Date:  Friday, September 12, 2008

Contact:
Emily Fishkin, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program, 206-267-6821 (Seattle), 206-437-5061 (cell)
Victoria Tobin, WSDOT Urban Corridors Office, 206-464-1184

Crews begin to relocate nearly a mile of electrical lines near the stadiums

SEATTLE – WSDOT, King County and the City of Seattle broke ground today on a project to relocate nearly one mile of electrical lines that are attached to the Alaskan Way Viaduct in preparation for removing the southern mile of the viaduct starting in 2009.

The electrical lines will be moved to underground locations just to the east of the viaduct near the stadiums. These lines must be relocated before work begins in 2009 to replace the viaduct south of King Street. Relocating the lines underground will also better protect the downtown power supply in an earthquake.

“This project is a major step for the south end reconstruction and it will ensure that the downtown power supply is safe in the event of an earthquake,” said Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond. “Construction is underway on the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The repairs to the columns near Pioneer Square are complete. Now we’re moving major electrical lines. We are committed to finishing the south end of the viaduct by 2012, when we’ll bring the central waterfront section down.”

During construction, drivers should expect occasional lane closures or traffic revisions on S. Atlantic Street, S. Royal Brougham Way, and S. Dearborn Street between First Avenue S. and Alaskan Way S. In addition, some parking near the sports stadiums will be removed in the area needed for construction.

This work will take approximately one year to complete and the approximately $17 million construction contract was awarded to Frank Coluccio Construction Company in July.

This is part of the six Moving Forward projects announced in March 2007 that will replace or repair about half of the seismically vulnerable Alaskan Way Viaduct by 2012. For more information, visit http://www.alaskanwayviaduct.org/

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