Alaskan Way Viaduct

Scary, unsafe. the views are awesome though

Oh Viaduct.
Sometimes when I am riding on you, I think about what would happen when the earthquake comes, and you collapse. Then, I have to stop so I don’t become fearful of driving on the best way to go north-​to-​south in Seattle! Seriously, I-​5 is always getting backed up because, I don’t know, someone stepped on their brakes for 0.1 seconds.
But really, I take the viaduct as a rule to travel across Seattle, and it also comes with amazing views! I do worry once (if they ever get Bertha going and the tunnel completed) the viaduct goes away if it will still be as easy to travel across Seattle. Let’s hope so!

This Viaduct is way too long in my opinion. Also, it’s funny that I am able to write a review of a transportation structure. It’s amazing.

This has always been my favorite part about driving into Seattle when I visit. I just love being able to look one way and see all through the city and then the other way and see the gorgeous Elliot Bay.
I understand that it’s unsafe and that the tunnel will be more structurally sound, but I will certainly miss the beauty of the viaduct and the butterflies I get while driving Alaskan Way into my favorite city in the world.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who has reviewed the viaduct positively! Living in the southend, Aurora is the a great way to bypass I-​5 – when there isn’t a game going on at one of the stadiums.
Coming from the south, I jump off of Edgar Martinez Way from I-​5 and rocket north onto the Viaduct. Unless I’m in a giant hurry, I never mind being slowed here: the views of the Seattle skyline are gorgeous during the day and night. It sounds weird, but I feel like a part of the city as I drive along the Viaduct. Sometimes, I sing Under the Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
And tell me you don’t feel like Tron as you enter the tunnel; taking a small cautious breath before you enter and whip around the hidden corners. Exciting.
I also have fond memories of fun runs, where they close down the viaduct for runners (St. Paddy’s Dash!)
If you haven’t opted to take 99 from this particular junction, you should. It’s like opening your eyes and visually taking a big bite of the city.

I LOVE the Viaduct — it provides me with a great beautiful fast shortcut thru downtown! Oh, how I will miss thee when it’s gone (as will the rest of my fam).

SCARRRRY! I only pray I’m not on when the earthquake hits.

I appreciate using 99.
I will review the misuse of money and bad planning in a 1 star review elsewhere.

I have visuals of the upper part of the viaduct collapsing on my car as I head south. Sometimes I actually think I can see the thing starting to shake. Then I hit the gas and try to get out from under it as soon as possible.
On the plus side, it gets me where I need to go!

Is the viaduct really safe… NO
Can Seattle survive by just using I-5…NO
Save the viaduct, don’t kill it!

Fear factor 5. Nothing like playing quake roulette everytime you cross.

waterfront that the public can only enjoy for the 2 months of sunlight we get every year? what about the other 10 months of rain? California wanna be environmentalists that can’t take the weather as it comes so they’d have one less thing to complain about.
‘You ain’t artsier than me…
I recycle too… I’m kinda like you
I just look cleaner. grown demeanor
wear deoderant… registered voter and
tree hugger too… not in these clothes
me lovin you but it’s gotta be both ways’
fair is fair, even if its not exactly what you want — the viaduct will always be loved by many.

First off, go drive on this thing before it gets torn down or collapses, the view on the top deck is really breathtaking, with the city right up against one side and the open bay with a clear view to the Olympics on the other. Awesome.
But seriously, watch the road too because the lanes here are significantly narrower than a regular freeway and there is NO shoulder. Alaskan Way is the scariest, shittiest part of Aurora, which is really saying a lot. Not to mention that this thing is a disaster waiting to happen, as well as ruining the entire waterfront by blocking the view to the city and smothering any attempt at serenity with its din.
Tunnels are the safest place to be during an earthquake because they move with the earth. If you have any doubt that they know how to build long, safe tunnels here, check out the Mercer Island tunnel or the Mount Baker tunnel, last time I checked they made it through the last quake unscathed.
The increase in land values from getting rid of this ear-​and-​eyesore will help pay for the tunnel. And there will be a tunnel, I don’t doubt it. My only worry is that they’ll fill the space up with ugly ass yuppy condos like Belltown’s waterfront. Better that and a tax hike than a ticking bomb though.

