It’s a busy and hectic time in Seattle—the Period of Maximum Constraint! The Seattle Squeeze! Viadoom! Viafuct!—as we wait for the Alaskan Way Viaduct to switch over to the State Route 99 tunnel. But it’s only the beginning: After the switch happens, the viaduct will be demolished. After the tunnel’s open for a while, it’ll get some tolls. Meanwhile, all kinds of road and construction projects are happening, making this time all that much more harrowing exciting. Here’s what we know.
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The Alaskan Way Viaduct and State Route 99 Tunnel
The viaduct’s coming down and the tunnel’s opening up
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November 7, 2019
A quick guide to Seattle’s SR 99 tunnel
Everything you need to know about the toll road lurking beneath downtown.
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February 15, 2019
Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition officially begins
It started with a chunk of the Columbia Street onramp
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February 4, 2019
The last days of the Alaskan Way Viaduct
With final drives, walks, and rides, Seattleites sent off the aging highway.
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January 15, 2019
Bike commutes appear to spike after viaduct closure
At least three common commuter routes had their highest January days ever
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January 11, 2019
What public transportation is—and isn’t—doing during the Seattle Squeeze
As Seattle heads into a three-week traffic, there are some added transit options—and missed opportunities
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January 9, 2019
WSDOT digs up five-year-old tunnel onramp as opening day approaches
There’s a new onramp to the new tunnel—but it’s been here all along!
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January 8, 2019
Let’s revisit WSDOT’s terrifying Alaskan Way Viaduct earthquake simulation
It’s almost gone, so let’s take another peek
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January 8, 2019
Free waterfront bus service will run through 2019
The WSDOT-funded shuttles, which run from Pioneer Square to Seattle Center, now have three lines
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January 3, 2019
Historic photos show Seattle’s waterfront before the Alaskan Way Viaduct
A peek at a highway-free neighborhood
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January 2, 2019
Historic photos show a brand-new Alaskan Way Viaduct
The viaduct wasn’t always old and crumbling
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December 11, 2018
King County Metro’s ride-hailing service expands to West Seattle
By expanding its responsive shuttle service, Metro hopes to mitigate the coming State Route 99 closure
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November 15, 2018
Here’s how State Route 99 will be redirected through the tunnel
The whole process will take about three weeks
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November 1, 2018
Tunnel opening celebration is also a chance to say goodbye to the Viaduct
One last chance to walk, run, or ride this February
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October 31, 2018
Architecture firm imagines a forested future for downtown Seattle
A biophilic reimagining of public space adds greenery and streams
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October 22, 2018
New coalition pushes for deeper investment in Seattle’s transit
It’s called Move All Seattle Sustainably, or MASS
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August 21, 2018
The State Route 99 tunnel gets its stripes—and giant running stick figures
The tunnel could open this fall
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May 23, 2018
Here’s what State Route 99 tunnel tolls could look like
Tolls will likely be between $1 and $2.25—but the state is still working out timing
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March 27, 2018
The Battery Street Tunnel will become rubble storage, not public space
Dreams of adaptive reuse were dashed at this week’s City Council meeting
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March 27, 2018
With final piece of roadway in place, the SR 99 tunnel begins to take shape
There’s still a lot of work to do before the long-delayed tunnel opens to cars—but it’s getting there
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February 6, 2018
Watch the layers of the new Seattle downtown tunnel fill in Bertha’s pit
A new WSDOT video shows how the roadway stacks up
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January 25, 2018
New tool helps you keep track of all Seattle’s waterfront construction
What’s happening right now—and what’s happening in through 2023?
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January 19, 2018
Time lapse video shows SR 99 tunnel coming together
Watch the roadway being constructed
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November 3, 2017
SR 99 tunnel’s lower deck arrives as upper deck nears completion
The tunnel’s on track to open in 2019
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October 20, 2017
Tour the SR 99 tunnel in two-minute drone video
Travel the tunnel’s two-mile span a couple of years early.