VIDEO: Aerial and underground views from Tunnel to Viaduct 8K

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

That’s WSDOT drone video of the run/walk that started this day of tunnel/viaduct festivities – with 29,000 participants. We also have three views from inside the tunnel, courtesy of Vy Duong:

Note the signage including the new name of the Mariners’ home (as also seen in above-ground signage we showed in our first report on the dedication ceremony that started just as the run/walk was ending). And here’s Vy’s view as the run/walk reached the tunnel’s south end:

And some of the bicycle officers who were in view at multiple sites throughout the day :

We saw them at the ribboncutting, too, after they escorted runners/walkers out:

Speaking of bicycles – Sunday morning, 12,000 people are registered to ride through the tunnel and on the viaduct, in a sold-out event that is the last component of the celebration weekend before WSDOT goes through final steps to get the tunnel open by early Monday morning.

GWS February 2, 2019 (10:51 pm)

I took the Water Taxi over to the event, walked through the tunnel and walked the viaduct from Battery St to Seneca. Kudos to the planners of the events as they seemed to have pulled it off without a hitch even though it was very crowded throughout the afternoon. It sure looked like almost everyone was having a great time.

Hoku February 3, 2019 (12:38 am)

Walking the tunnel was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It will never be this clean, pristine or unstinky ever again. The ringleader in our group was disappointed no one wanted to see our tickets. So Seattle, criticising a great event for not scanning tickets, but I get it. Our tickets were printed, but left at home. Much time was spent figuring out mobile tickets.Collected or not, the free timed ticket system seemed quite brilliant. We began our tunnel walk at 4:45pm or so as the sun was beginning to set.There were lots of people, but not so many that you had no personal space. There was enough room to easily pass groups that randomly stopped in the middle of the walking lane. It was an evenly spaced out upbeat crowd. I sat down halfway through and again at the end and watched the steady flow of positive people walking by. I’m still marveling at how the number of people going by at any time was so consistent. No jammed up portions and no huge empty spaces between people.Fun event and bonus: now my fitbit is happy with me!

craig February 4, 2019 (3:27 am)

I had a couple of friends who arrived with tickets for their slot an hour or so after you and were turned away away from the event. They were part of a large angry crowd. No reason was provided for their denied entry and apparently SPD was on hand and did’t take ownership of the decision or have an explanation. Maybe the situation was brought on by the organizers disregarding their own plan?In contrast, my experience on the bike ride yesterday was cathartic and a stand-out moment in my thirty years of living in Seattle. It was a happening. I’m sorry for those who were turned away from the walk or missed out on the ride.

Bradley February 3, 2019 (2:51 am)

I wouldn’t mind driving through that tunnel late at night or early morning on a Sunday, but I would NOT want to be stuck in heavy traffic in there for 20-40 minutes. What if you have to use the bathroom and traffic barely crawling? They should have put in at least 2 downtown exits.

Question Authority February 3, 2019 (8:05 am)

If that’s the case make sure you “go” before crossing the I-90 bridge in heavy traffic as well. Or for that matter any long stretches of I-5 if that where your priorities are. Really?
- Bradley February 3, 2019 (12:43 pm)
  
  I take I-90 all the time. There are more lanes, exits to Rainier Avenue, Mercer Island, and (there used to be) traffic-free express lanes. As long as they were building this 2-mile tunnel, they could have easily put in an exit or two. It would also have given more access for emergency vehicles in case the new shoulder is blocked with wreckage.
  - Question Authority February 3, 2019 (1:27 pm)
    
    At that point of the tunnel it is close to 180′ underground so your exit dreams are just that.
    - Bradley February 3, 2019 (10:15 pm)
      
      I’ll stay on I-5 or drive along the soon-to-be-viaduct-free waterfront during heavy traffic periods.
Eddie February 3, 2019 (8:19 am)

Bradley – “I told you to go before we left!”Seriously, how in the dickens could you imagine getting out of ANY traffic situation, anywhere, getting parked and finding a public, or even stealth bathroom. Time for you to buy a “porta-John”.
TSurly February 3, 2019 (10:40 am)

Large water bottle

rundmc February 3, 2019 (5:23 am)

Those of us who showed up with 6 – 7 pm tickets for the viaduct were shut out. Told the viaduct had closed. It was sad as some people had come from Bremerton, Gig Harbor, etc. to go on. A lot of people had been let in without tickets, so there was too much overflow and the people with tickets who followed the rules and waited until their time came around didn’t get in.

Tracey February 3, 2019 (3:26 pm)

Apparently, Seattle knows how to take a reservation but not keep a reservation.

NoView February 3, 2019 (11:18 am)

I got tickets to walk the tunnel, but really why would I do that when I really wanted to be on the viaduct with a view, or walking Seward Park– something with a nice view. Now I read that tickets were not even checked? What a disappointment to “sell” free tickets that were only for general crowd control. Oh well. Is this tunnel even going to be worth it with no downtown exits? I can’t imagine it’s really a value given the cost of the project and that it will be a toll tunnel. Back to the bus. I may never go into the tunnel ever.

aa February 3, 2019 (1:42 pm)

So smart of the planners to get people walking through the tunnel! What a great way to get so many people familiar with the inside before their first drive through. Removing that first layer of concern into the unknown. I don’t know much about the plans, re: Bradley’s comment about no exits, I think that was the intention, no exits into downtown to reduce congestion in the area. Right? And It’s not like this tunnel will be the first experience of slow traffic in Seattle where a driver is stuck for 20-40 min.

WSB February 3, 2019 (2:05 pm)

I don’t think it was to reduce congestion so much as, if you’re creating an exit mid-tunnel, basically you’re drilling a side tunnel … and from at one point 200 feet underground, and also, coming up between buildings … I can’t imagine what the logistics and cost of that would have been. – TR

Andrew February 3, 2019 (1:47 pm)

I am an experienced drone pilot/builder and love flying my quads. Who ever was flying that drone did so in an extremely irresponsible manner and put public safety at risk.Regardless of the skill/experience of the pilot, flying over/near/around crowds does not show good judgement by who ever authorized/piloted the craft. Equipment fails for a wide variety of reasons usually resulting in an uncontrolled crash. The pilot/authorizing entity should know this.Is getting a few aerial shots worth even the smallest risk of a horrific/disfiguring /deadly crash?

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