Project benefits
The South Access — Surface Street Connections Project completed final roadway work associated with the SR 99 tunnel and Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition projects and built new pedestrian and bicycle amenities that connect Seattle’s stadiums with the waterfront. This was the final major project in the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program.
In this project, we built a plaza on Railroad Way South between Alaskan Way and Occidental Avenue South, creating a pedestrian corridor between the stadiums and the waterfront. A new east-west street, Charles Street, provides local access between First Avenue South and Occidental Avenue South. The project also included paving portions of First Avenue South and South Dearborn Street.
Construction began in July 2021 and concluded in April 2024.
Milestone
February 22, 2021
Project posted for advertisement
April 21, 2021
Project bids opened
July 2021
Construction began
April 2024
Construction complete
The $3.3 billion Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program (AWV) is funded by state, federal and local sources. The South Access — Surface Street Connections project, using state funds only, is part of the $2.15 billion SR 99 tunnel project of the AWV Program.
The scope of the South Access - Surface Street Connections Project includes paving First Avenue South near Lumen Field, and build a new pedestrian plaza where Railroad Way South once ran between Alaskan Way and Occidental Avenue South.
This project is one of the 30 projects in the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program.
The City of Seattle is leading the rebuilding of the new Alaskan Way in the footprint of the old viaduct, which will connect to the new pedestrian plazas being built as part of this project.
View program photos on WSDOT's Flickr page.
Watch program videos on WSDOT's YouTube channel.
