(WSDOT’s “South Portal Design Concept” showing where South End Replacement would meet the tunnel)
Though ceremonial groundbreaking for the South End Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement is a week away, the project contract is actually on Day 8, according to WSDOT’s Matt Preedy, who is briefing the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce right now on what’s ahead for this major project. We’re at the briefing at the Senior Center of West Seattle, and are also expecting a city briefing afterward on the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project. Preedy says that on The Viaduct itself, you won’t see traffic effects this year – the first phases of work will be on the surface alongside, with street work in the Terminal 46 area, then the new bike/pedestrian path. One major note: On July 6, he says, the 150+ parking spaces under The Viaduct between Royal Brougham and Railroad will be fenced off and gone forever – that’ll be part of the construction zone. 1:07 PM UPDATE: Briefing over. Other key dates: From SDOT’s Paul Elliott, the new 4th Avenue offramp (aka “The Costco Offramp”) from the Spokane Street Viaduct is still on track to open in late summer, and there’s a tentative start date for the work to fuse it to the existing structure – which will close one eastbound lane for up to six weeks – July 7. Elliott also says the new westbound 1st Avenue on/offramp may open as soon as next summer. And he indicated the “voluntary” program for advance notice of “low bridge” vessel openings isn’t making much of a difference – they’re not getting much advance notice, and the number of openings seems to be only slightly reduced, if at all.

(Also a reminder, the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed this Saturday for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon – WSDOT now says the closure starts both ways at 4 am, reopening southbound by 1:15 pm, northbound by 4 pm.)