The Alaskan Way Viaduct: How Seattle chose the Bertha tunnel alternative
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Date: 2019-09-12
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Comments and reviews: 10
TWSTF 8
They just closed down the Alaska way viaduct last weekend (Jan 11, 2019) for the final time. On the local news up around here, people were warned that, Those estimated 90, 000 vehicles per day, until the tunnel opens next month, would be scattered throughout downtown Seattle and it's surrounding areas, so plan accordinglyWhat's hilarious is that the very next official work day; Monday, January14th, the Washington State department of transportation observed a DECREASE in the local daily traffic congestion lol exactly the opposite of all their predictions. There may have been some, activists, making things difficult politically around here for the viaduct replacement project back in the beginning, but I assure you, now everybody is MORE than ready to finally get that giant monstrosity out of there The tunnel, for all its problems, is going to be a welcome alternative, and most importantly; the local population is beyond ready for downtown Seattle to begin it's cosmetic waterfront makeover. This is a beautiful place to live. I've been here all my life. And in that 40+ years it has never been as beautiful as it's potential. So, I would say everyone's ready
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They just closed down the Alaska way viaduct last weekend (Jan 11, 2019) for the final time. On the local news up around here, people were warned that, Those estimated 90, 000 vehicles per day, until the tunnel opens next month, would be scattered throughout downtown Seattle and it's surrounding areas, so plan accordinglyWhat's hilarious is that the very next official work day; Monday, January14th, the Washington State department of transportation observed a DECREASE in the local daily traffic congestion lol exactly the opposite of all their predictions. There may have been some, activists, making things difficult politically around here for the viaduct replacement project back in the beginning, but I assure you, now everybody is MORE than ready to finally get that giant monstrosity out of there The tunnel, for all its problems, is going to be a welcome alternative, and most importantly; the local population is beyond ready for downtown Seattle to begin it's cosmetic waterfront makeover. This is a beautiful place to live. I've been here all my life. And in that 40+ years it has never been as beautiful as it's potential. So, I would say everyone's ready
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Josia Evans
Seriously triggered at how callously the guy in this video uses San Francisco as an example of eggswater happens when you remove existing infrastructure. At 2: 25. you say traffic problems did not appear? Are you F&ing SERIOUS? Have you even BEEN to San Francisco? The entire embarcadero and downtown area is practically a parking lot every morning from about 7am to 11am and then again 2: 30 to 7pm every day and often until much later at night. If you're starting at embarcadero you can look forward to an hour of driving just to go five miles. After the 89 earthquake, alot of the neighborhood groups strategically protested the repairs of existing through ways. Their not in my backyard attitude superficially inflated their property value while royally screwing over the rest of the city including buses, garbage trucks, cabs (now uber) etc. It's so frustrating to see the misdirected hatred of automobiles run rampant. Literally creating MORE traffic. Thanks.
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Seriously triggered at how callously the guy in this video uses San Francisco as an example of eggswater happens when you remove existing infrastructure. At 2: 25. you say traffic problems did not appear? Are you F&ing SERIOUS? Have you even BEEN to San Francisco? The entire embarcadero and downtown area is practically a parking lot every morning from about 7am to 11am and then again 2: 30 to 7pm every day and often until much later at night. If you're starting at embarcadero you can look forward to an hour of driving just to go five miles. After the 89 earthquake, alot of the neighborhood groups strategically protested the repairs of existing through ways. Their not in my backyard attitude superficially inflated their property value while royally screwing over the rest of the city including buses, garbage trucks, cabs (now uber) etc. It's so frustrating to see the misdirected hatred of automobiles run rampant. Literally creating MORE traffic. Thanks.
