WSDOT Selects Kiewit to Tear Down Alaskan Way Viaduct

Tue June 05, 2018 - West Edition #12
WSDOT

The temporary Alaskan Way surface street will move west of the viaduct with two lanes open in each direction along Seattle’s waterfront. (WSDOT photo)

Thomas and John streets will be reconnected over three blocks of a rebuilt Aurora Avenue North.
(WSDOT photo)

The demolition of Seattle's aging Alaskan Way Viaduct is finally in view.

On May 16, the Washington State Department of Transportation selected Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. to demolish the viaduct, decommission the Battery Street Tunnel and reconnect city surface streets just north of the nearly complete State Route 99 tunnel.

The design-build contract, which requires the contractor provide both design and construction services of the job, is valued at $93.7 million. Kiewit submitted the “apparent best value” bid — a combination of points received for its technical proposal and its price.

“We are excited to be so close to removing the seismically vulnerable viaduct and ushering in a new era on Seattle's waterfront,” said Brian Nielsen, WSDOT's Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program administrator. “It will be challenging to tear down a major highway in the heart of a booming city but we're looking forward to getting it done safely and as quickly as possible.”

Timelines for the work will emerge after the contract is finalized and the contractor receives approval to begin design work. After that point, WSDOT will be able to share more specifics about how demolition and decommissioning will proceed.

What's Ahead This Year

Based on the tunnel contractor's current schedule, WSDOT anticipates the new SR 99 tunnel could open as soon as this fall.

By then, the temporary Alaskan Way surface street will move west of the viaduct with two lanes open in each direction along Seattle's waterfront.

Before the tunnel opens, WSDOT must permanently close the Alaskan Way Viaduct to realign SR 99 and the ramps at the tunnel portals.

After the viaduct permanently closes, contractors could begin limited demolition work in late 2018.

Future Work

The majority of viaduct demolition work will occur in 2019.
It will take up to two years to remove equipment and fill in the Battery Street Tunnel. During this time, there will also be utility improve-ments made along Battery Street.
Thomas and John streets will be reconnected over three blocks of a rebuilt Aurora Avenue North.

Today's top stories

Florida's Sarasota Bradenton International Airport Sees $105M Terminal Expansion

Louisville Pump Station Receives $230M Update

Rokbak Haul Track Telematics Boost Uptime With Proactive Maintenance

SISO Air, InTerra Form Strategic Reseller Agreement

Hitachi Construction Machinery Wins Silver in 2024 Anthem Award

Balfour Beatty's Carolinas Operations Selected for Over $36M in Special Project Works

Caterpillar to Spotlight 'Next 100 Years' at CES 2025

Liebherr to Exhibit at World of Concrete 2025

Read more about...

Alaska Alaskan Way Viaduct Infrastructure Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. WASHINGTON Washington State Department of Transportation

Our Main Office

Construction Equipment Guide
470 Maryland Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034
800-523-2200

About Us

Construction Equipment Guide covers the nation with its four regional newspapers, offering construction and industry news and information along with new and used construction equipment for sale from dealers in your area. Now we extend those services and information to the internet. Making it as easy as possible to find the news and equipment that you need and want.

Contents Copyrighted 2024, by Construction Equipment Guide, which is a Registered Trademark, registered in the U.S. Patent Office. Registration number 0957323. All rights reserved, nothing may be reprinted or reproduced (including framing) in whole or part without written permission from the publisher. All editorial material, photographs, drawings, letters, and other material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to Construction Equipment Guide’s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. Contributor articles do not necessarily reflect the policy or opinions of this publication.

Read our privacy policy here.
Mastodon

\\ \\ \\