Seattle waterfront motorway demolition

[boliston]

Interesting article here on a major elevated multi level highway in Seattle on the city centre waterfront that is about to be demolished and replaced with a tunnel https://www.citylab.com/transportation/ ... 6LqWGxfYTw

[Euan]

There will likely be a prolonged period of disruption and congestion through the coastal parts of Seattle. It must have been deemed impossible to build and open the tunnel before closing and demolishing the bridge, that way traffic could have just been quickly redirected into the tunnel instead of looking for a diversion through the city. Interstate 5 will probably see a significant increase in traffic levels as a result of the two year closure of Washington State Route 99.

[Chris Bertram]

Interesting article here on a major elevated multi level highway in Seattle on the city centre waterfront that is about to be demolished and replaced with a tunnel https://www.citylab.com/transportation/ ... 6LqWGxfYTw

Been there, seen that (last Eastertime). It is a thoroughly unattractive feature of the city, and its main benefit (other than speeding the traffic through) is that it acts as a rain shelter for the tented villages of the homeless on the waterfront. We heard that they were going to get rid of it, so its no surprise that this news is now emerging.

[Bryn666]

The viaduct has now closed to traffic (it shut at weekend), and the replacement tunnel opens next month.

Anyone who remembers the Cypress Freeway in Oakland will be aware of why this is being replaced, as it has all the same structural weaknesses and has already been damaged by a major earthquake - it probably won't last a second major jolt.

[Euan]

It looks like the tunnel will indeed open in three weeks time, but the two year period refers to the "Seattle Squeeze" starting with the closure of the viaduct and ending with the arrival of an expanded light-rail network across the city. The key aim of the light-rail is to reduce the levels of reliance on cars amongst many people in the city and to reduce the city's road congestion, hence the period leading up to this has been dubbed a "squeeze".

[Mark Hewitt]

Makes me think of Gateshead flyover which is of a similar vintage and falling apart. Although I doubt a double decker tunnel is on the cards there.

[mikehindsonevans]

We were there in September 2017 (not long after the TBM had become "unstuck"). Nice to see the works are progressing.

BTW the existing light rail service (running in tunnels further east) is being extended Northwards and this is a good model for using public transport in from the Airport.

We shall visit Seattle again.
Mike