(Through the windshield, as WSDOT drove media onto the new bridge)
Nine months ahead of schedule and under budget, the elevated section of northbound Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement near the stadiums will be open by Monday (as announced last week). This morning, WSDOT executives led a quick news-media tour of the about-to-open section, and WSB was there.
(WSDOT executive Matt Preedy talking with notebook-holding Mike Lindblom of The Seattle Times [WSB partner])
They also have gone public with this time-lapse video of what’s transpired since that section of the AWV started coming down less than a year ago:
More photos ahead – plus a WSDOT graphic of how you’ll get through the area:
First, that graphic:
It’s actually from a three-part display also showing past and future – you can see it full-size (with the other 2 parts) here. Now, from today’s tour, meant to highlight that this section is finishing ahead of schedule and under budget. Participating media were allowed up onto the new bridge section. Here’s the view looking southwest toward West Seattle:
The new section, northbound, has two general-use lanes and one bus lane (extending the one that’s been in place to the south of it), while the southbound side will be three general-use lanes. Here’s the view of the new section looking northeast, toward downtown:
And looking a bit to the west, where both directions of travel have been using what will now be the southbound-only side.
Here’s the view looking south toward where this section appears unfinished – it’ll be tied into the surface route before opening, and then the permanent connection will be done in 2014:
For perspective, here’s an aerial view of the area that we published last October during demolition, as received from crane operator Erick:
(October 2011 photo; click for larger version)
WSDOT says the new section will be open by first thing Monday morning. If it opens earlier, we’ll of course have an update here.
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