What will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct?
The south portal to the new State Route 99 tunnel is now open to traffic, replacing the seismically vulnerable Alaskan Way Viaduct along the Seattle waterfront.
Why was the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle replaced by a tunnel?
In addition to making travel safer, WSDOT officials also recognized that replacing the viaduct provided the city with an opportunity to restore access between downtown and a revitalized waterfront area.
Where did almost all the rubble from the Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition end up?
As the roadway sections came down, the materials were first hauled to Terminal 25 adjacent to the West Seattle Bridge, where they were crushed into small pieces, and then transported back to the north end of the viaduct, where they were used as fill material in the decommissioned Battery Street Tunnel.
Did they ever finish the tunnel in Seattle?
Seattle Tunnel Partners announced that work was substantially complete on the tunnel in October 2018. The viaduct closed permanently on January 11, 2019.
Who objected to the Alaskan Way Viaduct and why?
The Seattle City Council objected, voting 6-3 to put two alternatives on a March 2007 advisory ballot: a new elevated highway or a four-lane shallow tunnel. Gregoire then said she wanted to hear what voters thought, clarifying, “I will never, ever say that a vote of the people is a waste.”
Why was the Alaskan Way Viaduct removed?
Opening of new tunnel On January 11, 2019, the Alaskan Way Viaduct was permanently closed in preparation for the opening of the new tunnel, which required the excavation of several buried ramps at the south portal and other road realignments.
What caused the tunnel boring machine nicknamed Bertha to stop working the first time?
Bertha resumed tunnel boring on December 22, 2015, but was stopped in early January 2016 after a tethered barge in Elliott Bay damaged nearby piers and a sinkhole opened near the project site.
Who objected to the Alaskan Way Viaduct?
Quick Quiz: Do you know who the 520 bridge is named for? Answer: Governor Albert Rosellini.
Why did they tear down the Alaskan Way Viaduct?
Earthquake concerns The 2001 Nisqually earthquake damaged the viaduct and its supporting Alaskan Way Seawall and required the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to invest US$14.5 million in emergency repairs.
Why did Big Bertha get stuck?
Bertha remained stranded some 1,028 feet into its underground journey from Seattle’s Sodo to South Lake Union after overheating in December 2013. Crews had to excavate a 120-foot deep vault to rescue and repair the giant drill’s front end, work that started in October 2014.
Why was the Alaskan Way Viaduct torn down?
The 2001 Nisqually earthquake damaged the viaduct and its supporting Alaskan Way Seawall and required the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to invest US$14.5 million in emergency repairs. Experts gave a 1-in-20 chance that the viaduct could be shut down by an earthquake within the next decade.