So the smarties at the state and local level are going to get rid of the viaduct. BAD MOVE… and now a tunnel. with 2 lanes both ways… BAD MOVE. 4.5 billion dollars for this tunnel. with schools closing, homeless shelters closing. BAD MOVE.
They want to have a beautiful park all along the waterfront. we have plenty of parks in the greater seattle area, BAD MOVE. Keep the viaduct up, for about ¼ the price. and oh yea dont get me started on how 1^st ave will be destroyed during the construction of the tunnel. BAD MOVE
This thinking is a act of desperation from the gov and mayor and others. This news leaves me in a BAD MOOD!

3 stars for convenience. It’s not safe and compatible to withstand a large earthquake. But it’s doeable.
2 star deduction for no-​reason traffic. Have you ever wondered why there’s so much traffic over nothing? I wonder that almost everyday. Traffic is unpredictable Tuesday thru Thursday heading northbound.
When there is a Seahawks or Mariners game or a Seahawks and Mariners game… stay away from the viaduct. Just stay away.

Never let this thing get torn down.
Patch, patch and then patch some more.
If we want to improve traffic let’s get real and tear down the Convention Center that caps I-​5 at two thru lanes through downtown. The viaduct is the relief valve for that bottleneck, not something that needs to be «beautified».

Its not the prettiest structure, but it serves is function. I do take it to work everyday. Its quick and generally moving at a good clip. Will I miss it when its gone? Is a bear Catholic in the Pope’s woods?.. wait how does that go…
Seriously The View is the seller on the Viaduct., especially northbound. Looking out over Elliot bay on a clear day the Olympics in the distance, The skyline unfolding in front of you. It just speaks Seattle. On a gray foggy morning watching the Ferries or Freighters break through the fog, the misty rain, the skyline scratching the clouds. It just Speaks Seattle. At night… The lights from the city, the black of the water… It just speaks Seattle.
Slap some more I beams and shore it up. It will last another few decades!

It’s a death trap. People always fear being on it in «the big one» but I don’t think it’s going to take that. Remember the Minnesota bridge collapse not-​so-​long-​ago?
Stay off the Viaduct, saving a few minutes isn’t worth your life.

I know everyone hates this thing, and i know they say that its unsafe, but i have to tell you theres just something about this thing that i love.
I work a morning job that i have to be at early (5am) and every morning i take the viaduct and every morning i fall in love with Seattle all over again.
It’s just the most beautiful site, theres barley any cars on the road and no one in the streets and the city is just vast and illuminates with such beauty. Sigh.

FIVE BIG STARS for the biggest drama queen in town.
She reigns over this city and cups the breast of downtown lovingly.
Hot.
She has the city council, the mayor, the state senate, and the governor all in check.
This girl has style and power both.
The view is pretty at the top, but she is fickle and may toss you off of her countenance when her legs get shakin’.
Look out for this girl. She’s nothing but trouble, but you may like it while it lasts.

While I’ve never heard that the field of geology is filled with the kind of people who will rush into burning buildings, there ARE many who climb erupting volcanoes, so it came as something of a shock to read that many area geologists won’t drive on the Viaduct. Excuse me? This little factoid has had me reciting Hail Marys, rubbing Buddha bellies, and praying to the earth shaking gods every time I approach the crumbling monstrosity. «please don’t let the Big One hit today at the very moment I’m driving over the shakiest structure in our fair city.»
Tear the damn thing down. Build a tunnel and open up the waterfront for recreation and development. Make it a world class waterfront instead of «the best we could do.» I know there are a lot of people with different opinions. In fact, I even find intriguing the idea of not replacing it with anything at all. After all, while construction is going on we won’t be able to drive on it for 3 YEARS. I think in that amount of time we will all have figured out alternate routes anyway. Do we really have to buld a new one? Wouldn’t you rather have a view from a park instead of a 50 mph through the concrete posts view?
Whatever happens, and whatever eventually replaces the Alaskan Way Viaduct (YEARS from now), I’ll still be performing my little ritual every time I can’t find an alternative way to risk my life.