Pacific Northwest - Spokane/Alaskan Way Viaduct Construction

Note that SDOT has not published any bike-specific information for the Spokane Street Viaduct widening project although re-routes and construction will certainly affect the current bike route to/from West Seattle. I've refrained from comment right now...:twitchy:

If you haven’t read the entire document, these are quotes taken directly from the Viaduct replacement project http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/library-environmental.htm "Construction Effects & Mitigation."

Pgs 93-94: "During Stage 1, pedestrians and bicyclists would use the existing combined path south of Atlantic St. Between S. Atlantic & S. Royal Brougham, the path would cross under the existing viaduct and run along a temporary path east of the viaduct. North of S. Royal Brougham, the sidewalk on the west side of Alaskan would be closed and peds and bikes would be routed along the existing MUP. Signs would be posted to help direct peds and bikes through the construction zone.”
During the last 6 mos of Stage 1…bikes using the bike lane on Alaskan could be detoured, as will vehicular traffic…to Atlantic, Royal Brougham, and 1st Ave S. Bikes would have the option of sharing the road with vehicles on the detour routes or using the existing MUP on the east side of Alaskan.”
During Stages 2-4, a combined pedestrian/bike path would be provided on the west side of Alaskan, close to the existing sidewalk. The existing path located on the east side of Alaskan would be closed south of King Street…a connection would be provided to Atlantic…As in Stage 1, bikes would need to use the MUP or share the roadway…
During Stage 5, localized lane closures would be required for final paving and striping. Bikes and peds may be detoured to other routes for brief periods…”

Pg 96: “During much of the construction period, the bike lane on Alaskan south of Royal Brougham would be removed. Bikes would use the shared MUP, although some may opt to share the roadway with vehicles. This would increase the potential for vehicle-bike conflicts…”

Pg 99: “Trucks traveling to and from the staging areas and work zones are expected to use established truck routes, including 1st Ave S…(referring to game/special events traffic) conditions would likely be worse during construction…traffic disruption caused by construction would also effect traffic conditions on nearby local streets. Some drivers would choose to divert to alternate routes. In particular 1st Ave S…”

Pg 119: “The Jack Perry Memorial Viewpoint, Waterfront Bike/Ped Facility, and the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail would be affected during construction…could include noise, blocked and cluttered views, dust, traffic delays, and congestion. Construction would make it more difficult for people to reach parks and recreational facilities and to travel within the project area once they arrive…During construction, the Waterfront bike/ped facility along Alaskan would be removed. Until the new pathway is complete, bikes and peds would use alternate routes such as 1st Ave S…people using the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail along Atlantic west of 1st would also be required to use an alternate route during construction. The experience of bicyclists and peds on the alternative routes would likely be less scenic and perhaps less conducive to recreational (use) than existing pathways.”

I ride Alaskan from Royal Brougham to the turn at Pier 70. This construction is going to be the pits. Combined bike/ped paths DON'T WORK, especially in that area. Have you ever seen how many bikes a ferry can disgorge?

bummer I hadent heard about this, it will make my last few miles way more stressfull riding with traffic.

I just found out that they are digging up part of Spokane Street starting in August:..."Consultants who attended last night’s SWDC meeting on behalf of the city said some of the first work you’ll see will be in August, when a water main will be replaced on a section of lower Spokane Street; the first longterm closure is scheduled to be eastbound Spokane, for about a year and a half starting in fall."

Detour will be
Eastbound traffic, north via East Marginal Way to Hanford, then to 1st Ave. S to Lander to cross the tracks.

This means traffic will be HEAVY from Spokane to Lander, the major cross getting from West Seattle to the northbound bike lane on the east side of Alaskan. Those heading north from south of Spokane St will likely encounter much heavier traffic.

There's a map at this link: http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=7504

Sept. 8th: Spokane St. Viaduct
South Spokane St will be closed to eastbound traffic between 1st and 5th Avenues beginning Monday September 8th. This closure will enable Seattle Public Utilities’ contractor to relocate a 30 inch diameter water-main in preparation for SDOT’s work on the new eastbound off-ramp at 4th Ave S.

Access to businesses on Spokane between 1st and 2nd Avenues will be maintained throughout construction, but no through traffic will be possible between 2nd and 5th Avenues. This closure will remain in effect until mid-2010, shortly before completion of the new eastbound off ramp. Electronic messaging signs will be placed this week at 1st and Spokane emphasizing the 9/8 closure. In addition, construction activities will preempt the parking between 2nd and 5th under the Spokane Street Viaduct. “No Parking” signage will be placed to take effect 9/8 and vehicles in violation from that date forward will be towed.