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burdizdawurd1516
There's a better option: build a railroad. Let's talk about My Taxes Wasted. I mean the Big Dig. Boston traffic has not improved. As a railfan, I calculate that we can move 150% capacity of trains by taking a lane out of I-90 and building Boston Union Station where the Conrail Beacon Park yard used to be. Here's another idea, which works good for a coastal city like Boston or Seattle (except replace east with west. The Eastbound I-90 stops 5 miles outside the city. Traffic will go around to the north and south to Portland and Providence. Then rip out the road, and replace it with a railroad. It's not like the Boston and Albany was there FIRST or anything. People will drive up to the end of the road, park, and use public transportation through the city. Local traffic on the streets only. Problem solved. So the solution is just route traffic AROUND the city. Better yet, get some autoracks and run a few auto trains down the coast.
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There's a better option: build a railroad. Let's talk about My Taxes Wasted. I mean the Big Dig. Boston traffic has not improved. As a railfan, I calculate that we can move 150% capacity of trains by taking a lane out of I-90 and building Boston Union Station where the Conrail Beacon Park yard used to be. Here's another idea, which works good for a coastal city like Boston or Seattle (except replace east with west. The Eastbound I-90 stops 5 miles outside the city. Traffic will go around to the north and south to Portland and Providence. Then rip out the road, and replace it with a railroad. It's not like the Boston and Albany was there FIRST or anything. People will drive up to the end of the road, park, and use public transportation through the city. Local traffic on the streets only. Problem solved. So the solution is just route traffic AROUND the city. Better yet, get some autoracks and run a few auto trains down the coast.
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NASIRUB1
Why don't they just do what our ancestors did back then in history when building crazy huge monuments or statues (except without enslaving and beating people because I have allergies against sharp objects, fast moving limbs coming towards me and swinging blunt objects. We should have the people of the city contribute to big projects like this by volunteering their time, maybe an employer could give his or her workers a day or two off with pay to go work on a city work site each week until the project is done. I think by rotating shifts/days between employees will help keep things from getting behind, also this method might save the city from charging more in taxes to fund the projects because you will technically have a free labor force.
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Why don't they just do what our ancestors did back then in history when building crazy huge monuments or statues (except without enslaving and beating people because I have allergies against sharp objects, fast moving limbs coming towards me and swinging blunt objects. We should have the people of the city contribute to big projects like this by volunteering their time, maybe an employer could give his or her workers a day or two off with pay to go work on a city work site each week until the project is done. I think by rotating shifts/days between employees will help keep things from getting behind, also this method might save the city from charging more in taxes to fund the projects because you will technically have a free labor force.
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Al Klimek
The real difference between Boston's Big Dig and Seattle is- Boston, indeed, the whole NE doesn't get M6. 8 earthquakes You should be aware that the Vancouver-island, like just east of San Diego are The number one 'slippery Slopes' for ALL seismic activity on immediate West coastAlso, seismic activity has and is increasing world wide and it all begins just north of New Zealand- time the seismic 'wave' gets to E. Papua N. G. it either continue west along Indo or starts its journey up the Izu Ridge- along Japan, Kamchakta- past Alaska and heading down to Vancouver where it either heads over to Yellow Stone of continues down to Sunny California as its called the Ring o Fire
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The real difference between Boston's Big Dig and Seattle is- Boston, indeed, the whole NE doesn't get M6. 8 earthquakes You should be aware that the Vancouver-island, like just east of San Diego are The number one 'slippery Slopes' for ALL seismic activity on immediate West coastAlso, seismic activity has and is increasing world wide and it all begins just north of New Zealand- time the seismic 'wave' gets to E. Papua N. G. it either continue west along Indo or starts its journey up the Izu Ridge- along Japan, Kamchakta- past Alaska and heading down to Vancouver where it either heads over to Yellow Stone of continues down to Sunny California as its called the Ring o Fire
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kirokyo
Very educational I was obtaining my civil engineering degree at the time and we had a lot of discussions about the Alaskan Way Viaduct alternatives in our transportation engineering classes. A huge majority had voted against the tunnel option and went for the surface option, similar to San Francisco. However, even though we now see the pitfalls of the tunnel option as well as the cost, I am happy with the uniqueness this brings to Seattle's infrastructure. From floating bridges to megatunnels in a seismic zone, Seattle can claim itself to be one of the most technically challenging areas to design for. It is exciting to be an engineer in this area.
