Alaskan Way Viaduct still sinking and cracking, inspection finds

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Safety | West Seattle news

Almost two weeks after the last Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection closures, the results are in. From this WSDOT webpage summarizing years of inspection results:

Survey crews detect between 1/4 and 1/2 inch of additional settlement between University Street and south of Seneca Street since the last inspection. The settlement is uniform in nature. Inspectors also note some additional cracking on columns and girders in the same general area, along with up to 1/2 millimeter widening of a few existing cracks. No additional repair work is necessary.

We know what you’re going to ask – here’s how WSDOT answers it: “It’s important to note that not all settlement is significant. In the case of the viaduct, no single number represents an acceptable level of settlement.” Bottom line, WSDOT says: “The viaduct remains vulnerable to earthquakes but remains safe for everyday use.” (In case you missed it, here’s the latest tunnel-machine update, published here Thursday.)

smokeycretin9 November 13, 2015 (1:48 pm)

Just wait until Bertha digs underneath it.

Kravitz November 13, 2015 (2:15 pm)

Scary thought. @smokeycretin9
This is a disaster waiting to happen (as if Bertha getting stuck wasn’t enough of one).

KBear November 13, 2015 (4:12 pm)

The viaduct would have been torn down and SR99 closed a long time ago if it weren’t for the tunnel project. You can thank Bertha for keeping your highway open.

Trickycoolj November 13, 2015 (4:39 pm)

I think the original plan was to close the viaduct while Bertha was underneath. That was one of the reasons I chose to move to West Seattle and stop commuting from Northgate to Boeing Field via 99. Between that eventual closure and eventual tolling it made sense to live close to work.

gward66@msn.com November 13, 2015 (9:11 pm)

You get the feeling the Prop 1 billion dollar burden will be reallocated to pay for cost overages on Bertha. So in the end our politicians will get what they want in city homeowners to pay for a state project that nobody wanted in 2007.

AMD November 14, 2015 (6:30 am)

@Kravitz
Bertha’s not waiting for anything. She’s already been featured on an episode of “Engineering Disasters.”
.
I’m going to continue to be hopeful the rest of the tunnel will be finished without incident because, well, I have to. It’s not about being grateful for what i do or don’t have–it’s about being fearful of the final cost of these choices.