Bicycles and pedestrian routes

Bicycle and pedestrian routes will change during construction, but crews will maintain clearly marked paths, and outreach staff will continue to work with local bicycle and pedestrian organizations to communicate changes. Click on the maps to your right to learn about current routes through the work zone.

Tunneling machine unloading will affect path access beginning April 1

Bertha is on her way from Japan to Seattle. As you can imagine, the arrival of the world's largest-diameter tunneling machine will affect your route near the construction zone. 

The first change will come on Monday, April 1, when the crossover will shift a block south, from South Jackson Street to South King Street.Once we start unloading Bertha in 41 pieces from a vessel docked at Terminal 46, the path will be temporarily closed at South King Street several times per day. This is necessary to maintain safe path access while we move large equipment across the sidewalk. Police officers will be on site to help direct traffic while we move Bertha’s pieces.

The sidewalk near South King Street offers a great view of Bertha’s arrival point, so we’re expecting that people will gather on the path to catch a glimpse of Bertha being unloaded. Please ride with caution and expect delays if there are crowds.

We expect Bertha’s ship will arrive on April 2, but because sailing times across the Pacific vary with the weather, we will not be able to confirm the arrival date in Seattle until about 24 hours in advance. Our website is a great place to track Bertha's journey to Seattle and, upon her arrival, the offloading process.

Thank you for your patience. If you have questions or concerns, please email viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov or call us at (888) AWV-LINE (298-5463).

Future access

Bicycle and pedestrian improvements are an important part of our work to replace the viaduct. So far crews have built:

• A new multi-use path along the west side of Alaskan Way South, between South King and South Atlantic streets.
• New bike lanes on East Frontage Road South.
• New sidewalks on Railroad Way South, First Avenue South, South Royal Brougham Way, South Atlantic Street, and Colorado Avenue South.

Future improvements include a new 12-foot-wide bicycle and pedestrian path on the north side of South Atlantic Street, between Utah Avenue South and Alaskan Way South. This new connection will link bicyclists and pedestrians to the trail network in downtown and beyond. Permanent bicycle improvements along the downtown waterfront will be designed as part of the City of Seattle’s Waterfront Seattle project.