The Viaduct: Inspection results, closure reminder

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Safety | Transportation

First, one last note that The Viaduct will be closed 7:45-11 am tomorrow for the Race for the Cure (not too late to register! we’ll be in the 5K Walk crowd that’s always an amazing sight, swarming the carless Viaduct decks). And the state just issued its announcement of results from this week’s quarterly inspection (along with the dates for the next total-shutdown inspection, which we’ve added to the WSB West Seattle Events list) – sounds like you can breathe a little easier as you drive it:

The WSDOT news release:

Results from last week’s inspection of the Alaskan Way Viaduct showed no structural damage or additional settlement of the columns between Columbia Street and Yesler Way. WSDOT completed work in April to
strengthen the column foundations in that area.

Since the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, four columns between Columbia Street and Yesler Way have settled approximately 5.5 inches. An additional 1/8 inch of settlement occurred during the repair work, but the latest measurements show that this section of the Viaduct has stabilized.

“It appears that the repairs were successful in stabilizing these columns,” said Jugesh Kapur, WSDOT State Bridge Engineer. “The Viaduct had been settling incrementally between Columbia Street and Yesler Way
since 2001.”

“This is good news, but the Viaduct is still vulnerable in an earthquake,” said Ron Paananen, WSDOT Urban Corridors Office Deputy Director. “The work done to strengthen the columns was a temporary repair, and we are still planning to take down the Viaduct in 2012.”

The column repairs were the first of six Moving Forward projects designed to repair or replace about half of the seismically vulnerable Alaskan Way Viaduct. WSDOT crews conduct visual inspections every three months to monitor the Viaduct’s condition and keep drivers safe. Full inspections and closures are every six months, with the next scheduled
for October 18 and 19.

One other Viaduct note – the environmental assessment that’ll be the subject of the July 15th hearing in West Seattle (as mentioned here) will not be published till June 27th, according to a call we received today. So look for it on the state site then.

Steve Fredrickson June 21, 2008 (10:53 am)

SDOT was asleep at the wheel for the viaduct closure today (Saturday) when it came to the warning light on Admiral Way. I took my wife to work downtown (9:45am) and drove past the light, just south of Olga as Admiral starts down the hill. It wasn’t blinking so I told her that the viaduct must be open. Nope! Needless to say, First Avenue was jammed and the Lower Bridge and Alaska Way wasn’t. I checked it on the way home (10:15) and it was still off.

I called their after-hours number and that person was surprised to hear the light wasn’t activated.

Way to go, SDOT! Our tax dollars at work…

Sue June 21, 2008 (3:50 pm)

I was coming by here to say the same thing – we were on our way to the Fremont Fair at 9:30 this morning and the lights were not blinking on Fauntleroy nor on the bridge itself. in fact, the signs telling you it’s closed really weren’t until the very last minute – had I not read it here, I never would’ve known.

Sorry, comment time is over.