has more details about why we’re changing the ramp access and building an SR 99 detour and has maps that will help drivers navigate the changes.

For more information on the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement program, visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/HolgateToKing.

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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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