Date:
Friday, July 17, 2009
Contact:
KaDeena Lenz, Alaskan Way Viaduct Program, 206-267-3836; 206-437-5061 (cell)
Kristy Van Ness, Alaskan Way Viaduct Program, 206-382-6361; 206-300-4312 (cell)
SEATTLE – Parking in the SODO neighborhood just got a little easier. WSDOT completed demolition last week of two large buildings on state property near Qwest and Safeco fields. As a result, some parking closed during the project will reopen to the public for up to nine months, until heavy construction to replace the viaduct’s southern mile begins.
Private parking on the western half of the property, located west of First Avenue S. between S. Royal Brougham Way and Railroad Way S., remains closed while crews relocate electrical lines. WSDOT reopened the eastern half of the property for monthly and event parking, returning several hundred parking spots to the SODO area.
“We appreciate the patience of the SODO neighborhood during this work. The reopening of these parking spots will help people visiting Qwest or Safeco fields,” said Ron Paananen, WSDOT’s Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program Administrator.
WSDOT has used the 7.5-acre site for viaduct-related construction since fall 2008. It will serve as a construction staging area for a project to replace the southern mile of the viaduct between S. Holgate Street and S. King Street and later as the launch site for a tunnel-boring machine. Crews will spend the rest of the year relocating utilities in the area to prepare for construction of the viaduct’s south end replacement beginning in early 2010.
The S. Holgate Street to S. King Street project will ultimately connect to the proposed SR 99 bored tunnel, which will replace the central waterfront portion of the viaduct. In May Gov. Chris Gregoire signed legislation that provides funding for the bored tunnel. The program team is working on environmental review plans and other contracting work, so tunnel construction can begin in 2011.
For more information on the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program, visit www.alaskanwayviaduct.org.
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