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Seattle facing 9 day grid lock

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  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Seattle facing 9 day grid lock
Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 6:41 PM

Beginning Fri Oct 21 thru Oct 29 the  Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for repairs. Sound transit and link are anticipating exceptional loads with all park and ride expected to fill rapidly.

Unfortunately at present the Sounder trains will not operate on the weekends or with extra sections thru the week. Not knowing the layout of the closure road how it will affect the I-5 corridor is unknown??

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 2,593 posts
Posted by PNWRMNM on Thursday, October 20, 2011 7:32 AM

Streak.

The Alaska Way Viaduct runs north-south along the waterfront, that is west of downtown. I-5 runs North-South at the east edge of downtown. My prediction is that most viaduct traffic will move over to I-5.  Your headline will likely prove correct.

Also, they have been arguing for years how to replace/rebuild Alaska Way Viaduct, which is older and probably less earthquake resistant than the similar structure in Oakland CA that collapsed during the Bay Area's last notable earthquake. Tons of newsprint has been consumed locally on that issue.

Mac

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Seattle facing 9 day grid lock
Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, October 20, 2011 7:56 AM

[quote user="PNWRMNM"]

Streak.

The Alaska Way Viaduct runs north-south along the waterfront, that is west of downtown. I-5 runs North-South at the east edge of downtown. My prediction is that most viaduct traffic will move over to I-5.  Your headline will likely prove correct.

Also, they have been arguing for years how to replace/rebuild Alaska Way Viaduct, which is older and probably less earthquake resistant than the similar structure in Oakland CA that collapsed during the Bay Area's last notable earthquake. Tons of newsprint has been consumed locally on that issue.

Mac

[/quote

MAC:  Thanks for the clarification.  Have seen that viaduct many times thought it was I-5. I agree that it looked rather flimsy compared to the collasped I-880 in  Oakland. Keep us informed as to the traffic situation and how sound transit handles the overloads. 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 2,593 posts
Posted by PNWRMNM on Thursday, October 20, 2011 12:08 PM

Streak,

I will have a hard time reporting Seattle traffic problems from Holly Spings MS.

Mac

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Seattle facing 9 day grid lock
Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, October 31, 2011 7:28 PM

Sound transit reports that delays were not completely grid locked.  Guess good planning wins out.

http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/Region-still-moves-with-viaduct-closed-1031.xml 

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