WSDOT approaches final stages of Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition
Sep 17, 2019, 4:47 PM | Updated: 4:49 pm
After the speedy removal of a key section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct above South Dearborn Street, the Washington State Department of Transportation is approaching the final stages of the demolition project.
Viaduct demolition head: ‘This is one of the toughest jobs I’ve ever done’
Work to remove the Dearborn section began on Sept. 12, with crews wrapping up in under a week. The South Dearborn Street and First Avenue South intersection reopens Wednesday, Sept. 16. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, that section’s removal was completed “much earlier than initially planned.”
At 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, Alaskan Way will narrow to one lane in each direction near Marion Street. That will begin work to clear the final remaining section along the waterfront.
Non-waterfront sections where work has yet to begin are few and far between, with just a trio of pieces on the north-end along the railroad tracks left. The rest of viaduct removal is either finished, in the midst of active construction or restoration, or classified as “starting soon.”
Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition: before and after
WSDOT estimates the viaduct demolition project to be finished sometime in the fall.
You can monitor the final stages on WSDOT’s demolition tracker here.
