July 2009
- Current work: Learn more about geotechnical drillings and building surveys for the bored tunnel, and parking restrictions and lane closures near the viaduct.
- We want your feedback to help shape the proposed bored tunnel and guide us on what to address in the project's environmental review. Comments can be submitted via e-mail. The deadline for feedback is Friday, July 10.
- We have created three working groups to provide feedback on the bored tunnel and central waterfront design. Meeting materials are posted online.
Overview
The Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program is composed of the Moving Forward projects, located in the north and south ends of the viaduct, and the central waterfront project.
We plan to replace the viaduct’s central waterfront section with a bored tunnel beneath downtown, a new waterfront surface street, transit investments, and downtown waterfront and city street improvements. The state, county and city departments of transportation are working together to implement the proposed bored tunnel and related projects.
While we design the central waterfront replacement, we have begun other safety and mobility projects in the corridor. These Moving Forward projects (pdf 311 kb) are:
Why is WSDOT
pursuing this program?
The Alaskan Way Viaduct plays a major role in sustaining our economy and maintaining our citizens' ability to travel to and through Seattle. However, the viaduct, along with the seawall, is at risk of failure from earthquakes (with unacceptable risk to lives as well as property) and irreversible loss of use from age and deterioration. The structure must be replaced.
We continue to monitor and inspect the viaduct as we move forward with its replacement.
Our Partners
This program is led by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, King County, and the City of Seattle.
The End Result
The end result for this program will be the replacement of the viaduct and the central waterfront seawall.
Project Benefits
- Safety. We will create safe, seismically sound replacement structures for the viaduct and seawall.
- Traffic. The proposed bored tunnel, new waterfront surface street, transit investments and city street improvements will provide capacity in the transportation system for today and the future and improve access and mobility to and through downtown Seattle.
What is the project timeline?
We completed our first project - column safety repairs - in 2008. That same year we began to move electrical lines off of the south end of the viaduct.
Construction will start this year on the southern mile of the viaduct and on transit and city street investments to keep people and goods moving during this work.
Construction on the bored tunnel is expected to begin in 2011 and be complete by the end of 2015. Visit the program timeline for more information.
Financial Information
The information below reflects program funding by the State of Washington. Other funding sources (pdf 522 kb) include the City of Seattle, King County, and the Port of Seattle.
- 2005 Gas Tax (Partnership Funding) - $1.6 billion
- 2003 Gas Tax (Nickel Funding) - $251.4 million
- 2005 Federal Earmark Funds - $209.4 million
- Federal Bridge Funds - $72.6 million
- Other Funds - $256.6 million
(Includes $247.4 million in other state funding, $5.3 million from the City of Seattle and $3.9 million of Federal Emergency Repair Funds.)
Total state funding available - $2.39 billion
How can I get more information?
Contact:
KaDeena Lenz, Communications Officer
WSDOT
999 Third Ave., Suite 2424
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-267-3836
Email: viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov
Program Hotline: 1 - 888 - A W V - LINE
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