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Very educational I was obtaining my civil engineering degree at the time and we had a lot of discussions about the Alaskan Way Viaduct alternatives in our transportation engineering classes. A huge majority had voted against the tunnel option and went for the surface option, similar to San Francisco. However, even though we now see the pitfalls of the tunnel option as well as the cost, I am happy with the uniqueness this brings to Seattle's infrastructure. From floating bridges to megatunnels in a seismic zone, Seattle can claim itself to be one of the most technically challenging areas to design for. It is exciting to be an engineer in this area.
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hebneh
The so-called Seattle Process is normal politics everywhere in the USA - if not the rest of the world - when very large expensive projects occur. Unless the government is a repressive dictatorship, there will be protests galore by all kinds of constituencies in the affected area, with cost usually being the biggest source of complaints. We can't afford it, It'll take too long, There'll be too much construction dust and noise, My business will be affected, I don't like it, We don't need this, blah blah blah. Fortunately, once it's completed and a few years have passed, all that is forgotten.
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The so-called Seattle Process is normal politics everywhere in the USA - if not the rest of the world - when very large expensive projects occur. Unless the government is a repressive dictatorship, there will be protests galore by all kinds of constituencies in the affected area, with cost usually being the biggest source of complaints. We can't afford it, It'll take too long, There'll be too much construction dust and noise, My business will be affected, I don't like it, We don't need this, blah blah blah. Fortunately, once it's completed and a few years have passed, all that is forgotten.
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zenistic
4: 55 Google this Seattle Times story Voters backing Seattle tunnel; fight may finally be over saying In a rebuke to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and other tunnel opponents, nearly 60 percent of the votes counted Tuesday were in support of the project. I distinctly remember voting on that and nothing came of the anti-tunnel campaign afterwards. Also it should be noted that partial federal matching funds were allotted to freeways only, zero had the boulevard option been selected. BTW, we will end up with a boulevard too, the new version of Alaskan Way.
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4: 55 Google this Seattle Times story Voters backing Seattle tunnel; fight may finally be over saying In a rebuke to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and other tunnel opponents, nearly 60 percent of the votes counted Tuesday were in support of the project. I distinctly remember voting on that and nothing came of the anti-tunnel campaign afterwards. Also it should be noted that partial federal matching funds were allotted to freeways only, zero had the boulevard option been selected. BTW, we will end up with a boulevard too, the new version of Alaskan Way.
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onlineo
Incredibly wasteful infrastructure, with massive ongoing maintenance costs, in a country that struggles to maintain its (much cheaper to maintain than tunnels) bridges. This is going to have 10% of the benefits that people want. Surely rip out the whole thing. Pedestrianize the whole area, turning it into a public plaza, and a park. Help your economy thrive and grow. Highways though downtown are so 20th century. Remove, enhance the area. People will live there and work there and the area will thrive.
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Incredibly wasteful infrastructure, with massive ongoing maintenance costs, in a country that struggles to maintain its (much cheaper to maintain than tunnels) bridges. This is going to have 10% of the benefits that people want. Surely rip out the whole thing. Pedestrianize the whole area, turning it into a public plaza, and a park. Help your economy thrive and grow. Highways though downtown are so 20th century. Remove, enhance the area. People will live there and work there and the area will thrive.
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Eric Thomsen
Of course this made all the properties along the route much more valuable once the old viaduct was gone and the view improved. Likely this decision was made in the Rainier Club. CH2MHill had an engineer design a new above ground viaduct that could have been installed a section each night without loss of use, much cheaper, and without all the delays. Now we have loss of the view while driving along the waterfront, tolls, and the delay and incovenience. Should be fun.
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Of course this made all the properties along the route much more valuable once the old viaduct was gone and the view improved. Likely this decision was made in the Rainier Club. CH2MHill had an engineer design a new above ground viaduct that could have been installed a section each night without loss of use, much cheaper, and without all the delays. Now we have loss of the view while driving along the waterfront, tolls, and the delay and incovenience. Should be fun.
reply
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