Sentimental Seattleites party on the Alaskan Way Viaduct in one last traffic jam
Jan 11, 2019, 11:05 PM | Updated: 11:13 pm
(WSDOT image)
Horns blasting, fireworks, and people were dancing on the Alaskan Way Viaduct on Seattle’s waterfront for its permanent closure Friday night.
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As the minutes ticked down to 10 p.m. when the official closure was scheduled to begin, several cars were still on the elevated roadway. Fireworks erupted over Elliott Bay, people shrieked farewell to their beloved viaduct, and some even stole concrete chunks as mementos.
If you’re feeling left out, there’s a final farewell scheduled for February 2, including a chance to run over the viaduct and through the new SR 99 tunnel.
Check out the party, as captured in tweets:
Less than 30 minutes to go. Horns are honking as people make their last trips across the Alaskan Way Viaduct. #Realign99 pic.twitter.com/8ZwaZGBsHC
— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) January 12, 2019
Methinks it'll take quite a while tonight before the #Viaduct is really "closed"… as in vacant… as in having fallen into disuse. #seattle #alaskanwayviaduct #realign99
LIVE: https://t.co/bLCsRLX4qB pic.twitter.com/i6KrnRYPXI
— Morgan Palmer (@MorganKIRO7) January 12, 2019
There are now people and dogs on the #AlaskanWayViaduct.
LIVE: https://t.co/bLCsRLX4qB
We'll have live reports and @kiro7chopper at 11pm on @KIRO7Seattle #realign99 #viaduct #Seattle #viaduct #viadoom pic.twitter.com/35MoNqdC64— Morgan Palmer (@MorganKIRO7) January 12, 2019
Someone is doing donuts on the viaduct and the smoke is obscuring the view for "drivers". #SeattleSqueeze #ViaDoom pic.twitter.com/zFsepxVzDL
— Paul Britton (@paulstorms) January 12, 2019
Fireworks over #Viaduct @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/TAmBrZjwCF
— Mike Griffith (@PhotogGriff) January 12, 2019