Results tagged “Viaduct” from Belltowner

Oh boy, and we thought downtown parking was bad now. It's only a matter of time until the ever sinking Viaduct is closed down for replacement. To deal with the extra traffic, transportation experts recommend the city eliminate street parking through the heart of the downtown core, from Belltown's busy First Avenue all the way to Sixth Avenue.

If the plan is approved, parking spaces could be closed just during peak hours. The hope is that commuters would rely more on garages and mass transit.

Well at least its good news for the ridiculously overly priced public parking lots. They're going to be making some serious bank.

The Alaskan Way viaduct continues to "settle" before our very eyes since it's initial damage caused by an earthquake about 7 years ago, but state transportation officials insist everything is going to be ok.

An inspection conducted last weekend revealed that it had "settled" another 3/8 of an inch, which brings the total to about 5 1/2 inches between Columbia Street and Yesler Way.

Deputy Transportation Secretary David L. Dye says the latest settling has not caused any additional damage and that repairs to strengthen four column foundations should keep the viaduct safe until 2012, when it is scheduled to be demolished.

"We've never felt safe driving on the viaduct," Seattlest writes of the situation, "New steel rods and the continued declaration of 'it's safe, it's safe, we swear! don't mind the settling...' doesn't do much to ease those fears."

I'm going to have to agree, I'm definitely a little freaked out myself, regardless of their attempts of sugar-coating the situation by referring to the viaduct as "settling".

Here is a shot taken by Kim today at Seattle Daily Photo of the viaduct through Belltown.

"I always like seeing the two buildings at center which slope and draw the eye up along their stacked atria (can you see the trees peeking out the skylights?)" writes Kim of her photo.