Viaduct closure, night 1: South-end demolition begins

West Seattleite Pete Spalding shared these first two photos, as demolition work started tonight on the south end of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, seen from the Silver Cloud Hotel in the stadium zone. He was at a by-invitation viewing event that he says was attended by many project managers for the state and city, as well as members of the citizens advisory group on which he’s been a WS representative for the past few years. Here’s a wider view:

ADDED 11:21 PM: As promised, video (shot by WSB contributor Katie Meyer):

Minutes before the demolition work began, WSDOT deputy program administrator Matt Preedy, a West Seattleite, talked about the momentous occasion:

Another West Seattleite, transportation reporter Mike Lindblom from the Seattle Times (WSB partner), details exactly what was happening in tonight’s early going – here’s his story. Meantime – WSDOT has time-lapse photography on display here; and you can watch the demolition work from the Viaduct itself 9:30-12:30 tomorrow.

q October 21, 2011 (10:52 pm)

random question: Where are they putting all the wreckage (in the long run)? I’m just curious.

Neighborly October 21, 2011 (11:26 pm)

I did enjoy riding south on that stretch, watching each overhead light emerge from the concrete ceiling our approach. Nevermore.

Admiral935 October 22, 2011 (12:20 am)

Holy Mackerel it’s really coming down!!?! That old cement, as they’re chipping into it, looks awfully powdery from this armchair. So, a tunnel, eh? Hope it all goes well. Nice reporting, WSB!

WSB October 22, 2011 (12:43 am)

Admiral – This part is NOT the part being replaced by the tunnel. We’ll have to get into those details more tomorrow after a few hours’ sleep, when we go back for the daylight view … The first half of the south-end replacement is the structure that’s risen on the west side of the south end in recent months; we’ll all be driving on it, plus another section of ground-level bypass, when the closure is over. Then after the demolition of the south mile is done, they will build the other half of the south-end replacement. THEN the tunnel work starts, going into the ground from the south end and headed north. But the central viaduct stays up till the tunnel is done…

Stephanie October 22, 2011 (12:40 am)

i feel strangly sad seeing the Viaduct torn down. and nervous at the week to come of traffic hell. lord, its happening.

Admiral935 October 22, 2011 (1:14 am)

WSB 12:43 aha, thanks! I was wondering what that Westside structure was. I hope the 55 or 56 will run on the replacement so I can say I was there (if I ever have grand kids)

Mike October 22, 2011 (1:51 am)

I just drove on this stretch this afternoon going and coming from Queen Anne. Now 12 hours later they’re starting demolition. They certainly wasted no time lol.

Pibal October 22, 2011 (2:21 am)

Although my commute to/from work is in the opposite direction from the viaduct (yes, I count myself as one of the lucky ones), I intentionally took one more trip on the viaduct 30 minutes before it shut down. I felt drawn to say goodbye…

Anyone else do that?

Petert October 22, 2011 (7:29 am)

I just learned (yesterday) that the section they started on was what was supposed to have been the ramp to a ‘cross-town’ leg of another highway system back in the 1950s. I believe it was supposed to have been the “Massachusetts Avenue” exit. I’d always wondered what that long-truncated turnoff on the viaduct was for.

Just wondering – is there anywhere we can see what were in the plans for this long-abandoned highway system ? It would be interesting to see how it would have affected downtown Seattle in its present form.

CandrewB October 22, 2011 (7:29 am)

Glad to see it coming down. That thing was more outdated than the Fun Forest.

Cclarue October 22, 2011 (8:02 am)

I hate the fact it’s being torn down.

cjboffoli October 22, 2011 (8:06 am)

Petert: As I understand it, those ramp stubs were intended to be the Connecticut Street viaduct which would have connected SR-99 with what is now Interstate 90. But the plans were abandoned at some point.

Franci October 22, 2011 (8:15 am)

@Pibal – Me too. I was going to an event north of downtown and decided to take one last trip on it last night. :)

Pete October 22, 2011 (8:21 am)

@q – The re-bar is going to be recycled and the concrete will be hauled away and crushed up. they are hopeful to re-use as much as possible in the new structures that are going to be built.

Kadoo October 22, 2011 (8:32 am)

I blew the viaduct a kiss yesterday. It’s as old as I am. I remember watching those southbound overhead lights whiz past when I was a kid. I will miss the view, too, when it’s all down. Sigh.

valvashon October 22, 2011 (8:54 am)

http://nwhighways.amhosting.net/i90page_noframes.html

This mentions that Connecticut Street Freeway as being part of the I-90 project. Not sure how accurate that is, since the viaduct was built in 1953, well before the Interstate system was started in 1956. Maybe it was supposed to connect with old Highway 10. That link is a fascinating page to read but be aware that many of the links are dead (Microsoft terraserver?) as it does not appear to have been maintained in some time.

Val

sam-c October 22, 2011 (8:55 am)

Pibal – we did too- we took one last trip north and then south again around 6:30. even though I am happy the project’s finally starting, I was sadder than I thought I would be. then again, I don’t drive on the viaduct that often.

q October 22, 2011 (8:55 am)

@Pete: Thanks for the answer. I was hoping the same thing.

Jtk October 22, 2011 (9:25 am)

I moved here 3 years ago from Michigan. I take the viaduct everyday to and from work in Fremont. I work early and usually avoid the traffic to and from WS. I very much appreciated those summer days in the morning, the view was my favorite part of the drive. Driving past the ferry boats and mountains almost made me feel like I was part of a movie or Tv show. Good luck to all on Monday with traffic. Remember, a little kindness goes a long way.

M. October 22, 2011 (9:40 am)

Sad. I’m going to miss the beautiful views. :(

KD October 22, 2011 (9:54 am)

Folks, can you recall all the T.V. shows, commercials & movies that were beautifully filmed up there,(remember short weekend closures over the years for film production) But the best shot ever we will always have: THE OPENING SCENE OF “ALMOST LIVE” every Saturday night (1:05a.m. actually). Long live the Viaduct in our memories and T.V. and movies!!! (As I was typing this, Tracey was being interviewed live on KING morning news on the phone…Fun! Thanks for your competent, devoted coverage WSB!

Valerie October 22, 2011 (10:56 am)

Pibal, I said goodbye to it as I drove home on it Thursday evening :) If nothing else, I’ll miss those views once the rest of the structure comes down.
.
KD, friends of mine once, many years ago, taped a person-on-the-street interview for their radio program (anyone remember KRAB?) where the premise was that “They” (unnamed authorities) were going to wallpaper the Viaduct. My friends showed samples from a wallpaper book to passers-by and got opinions on what pattern should be used to cover it. As you might imagine they got a wide variety of reactions :) Maybe ya hadda be there, or just know the Viaduct, but at the time and in context, it was pretty funny.

cjboffoli October 22, 2011 (1:21 pm)

valvashon: According to the Seattle Times, the southern section of the Viaduct being torn down dates from 1959, a few years after Ike signed the interstate highway bill into law. So it seems at least plausible that planners could have foreseen the need for a connector.

Rick October 22, 2011 (4:02 pm)

I remember as a small boy riding with my dad in the family car on the Viaduct. I thought it was sooooo cool. A double decker roadway! Oh boy! Those arching sign supports like something out of Capt. Nemo’s Nautilus. It was like you were flying, seeing all those sweeping views. While coming through the Battery Street tunnel I would always beg my dad to honk the horn….. and he always would.

Brandon October 24, 2011 (12:46 pm)

I used to love coming south on the viaduct in my dad’s cars when I was younger, he always had classics so you would really “bounce” up and down when driving south. That was always fun. Thanks for the memories Vaiduct!

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