Updated 3:15 p.m.: Major transportation changes are looming on SR 99 as the deep-bored tunnel option to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct moves forward.
Late last month, the Federal Highway Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation and the City of Seattle released its Supplement Draft Environmental Impact Statement (.pdf). The document analyzes the bored tunnel alternative for replacing the viaduct, which is the preferred option. The SDEIS outlines the project’s effects on transportation and the environment.
At the most recent Ballard District Council meeting, Mike Rigsby, the manager of engineering for the project outlined the project.
Work has already started on “the southern mile” of the viaduct replacement, Rigsby said. The $115 million project is to rebuild the southern mile of the viaduct from S. Holgate St. to S. King St.
The deep-bored tunnel project starts at the north end of the south portal (see video below for visual explanation) and although the environmental process will continue until around July of next year, Rigsby says the agencies are moving forward with the deep-bored tunnel option. “We can’t really get going full-scale on the construction here until we’ve completed our environmental process,” he said, “Because of the urgent need and the safety and risk of the viaduct, they’ve decided to go ahead and start the procurement of a design and build contract.”
A drive-through simulation of the proposed deep-bore tunnel.
The objective, Rigsby says, is to get the two-mile tunnel open for traffic between 2015 and 2016. “SR99 will be open at least in two lanes at almost all times,” Rigsby says, “There will be some brief periods when we’ll have to make connections at either end, but generally SR99 will be open in two lanes in both directions at all times.” Traffic estimates for the deep-bored tunnel are 85,000 cars per day, which is down from an average of 110,000 cars who currently use the viaduct. KaDeena Yerkan with the communications team for the project says, “The bored tunnel would serve this through traffic, and estimates show that 85,000 vehicles would use a non-tolled bored tunnel when it opens in 2015. This amount would change if the tunnel is tolled. The remaining viaduct traffic into and out of downtown would use a new Alaskan Way, with a connection to Elliott and Western avenues, and other city streets.”
This coming Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m., there will be a hearing at Ballard High School (1418 NW 65th St) to discuss the entire project and the SDEIS. The meeting will be open-house style with display boards and staff to answer questions. Attendees will be able to leave make comments. (Full disclosure: The Federal Highway Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation and the City of Seattle are sponsors of MyBallard.)