The Alaskan Way Viaduct

The Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement is a program that includes components led by the City of Seattle, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and King County.

After an open and transparent central waterfront process, Mayor Greg Nickels, Governor Gregoire and King County Executive Sims announced their recommendation that a bored tunnel, along with improvements to transit, city surface streets and the city’s waterfront, should replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct along the central waterfront.

To learn more about the agreement, please view the Letter of Agreement between the Governor, Executive and Mayor.

The central waterfront process was based on the State of Washington, King County, and the City of Seattle working together to find a solution for the central waterfront section of the viaduct. It included feedback from the Alaskan Way Stakeholder Advisory Committee, public meetings, feedback from various interest groups and nearly 1000 public comments.

To learn more about the central waterfront process, please review the step-by-step guide.

Bored Tunnel Alternative

The Federal Highway Administration, WSDOT and the City of Seattle, are developing a second Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the viaduct replacement. This document will build on previous environmental analysis of a cut-and-cover tunnel and an aerial structure and will look at the new bored tunnel alternative . The SDEIS will be published for public review in early 2010.

What other projects were included in the Letter of Agreement?

• Alaskan Way Seawall Replacement
• Alaskan Way Viaduct Surface Street and Waterfront Promenade
• Mercer Corridor Improvements
• Spokane Street Viaduct
• First Avenue Streetcar
• Moving Forward Projects