VIADUCT-TO-TUNNEL: What’s closing when? See the ‘final’ Highway 99 realignment timeline

WSDOT has announced the specific shutdown times for what it calls “Realign 99,” the viaduct-to-tunnel transition. Note the actual shutdown is now starting later in the evening than previously announced:

10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4: Stadium ramps close

Northbound SR 99 on-ramp at South Royal Brougham Way closes (near stadiums; connection to I-90 and I-5).
Southbound SR 99 off-ramp at South Atlantic Street closes (near stadiums; connection to I-90 and I-5).

10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11: Full SR 99 closure through downtown Seattle begins

SR 99 closes both directions from South Spokane Street to the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel.
Battery Street Tunnel remains open with one lane in each direction. Ramps to and from Western Avenue remain open.

West Seattle Bridge and off-ramps to First Avenue and Fourth Avenue remain open and do not close as part of Realign99.

10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1: Battery Street Tunnel closes

Battery Street Tunnel closes. All southbound SR 99 traffic must exit at Valley Street. Northbound SR 99 traffic can join highway at Valley Street.

Early February (exact date TBD): New tunnel opens

SR 99 reopens about three weeks after Jan. 11, with highway using new SR 99 tunnel. Alaskan Way Viaduct and Battery Street Tunnel remain closed. One SR 99 off-ramp remains closed (see below).
Approx. 2 weeks later: Final ramp opens

New SR 99 northbound off-ramp to downtown and Alaskan Way (just south of tunnel) opens, about two weeks after SR 99 tunnel opens.

Earlier this week, King County announced the Water Taxi’s extra-service schedule for the shutdown, which will continue running until the spring/summer schedule starts in late March, while also announcing a new shuttle service for part of WS.

Tsurly December 14, 2018 (3:55 pm)

I hope that all of you single occupant car commuters that currently drive to downtown have your bicycles ready.

Luke December 14, 2018 (6:55 pm)

I hope some of you cyclists drop the attitude that everyone’s commutes are possible by bicycle. I work days downtown and teach night classes in Renton. My work day starts at 5am and class gets out at 8pm. I’m not willing to add hours of cycling to that schedule.
- Yes2WS December 15, 2018 (10:45 am)
CB December 14, 2018 (7:00 pm)

How long have you been waiting to post this?
- Tsurly December 15, 2018 (12:02 pm)
  
  CB I take the opportunity every time there is an update about the Viaduct closure. I know that is not reality for everyone in WS to bike commute to downtown, but there are many who can but refuse to even consider the option. Those of you that must drive should take your frustrations out on those folks, not cyclists.
dsa December 16, 2018 (11:08 pm)

Mayor Durkin said the silver lining is that the teardown will force people to take alternate forms of transportation.
Pamela Petrich December 18, 2018 (2:12 pm)

Anyone interested in walking downtown? I walked from W Seattle to Belltown in the summer months — took 90 minutes – each way … get some good exercise, have someone to walk with one or both ways?

Liz December 14, 2018 (8:36 pm)

Can we organize a candlelight vigil for the ol’ Viaduct ✌️

Greg December 15, 2018 (6:22 am)

I hope you can buy pieces of the broken up concrete…. Akin to owning part of the Berlin Wall.

miws December 15, 2018 (12:07 pm)

Greg, That would be cool! I got a chunk of the south end that was demolished several years ago. Went to the Milepost 31 Museum, that used to be in Pioneer Square, about 6 1/2 years or so ago, and they had chunks available for free. I felt a little weird taking something, even though it was a chunk of 60-year-old concrete, that seemed like a part of a museum display, but the docent assured me they were free for the taking!—-Mike

Victoria December 15, 2018 (7:10 am)

Will the water taxi run the week-end that the Walk/Ride/Run the viaduct on 2/2-3/19? I know a request was put in so people in WS could travel to downtown for this event.

WSB December 15, 2018 (10:16 am)

Yes.

Mj December 15, 2018 (6:22 pm)

The bike option would have worked better in the Spring with more daylight and nicer weather. Dark, cold and rain is not conducive for most cyclists.

Dan December 16, 2018 (8:49 pm)

The weird thing about Seattle transit management is they want you to use the water taxi but there is no bus service on Alaska Way from Colman dock or the water taxi area to any place in downtown. This applies to the hundreds of walk-ons for the car ferries too. Or is there a shuttle from down there and I’m not aware of it?

dsa December 16, 2018 (9:55 pm)

5 million foot passengers use the Colman dock yearly and the majority of those use the Marion Street foot bridge which crosses Alaskan Way and the soon to be demolished AWV. This is an interesting read where I learned that information: https://waterfrontseattle.org/marion-street-bridge

The new pedestrian bridge is in design now. I wonder if it be wide enough for bicycles and developing forms of transportation of the future?

dsa December 16, 2018 (10:31 pm)

I meant I wonder it the new Marion St bridge will be wide enough to also accommodate developing forms of *personal* transportation.

Sorry, comment time is over.