BYE-A-DUCT: Another milestone for Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition

That ramp you used to take from central downtown onto SB Highway 99? Gone. The new time-lapse video above, from WSDOT, shows the demolition of the Columbia Street ramp. WSDOT made it public while announcing another demolition milestone: Its demolition contractor Kiewit is starting work on the double-decker Viaduct itself, as detailed here. This comes exactly two months after the Viaduct’s closure, and five weeks after the Highway 99 tunnel’s opening.

(Photo from last week, by Jim Spraker)

13 Replies to "BYE-A-DUCT: Another milestone for Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition"

  • RayWest March 11, 2019 (6:58 pm)

    Goodbye Viaduct. Thank you for your years of loyal service. You will be missed.

  • West Seattle Hipster March 11, 2019 (7:51 pm)

    Buh bye viaduct, I am LOVING the new tunnel!

  • henrythepainter March 11, 2019 (11:03 pm)

    I miss the viaduct already ,   The  tunnell it’s so boring  going  trough it , and we still have  to pay for it , 

  • Question Authority March 12, 2019 (5:36 am)

    The tunnel has taken away the historic lane swerving and static backups at exits, it’s so nice to travel to and from without being cut off.  The toll is the price of progress and no different than any other convenience charge.  It’s funny how all the bellyaching doom from the downtown commuters has vanished like Viaduct demolition dust in the wind.

    • RayWest March 12, 2019 (8:17 am)

      My biggest “bellyache” is losing the view of Puget Sound. There are few places to get such a sweeping view unless you live in an expensive condo that looks out over the water. I always took out-of-town visitors on a drive over the viaduct to see the ships and how beautiful Elliott Bay is.

      • Peter March 13, 2019 (10:59 am)

        As if there’s nowhere else to see views.

  • Andros March 12, 2019 (7:10 am)

    I love my commute now thanks to the tunnel. Yes, the view of the Olympics was nice when you were driving on it northbound, but that’s about all the viaduct had going for it. 

  • Blinkyjoe March 12, 2019 (7:11 am)

    The timelapse was cool. Sad to see the Viaduct go. 

  • West Seattle Hipster March 12, 2019 (8:51 am)

    The new addition to Pike Place Market has excellent sweeping views of Puget Sound, and the best part is you won’t be operating a 4,000 lb vehicle while taking in the view.   The outer concourses at the Mariners and Seahawks stadiums  have great views of Elliott Bay as well.

    • Question Authority March 12, 2019 (10:42 am)

      As does a ferry ride, and you can treat your guests to a hotdog for a bonus.

  • Pelicans March 12, 2019 (10:03 am)

    To quote a city council member, if I recall correctly, “The tunnel was not meant to REPLACE the viaduct (emphasis is mine), when asked about the tunnel’s lesser capacity. So, it carries less vehicles, and they didn’t anticipate or plan for street closures and reroutings during events at the stadiums at the tunnel’s south end.  What happens when the next fish-carrying semi overturns, or the next vehicle fire, of which there were a couple in the last years if the viaduct? What about those of us who can’t run like the alarming stick figures on the walls of the tunnel. Are we doomed to die like rats? I will not use the tunnel, even while it’s free.

    • wscommuter March 12, 2019 (1:38 pm)

      Go with that.  Thank you.  We appreciate you not using the tunnel – it leaves more room for the rest of us.  Instead, keep stewing in your complaints and cling to the inaccurate tropes you cite.  Good luck.  

  • Jim P. March 12, 2019 (8:49 pm)

    Looking at the gap where the on ramp was at Columbia it feels like a missing tooth.Hundreds of rides on the bus going home in the decade I’ve lived here.  Loved the view both ways.  Seattle never looks the same twice coming in from West Seattle, the light is magical.

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