SEATTLE — The Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle will reopen at mid-day Saturday, ending traffic congestion drivers call “viadoom” a day-and-a-half early, transportation officials said Friday.
Demolition, striping and other work for a bypass on the south part of the viaduct were ahead of schedule, said Washington Transportation Department spokesman Travis Phelps. The viaduct is one of three main north-south routes through the metro area and typically carries 110,000 vehicles a day.
Transportation officials had advised drivers to change their hours or take buses, light rail and the Elliott Bay water taxi. Traffic congestion appeared worse generally throughout the Seattle area, especially during the afternoons, Phelps said, and long backups were common on Interstate 5 and surface streets as drivers fumed.
But the congestion after the viaduct was shut down on Oct. 21 was not as bad as some feared. “All in all, drivers did a good job of finding alternate rountes,” Phelps said.
This week’s work is part of a $3.1 billion project to replace the aging elevated section of Highway 99 with a tunnel under downtown Seattle.
The early opening should be good news for traffic for a University of Washington football game Saturday at Husky Stadium and a Seahawks game Sunday at CenturyLink Field, which is adjacent to the viaduct.
A southbound viaduct ramp to the stadium won’t reopen until early Monday because of work, Phelps said.
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