CHOKEPOINTS

Tour the SR 99 tunnel: Crews finish roadways inside the passage

Mar 27, 2018, 1:09 PM | Updated: 1:42 pm

Crews working under Seattle have hit a milestone as the SR 99 tunnel takes shape.

The final panel of the lower deck was installed this month (northbound lanes). The northbound stretch is constructed of 1,152 panels. Both levels — north and southbound — are now finished inside the SR 99 tunnel.

RELATED: Seattle council say goodbye to Battery Street Tunnel

Crews are not finished, however. There are still 300 traffic-monitoring cameras to test; ventilation systems to get up and running; and automated sprinkler systems to put out fires inside the tunnel. WSDOT says that “together, these systems will make the SR 99 tunnel one of the ‘smartest’ tunnels ever built.” The tunnel will be a living, breathing machine once it is finished. The two minute drive under Seattle will require an operation with control centers and mechanical systems for air, water, communication, power supply, and more.

Here’s a video from WSDOT showing the final piece of roadway being installed.

Tour the SR 99 tunnel

KIRO Radio’s Traffic Reporter Chris Sullivan toured the SR 99 tunnel. See his findings below.

Chokepoints

US 101 ramp I-5 boat crash...

MyNorthwest Staff

US 101 ramp to northbound I-5 reopened after vehicle towing a boat crashes Near Olympia

The US 101 ramp to northbound I-5 was blocked for several hours due to a collision involving a vehicle towing a boat.

1 hour ago

US 2 monroe gold bar wsdot...

Chris Sullivan

15 months of construction about to start on US 2 between Monroe and Gold Bar

WSDOT has a laundry list of improvements for the corridor, including new sidewalks, adding new pedestrian crossings, adding new signs, rumble strips, and a new roundabout in Sultan.

2 hours ago

sr 167 fatal motorcycle crash auburn...

Jason Sutich

Southbound SR 167 in Auburn reopens after fatal motorcycle crash

All lanes of southbound SR 167 north of SR 18 in Auburn have reopened after a fatal collision Monday afternoon involving a motorcycle and a car.

18 hours ago

kent drive-by shooting...

Jason Sutich

2 dead after drive-by shooting near I-5 overpass in Kent; road closed in both directions

A drive-by shooting near the S 272nd Street overpass above I-5 in Kent killed 2 people Monday, shutting down the road in both directions as police investigate.

20 hours ago

ritzville i-90 closed visibility...

Jason Sutich

I-90 in Ritzville reopens after dust storm caused multiple collisions

I-90 in Ritzville has reopened after both directions were blocked Friday due to multiple collisions.

4 days ago

super load marysville...

Chris Sullivan

Super load stuck on I-5 south in Marysville should move tonight

A truck carrying a massive pre-fab building has been parked along the southbound I-5 ramp at 88th St. in Marysville for three days.

4 days ago

Tour the SR 99 tunnel: Crews finish roadways inside the passage