WSDOT Projects

WSDOT and Seattle City Light are relocating electrical lines from the viaduct to underground locations east of the viaduct between S. Massachusetts Street and Railroad Way S.

Construction began in September 2008 and is expected to take approximately one year to complete. You can follow our progress on Flickr.

The viaduct was built in the 1950s, and as the city has grown, so has the web of utility lines that weave around and under the structure. Relocating these utility lines now will better protect downtown’s power supply in the event of an earthquake. The lines must also be removed before we take down the viaduct south of S. King Street.

Lane closures

July 2009
Crews will close lanes on S. Atlantic Street between Utah Avenue S. and Alaskan Way S. on Thursday, July 2 from 7 a.m. to noon. These lane closures will continue Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 10 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. The closures are required to install underground conduit. At least one lane will remain open in each direction at all times.

2009
Occasional one-lane closures will be needed under the viaduct and on Railroad Way S., S. Dearborn Street, S. Atlantic Street, S. Royal Brougham Way and Colorado Avenue S. Drivers should expect minor delays during these lane closures.

All lanes of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Alaskan Way and First Avenue S. will remain open during construction.

Parking closures

2009
Existing parking lots on WSDOT property between S. Dearborn Street and S. Atlantic Street are closed during construction. These lots will also likely be closed during construction for the south end viaduct replacement project.

There will be two-week closures of some on-street parking spaces under the viaduct between S. Dearborn Street and S. Atlantic Street, and short-term (one to two days) closures of some parking spaces throughout the construction site from Colorado Avenue S. to Railroad Way S.

What is WSDOT doing?

• Coordinating lane closures to avoid peak travel times and major events where possible. Every effort will be made to keep traffic moving during construction.
• Reaching out to nearby residents and businesses to build awareness of the closures.

What other work are we doing?
The Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program includes several other projects:

• Battery Street Tunnel maintenance and repairs
• Central waterfront replacement – We will replace the central waterfront portion of the viaduct with a bored tunnel beneath downtown and transit and surface street improvements. This project is in the early design phase.
• South end viaduct replacement between S. Holgate Street and S. King Street – With this project we will replace the southern mile of the viaduct. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2009.
• Transit enhancements and other improvements – Learn about our plans for keeping people and goods moving during south end viaduct construction.

Contact:
Ryan Bianchi, WSDOT Communications
E-mail: BianchR@consultant.wsdot.wa.gov
Program hotline: 1 – 888 – A W V - LINE