Transforming Transportation in Seattle

The Seattle underground scene has a new star: The Alaskan Way Tunnel, which improves the commute through the city’s downtown and paves the way for a revitalized public waterfront.
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©2019 WSP USA

WSP’s Mike Rigsby (right) shows his 4-year-old grandson the SR 99 tunnel, joining hundreds of others for a walk through before the tunnel opened to traffic.
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©2019 WSP USA

Ginette Lalonde and her children celebrate the grand opening of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program on Feb. 2.
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©WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The south portal to the new State Route 99 tunnel is now open to traffic, replacing the seismically vulnerable Alaskan Way Viaduct along the Seattle waterfront.
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©WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The completion of the Alaskan Way Viaduct program will create nine acres of revitalized open public space adjacent to the downtown Seattle waterfront.
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In 2009, then Washington Governor Chris Gregoire (seated) signed the budget bill for the AWV replacement program. She was joined at the time by (back, left to right) Rep. Judy Clibborn, House Transportation Committee chair; Paula Hammond, Washington State Secretary of Transportation; and Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, Senate Transportation Committee chair.
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©2012 WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Looking north along the State Route 99 in 2012, shortly before construction began on the tunnel, as preparations were being made for the arrival of Bertha at the tunnel boring machine launch site.