Speaking of downtown traffic: Waterfront reroute soon

April 30, 2012 at 4:22 pm | In Alaskan Way Viaduct, Transportation, West Seattle news | 19 Comments

WSDOT has just gone public with that new video showing a reroute of Alaskan Way that kicks in during the second week of May, preparing for Highway 99 tunnel work, and it’s likely to be of particular interest to people who use the downtown ferry terminal as well as pedestrian/bicycle path users. Here’s the detailed explanation.

19 Comments

  1. What a bummer – I counted 5 different “cross overs” for bicycles and pedestrians. What a mess. In the video it does not show crowds of bicyclists and pedestrians waiting at each cross over!

    Comment by raincity — 4:45 pm April 30, 2012 #

  2. Cool video!!! I wish it would have continued and we could have taken a ferry ride to Bainbridge……….

    Comment by Harry Reems — 4:51 pm April 30, 2012 #

  3. If only the roads were that smooth…

    Comment by S5 — 4:58 pm April 30, 2012 #

  4. WSDOT has just gone public with that new video showing a reroute of Alaskan Way that kicks in during the second way of May….

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    Has a certain poetic ring to it…. ;-)

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    Mike

    Comment by miws — 5:31 pm April 30, 2012 #

  5. Traffic Will be a mess

    Comment by Noelle — 6:32 pm April 30, 2012 #

  6. The level of detail and accuracy they’re able to impart into these animations is impressive.

    Comment by cjboffoli — 6:36 pm April 30, 2012 #

  7. I know the cop working that ferry holding line. He’s not that skinny.

    Comment by Bob Loblaw — 6:49 pm April 30, 2012 #

  8. They shouldn’t be permitted to TOUCH the remaining viaduct or dig that damned tunnel until West Seattle has a Light Rail running into downtown…

    Imagine hearing that voice announcing the stops as you sailed out of West Seattle and into downtown, able to ignore all the cars and browse your smartphone or e-reader using the free wifi on board- Westwood Village Station, Fauntleroy Park Station, Morgan Junction, Alaska Junction, Triangle, Luna Park, Delridge, SODO Station… You get the idea. :D

    I know, I know- I’m pipe-dreaming again. But I’d rather dream than have more nightmares about the Downtown Bypass Tunnel (DBT).

    Comment by Cascadianone — 7:02 pm April 30, 2012 #

  9. glad I take a right off to Jackson by bike. At some point this will get better. I keep telling myself that.

    Comment by themightyrabbit — 7:54 pm April 30, 2012 #

  10. So from the ferry pick-up and drop off lane next to the curb (South bound) how do you leave the area…it looks like you’re stuck getting onto the ferry! Oh I get it…we take the ferry to Bremerton, get off, head South to Southworth and catch the Fauntleroy ferry home! I love the way this State makes money!!!

    Comment by Engie — 9:51 pm April 30, 2012 #

  11. Did I miss an important part of this wonderful news… What about peeps heading southbound on Alaskan Way to avoid 99? Where will they route that traffic? This is going to suck.

    Comment by schwaggy — 10:04 pm April 30, 2012 #

  12. Schwaggy … If you checked the link and watched the entire video, that’s all I have. I’ll be covering the South Portal (99 project) Working Group meeting on Wednesday afternoon and am betting we’ll hear more about it then – TR

    Comment by WSB — 10:12 pm April 30, 2012 #

  13. Through traffic for southbound Alaskan Way will ‘jog left’ at Madison St, and it will continue south underneath the viaduct.
    .
    One lane of southbound Alaskan Way at Madison St, at Ivars & Fire Station 5, will lead into the ferry staging area.

    Comment by lt fd — 11:56 pm April 30, 2012 #

  14. What a mess! One lane? Speed limit 25-30? How does this help getting in and out of West Seattle??

    Comment by denise — 7:19 am May 1, 2012 #

  15. Given the simulated volume of traffic in this video, it must be Saturday morning at around 6am.

    Comment by BigGulps, Eh? — 8:24 am May 1, 2012 #

  16. What does “preauthorized vehicles” refer to??

    Comment by JCM — 8:25 am May 1, 2012 #

  17. I’m all for the tunnel, but I do find it ironic that during the construction process MORE people will be driving under the “dangerous” viaduct than before construction. (Prior it was mostly people looking for parking)

    Comment by RobertSeattle — 10:33 am May 1, 2012 #

  18. They should have Christopher Boffoli produce their vids.

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    He adds cool music to go along with the car’s journey.

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    Mike

    Comment by miws — 12:09 pm May 1, 2012 #

  19. Certain trucks and possibly other vehicles that need special access, it’s being explained at the South Portal Working Group meeting right now. – TR

    Comment by WSB — 5:25 pm May 2, 2012 #

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