Today/tonight: Tunnel/Viaduct, Admiral Safeway, WS Big Band

All’s been somewhat quiet in meeting-land, with the holiday season leading many groups to take December off. But not the two that are meeting today/tonight:

ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT SOUTH PORTAL WORKING GROUP, which is working on VERY West Seattle-relevant issues centering on how the south end of the planned tunnel ties into the transportation grid, meets 4 pm at Puget Sound Regional Council‘s board room, 1011 Western (map) …

SOUTHWEST DESIGN REVIEW BOARD looks at the Admiral Safeway redevelopment project at 8 pm (here’s our preview with the link to the proposal that’ll be reviewed) after Transitional Resources‘ new residential building at 6:30 pm (here’s the corresponding link); both meetings are at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center …

Also tonight, the WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND‘s Holiday Concert fills Grace Church (map) with music, 7 pm …

And one note from outside West Seattle – but maybe near your workplace or somewhere outside WS you’re going today/tonight – the Jimmy John’s sandwich chain is donating all Puget Sound PROCEEDS (as in, 100% of sales) today to the murdered Lakewood Police officers’ families’ fund. Here’s where to find local locations – Pioneer Square looks like the closest.

marty December 17, 2009 (9:41 am)

I can’t believe how stupid it is to build a tunnel that has less capacity than the present overloaded road.

RobertSeattle December 17, 2009 (10:07 am)

marty,

Not sure if I get your point. The current viaduct goes 2 lanes through the battery street tunnel as well. It may be a simple matter of geometry – going to 3 lanes each way, while increasing capacting 50%, may be 100% more expensive.

Al December 17, 2009 (10:49 am)

Very interested in the outcome of the Viaduct meeting tonight. A potential re-configuration of the exit/onramp system at Royal Brougham is on the docket as I understand. The north portal adjustments were announced last week that don’t seem to be huge, but are (and might be better for the north portal entrance). Not sure how it could shake out…the Pioneer Square reps initiated a review of the south portal configuration. Wonder if 1st Ave taking the brunt of the traffic will be changed…????

WSB December 17, 2009 (11:04 am)

I’ll be there, and will have an eye out specifically regarding your question … thanks for commenting. These are the decisions, being made now, with which we all will live for a long, long time, and it does no good when the construction’s done to say “Who came up with THIS idea?” although we’d hope that maybe the end result would be a more positive form of that question … TR

Smitty December 17, 2009 (12:20 pm)

The viaduct is only two lanes through battery street, not the entire length of the viaduct itself. Western on-ramp and off-ramp at the south end fo the tunnel are the reason.

Two lanes and no downtown exits is idiotic. Kind of like the quarter mile walk from the Sea-Tac light-rail station to the airport – not well thought out.

marty December 17, 2009 (1:35 pm)

Robert:
I am aware that the Battery Street Tunnel is only two lanes. The new plan is two lanes for THE ENTIRE LENGTH and eliminates downtown exits. Simply put, it will only give half of the present capacity/convenience. I am aware that the two lane plan is cheaper, I am also aware that it is going to do less than what it does now and that makes no sense to me.