VIADOOM UPDATES: First day of #Realign99

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Highway 99 tunnel | West Seattle news

Notes from the first day of the Highway 99 viaduct-to-tunnel-transition closure:

(WSDOT photo)

VIADUCT RAMP DEMOLITION: WSDOT keeps stressing that this is NOT the start of the full demolition – that six-month process won’t launch until next month (with some of the debris to be used in the Battery Street Tunnel decommissioning). But the ramp to the remaining elevated Viaduct is coming down this weekend, to clear the way for the intersection that will be used by (among others) West Seattleites getting off NB 99 to head into downtown.

WSDOT’S UPDATE: That demolition work comprises most of the update posted by WSDOT, which also notes that traffic and transit were “similar to average weekend conditions.”

METRO’S NEW ROUTES: Remember that the closure means new routes for the buses that previously traveled the Viaduct, and that started last night. The maps are here and here (that last one shows the “interim” pathways that buses then will use for up to a year after the tunnel opens).

WATER TAXI’S EXTRA BOAT: As we reported last night, the San Juan Clipper will join the Doc Maynard on the West Seattle Water Taxi run. The Water Taxi is NOT running on weekends (though the county has said the “celebration” weekend February 2-3 will be an exception), but Jennie spotted the SJ Clipper at Seacrest today:

Here again is the which-vessel-on-which-run is planned starting Monday:

And the extra-parking info (among other details for water-taxi riders) is available here.

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE PARTY: In addition to the helicopter video we featured last night, here’s a bit of video of what it was like in the midst of the final cruise, linked in a WSB comment by Mike Russell:

Regional media reports people were walking on the viaduct at sunset tonight. Remember, an official chance to say goodbye is coming up the first weekend of February, just before the tunnel’s expected opening – info here.

TRAFFIC WATCH: Quiet today but we’re continuing to watch the outbound and inbound routes. If you encounter an incident we haven’t reported yet, please alert us at 206-293-6302 when you can do so safely/legally (after calling it in to authorities if they’re not on scene yet). And our collection of SDOT/WSDOT traffic cameras is here.

JCW January 12, 2019 (11:01 pm)

Smooth sailing along I-5 up to McCaw Hall for a show this evening!

Dave January 13, 2019 (5:17 am)

Of course everyone is off work lol. The real measurement begins Monday.
- WSB January 13, 2019 (10:07 am)
  
  It’s a valid observation as 99 has been closed before (never for this long) and there’ve been weekend backups too.
- East Coast Cynic January 13, 2019 (6:06 pm)
  
  I believe Tuesday will be the acid test–Many people use Monday as an extra weekend day, plus some will stay home and watch how the traffic situation unfolds before they decide on an approach. All the kids will be back for transit “fun” the next day.
  - Azimuth January 13, 2019 (7:56 pm)
    
    …and week 2 (after the holiday) will be even worse after people like me say “it wasn’t as bad as I thought” decide to start going to the office again!

M January 13, 2019 (6:27 am)

Why did they need to pay for that big 99 billboard in West Seattle? How much of our tax money did that cost? Is it supposed to make us feel better about the traffic nightmare to come. Just seems like a complete waste.

C January 13, 2019 (3:01 pm)

Advertising for a couple weeks on a few billboards is barely even a drop in the bucket compared to the expense of a literal mega-project.

Pelicans January 13, 2019 (3:34 pm)

They look like giant insects. I miss the viaduct already.

Lisa January 14, 2019 (6:12 am)

Why is the 125 so drastically different than the other routes? Only two stops downtown and it doesn’t stay on 3rd like the other buses.

Shepherd Siegel January 14, 2019 (6:34 pm)

Is there somewhere I can find a map of what roads will go where after the tunnel opens? For example, how, post tunnel, would one travel from West Seattle to Ballard?

Sorry, comment time is over.