Viaduct/Tunnel/etc. “South Portal Group,” meeting #3

We’re in the Sound Transit Board Room at 4th/Jackson on the south edge of downtown, for the third meeting of the “South Portal Working Group” that’s helping make sure the Viaduct/Tunnel/associated projects function for the communities that will be using them. This is the group that is dealing with the specifics of the West Seattle-facing end of the changes coming to the “Highway 99 corridor” – and much of today’s meeting will deal with a huge sticking point that emerged at the second meeting, according to West Seattle members of the group: A change to the Alaskan Way/East Marginal Way connection that would no longer make a straight-shot waterfront surface trip possible. The bypass that was shown at the last meeting (here’s the presentation) did not go over well, we’re told, and now there are three alternatives to be discussed tonight. They’re not available online yet but we’ll link when they are, and we’ll add information from this meeting as it happens. Right now there’s an overview of where all the areas are at, including the future of the Central Waterfront; the manager leading the briefing says that it’ll take a “couple years” to design what the post-Viaduct waterfront will look like. (P.S. Important note, your next chance to find out a lot more about where all this stands is at the “scoping meeting” next Wednesday, 6-8 pm, Madison Middle School; the project is advertising on WSB for the next week to help get the word out about that meeting – here’s the official invitation). MEETING NOTES: Read on — we’re adding them as they go:

*The “North Portal” group is looking at having Harrison Street be the end of the bored tunnel, for entrance/exit on the north side.

*They’re showing video simulations now of what it’ll be like coming in on the remaining Viaduct, into the tunnel, from south – including an explanation that there will be lighted message boards in the tunnel for emergency messaging, etc.

*They’re still working on exactly how RapidRide is going to transition from 99 to downtown before the tunnel.

*The second video shown depicted how you’ll get to the West Seattle Bridge from the north end of the waterfront. The Viaduct onramp that’s now just past the Art Institute will instead connect with the waterfront boulevard, once the existing Viaduct is down; it’ll be two lanes both directions until the Colman Dock vicinity, where it becomes three lanes in both directions. Lots of pedestrian crossings and intersections are shown – but they insist the lights will be synchronized to minimize the “stop-go” effect.

*The alternatives for the East Marginal/Alaskan Way connection, as mentioned earlier, are described as only ideas that have not been vetted. They’ve just been hashed out in the past few days. Mike Johnson from SDOT is now reviewing four concepts – the bicycle/pedestrian functions of the four are largely the same, he says – it’s the vehicle flow that would change dramatically. Option A is from the original plan; #1 would have southbound traffic closely parallel the waterfront, with one odd curve near Atlantic, while northbound is more inland. #2 would be “east frontage road to Alaskan Way Bridge”; #3 is dubbed “East Marginal Way Bridge.”

*We had to leave for the Seattle School Board meeting before this one was over – we have asked WSDOT for the video files shown tonight and will publish a separate story when materials from the meeting are available; we will also be checking with West Seattle working group members for their reaction to the latest developments. The group’s next meeting is not yet posted (watch this page) but again, there will be information galore – and a chance to ask questions – at the “scoping meeting” in West Seattle next Wednesday, 6-8 pm at Madison MS.

2 Replies to "Viaduct/Tunnel/etc. "South Portal Group," meeting #3"

  • Jerry Gropp Architect AIA June 3, 2009 (5:21 pm)

    I saw the hated/loved waterfront Viaduct built and appreciated the view and the easy way around downtown Seattle- as did many other people. I’ve also seen Chicago before and after making its own waterfront attractive. Easy for me to say- living as I do on Mercer Island- but it’s high time to make our city gateway a far more attractive place. Jerry-

  • Becky S. June 3, 2009 (5:53 pm)

    Cost overruns for the tunnel will be paid by Seattle citizens. We can expect about 30% in cost overruns which would be over a BILLION dollars in overruns alone.

    Read this article to learn about cost overruns, check out this Seattle Times Article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/dannywestneat/2009123442_danny26.html

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