This re-route will affect all traffic that regularly uses the Spokane/Marginal interchange, including bicycles. Note that SDOT has not published any bike-specific information pertaining to those headed to/from downtown Seattle for the Spokane Street Viaduct widening project although re-routes and construction will certainly affect the current bike route to/from West Seattle. Traffic will likely be HEAVY at times from Spokane to Hanford, crossing the major bike route from West Seattle to the northbound bike lane on the east side of Alaskan. If you cross Marginal at Spokane St, S Hinds St, S Horton St, or S Hanford St, or use Marginal south of Spokane St, you will be most likely encountering a more highly trafficked Marginal Way, and have more encounters with auto traffic. The city seems to have done minimal planning when it comes to routing bikes through the area even though it has the 3rd highest bike traffic counts into the city. (For those bicyclists that use Spokane St eastbound, bike traffic will be routed along the vehicle detour path. The south sidewalk along Spokane Street can be used by bikes as well.) For more information: www.seattle.gov/Transportation/spokanestreet.htm

Sept. 12th: Alaskan Way Viaduct
Whoo-boy. Just when I thought I was caught up. Just received this information from SDOT today (I see WSB has it as well) regarding the upcoming start of construction on the ALASKAN WAY Viaduct (as opposed to the Spokane St. Viaduct work). Not sure if the relocation will directly affect traffic patterns yet, but we can only assume "yes." I noticed on my way home last night that the east parking lot at the corner of Spokane St/Marginal Way was being blacktopped. This is a major staging area for Viaduct work and expect even more traffic in/out of that lot, of which the bike route crosses. Watch out for a.m. traffic around that area Friday, Sept 12th. Here's what I received:

WSDOT, King County, and the City of Seattle will break ground on Friday, Sept. 12 for the S. Massachusetts Street to Railroad Way S. Electrical Line Relocation Project. In this project, crews will move power lines now attached to the viaduct to underground locations south of the stadiums. Doing so will better protect the city’s power supply in an earthquake and prepare us to take down the southern mile of the viaduct between S. Holgate and S. King streets starting in 2009. Guest speakers include WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond and Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco.

We hope to see you there!
9 – 10 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 12
In the parking lot on the east side of the viaduct, between S. Royal Brougham Way and S. Atlantic Street

To learn more about the electrical line relocation project, please visit our Web site at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/electrical.htm

My commuting fantasy would be to have a contiguous bike trail from the Interurban/Dumwamish trail that connects with the Alaskan Way trail.

1st Ave from E. Marginal to Spokane St. was recently repaved (I can safely ride a road bike through there now ;)), but now Spoke St. will be closed for 2 years. My other alternative is Airport Way, but the pavement is rougher and the shoulder is inconsistent.

Yes, it's going to be messy. I think you should be able to use 1st Ave South at least, but you won't be able to continue over Spokane Street south. Wait another year until BOTH viaducts are under construction. It's going to just get better and better. :( We'll end up with a nice bike route, I think, in the end, so long as it doesn't keep crossing the train tracks like it seems to be planned. Can you imagine being caught by the trains and by the lower level bridge being raised? Likely many will end up on the streets anyway.

From the West Seattle Blog: Closure of lower EB Spokane pushed back to Sept 16th.
Parking will still be eliminated below the bridge on the 8th, and the work on the Alaskan Way Viaduct will still begin on the 12th.

If you use lower Spokane Street from 1st eastward (usually accessed by West Seattleites getting off the Spokane Street Viaduct at 1st Avenue So.), listen up: The city has just pushed back the start date for that street closure (and the above detour) till week after next, though a parking change WILL kick in next Monday, according to Elaine Yeung:

From a meeting this morning, we found out that we will not be closing eastbound S Spokane St until September 16th. The reason is that currently the re-paving work on 1st Ave S, south of S Spokane St is using eastbound S Spokane St as a detour route, and they will not be finished until a week later than we had expected.

To enable the contractor to stage and mobilize equipment, there will be no parking beneath the (Spokane Street) viaduct between 2nd and 4th beginning on Monday, September 8th

The closure will be for utility work that marks the start of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, which will double the width of the elevated roadway between 99 and I-5, plus change the ramp configuration, over the next three years.