Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 open again

The weekend closure of the Visduct did end on schedule; the state says it reopened around 4:30 this morning.

RobertSeattle March 26, 2012 (1:30 pm)

You can no longer “straddle” those plates south of the new bridge – they are much wider now. If you want to avoid, stay in the left lane until after the 2 sets of plates.

WSB March 26, 2012 (1:35 pm)

we mentioned this somewhere, that they were being swapped out – they are “vault covers” – and the transportation folks told me they would be less bumpy/raised. Did you notice? – TR

RobertSeattle March 26, 2012 (2:27 pm)

They may be a little less thick but hard to tell when you are going over them at 40 or so. I think I’ll just do the left lane avoidance scheme.

ILoveWestSeattle March 26, 2012 (3:42 pm)

Here’s a question: What are the huge, white blocks of what appear ( from a moving vehicle, at least) to be Styrofoam, piled to the east of the viaduct entrance curves, close to the stadiums? Anyone? Thanks, inquiring minds want to know! :)

WSB March 26, 2012 (4:01 pm)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/5982543187/in/set-72157625708341732
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Geofoam!
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http://geofoam.com/

Robert March 26, 2012 (4:12 pm)

WSB – the plates are gone! The plates that were there earlier must have been to protect the concrete while it cured. Much better.

(The GeoFoam is very cool – we are going to see more that in the future from what I’ve heard)

Robert March 26, 2012 (4:14 pm)

BTW, the foam is being used because if they used regular fill it would end up causing the whole structure to sink over time due to the weight on what used to be tidal flats.

ILoveWestSeattle March 26, 2012 (4:24 pm)

Thank you! Never heard of it, seems like these blocks (if merely stacked and not somehow secured together) would shake apart in an earthquake…but it must be a tried&true technology. (I hope!) :)

Harry Reems March 27, 2012 (6:04 pm)

I had been wondering about the white foam blocks when they were using them on the section that opened in October, nice to finally learn what they are. (thanks again WSB!)

Nice to see those orange metal plates gone, those were quite jarring hitting them at 70mph, glad to see them go.

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