PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA 
Item No.      7b 
Date of Meeting   May 10, 2011 
DATE:    May 4, 2011 
TO:      Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Mike Merritt, Local Government Relations 
SUBJECT:  Washington State Department of Transportation update on Alaskan Way Viaduct
and Seawall Replacement Program
BRIEFING OUTLINE: 
Representatives of WSDOT will brief the commission on progress of the Alaskan Way Viaduct 
replacement projects that are of particular interest to the Port of Seattle, its business tenants and
stakeholders. 
In January, WSDOT signed a contract with Seattle Tunnel Partners to design and build the SR 99
bored tunnel. The contractor team proposes to open the tunnel to traffic by late 2015, a full year
soon than anticipated. 
The first part of the Viaduct was demolished on February 18, the northbound ramp to SR 99 from
First Avenue S. This was a critical step in constructing a detour route to carry traffic as crews
demolish the southern end of the Viaduct starting in 2012. 
A major element of the program is coordination with the Port, City, King County and other agencies
to keep freight and people moving during the demolition and construction. The Port has been
closely engaged with the State on construction traffic and design issues, particularly as they affect
operations at Terminal 46 and our other facilities. 
To maintain traffic flows, roadway improvements have been made on the SR 519 connection to the
waterfront and the Fourth Avenue off-ramp from Spokane Street was completed. Bus service in the
downtown area has been increased and efforts are underway to encourage transit, carpools and
vanpools. The State and City have robust traffic and construction Web sites providing up-to-date
information to the public. 
Beginning May 16, both directions of the Alaskan Way Viaduct between Lander Street and
Seattle's stadiums will be reduced from three to two lanes. This is a critical step toward taking
down the seismically vulnerable southern mile of the viaduct within the next year. Alaskan Way S.
surface street will be closed in both directions between S. Atlantic Street and S. Royal Brougham
Way until at least 2013 for relocation of the BNSF SIG Yard tail track. 
OTHER DOCUMENTS FOR THIS BRIEFING: 
WSDOT PowerPoint presentation