Replacing our deteriorating seawall

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From the Office of Mayor Mike McGinn

Replacing our deteriorating seawall before it fails is one of the basic needs for our city. The seawall has deteriorated significantly over the last 70 years and could fail in the event of an earthquake or a large storm. By replacing the seawall we protect public safety, preserve transportation access to the core of our city, and support the businesses and workers who depend on the waterfront for their livelihood. One of the mayor’s first proposals after being inaugurated in 2010 was to fix the seawall.

It appears that support is now building for a November ballot measure to fund the seawall. We appreciate the close working relationship with the Council that has allowed us to get to this point. Once we win public support for a seawall financing plan, we will be able to move to the next phase, which gets more specific about the scope, cost, and timeline for financing future waterfront improvements.

Eastbound Traffic on Spokane Street Viaduct Shifts The Morning of April 12th

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Eastbound traffic on the Spokane St Viaduct will be temporarily shifted onto the adjacent new viaduct structure at 5 a.m. tomorrow,  morning, April 12.  The two lanes of eastbound traffic will join the two lanes of westbound traffic, which were moved over to the new structure late last year.  This shift of eastbound traffic is expected to remain in place until late this summer, when the Spokane St Viaduct Widening Project is substantially complete.

 

During the shift, the old viaduct structure surface can be repaired and resurfaced, after which eastbound traffic will be returned to the then refurbished structure.  During this temporary configuration, travel lanes will be 10 feet wide to accommodate four lanes of traffic.  Once eastbound traffic returns to the refurbished structure, all lanes will be 11 feet wide in the permanent configuration.  In the interim, the speed limit on the Spokane St Viaduct will be 25 MPH (down from 35 MPH) for safety.

 

Either (or both) the 1st or 4th Ave off-ramps will be open during this period.  During the initial phase of work starting April 12 and expected to last 6-8 weeks, the 4th Ave off-ramp will be closed to all traffic.  Motorists who would normally use this exit are encouraged to take the 1st Ave S off-ramp and then proceed east on lower Spokane St to Fourth Avenue S.

 

In addition, access to the eastbound Spokane Viaduct from the eastbound Harbor Island on-ramp will be restricted – the ramp will only provide access to northbound SR99—until the eastbound traffic is moved back onto the refurbished structure in the late summer.