'Challenging' Part Of Viaduct Removal Begins In Pioneer Square

SEATTLE, WA — Anyone who's ever driven along the Alaskan Way Viaduct knows how close the road was built to downtown buildings, especially in Pioneer Square. This week, demolition crews will start munching the viaduct in that area, and it's being called one of the most challenging parts of the whole project.

The Pioneer Square part of the demolition will take place between the Colman Dock ferry terminal and Dearborn Street, and drivers should expect more congestion in that area. Alaskan Way will be cut down to two lanes, and cross streets from Pioneer Square will be closed off.

"In some places the viaduct sits extremely close to nearby buildings. In those tight locations, demolition teams will saw-cut the structure and lift large pieces with cranes," WSDOT wrote in a blog post about the project. "It’s a large and challenging undertaking, one of the toughest jobs these seasoned crews have ever experienced."

As of July 15, the viaduct had been fully removed between Yesler Way and University Street. Except for the section in Pioneer Square, the Seattle waterfront is viaduct-free for the first time since the 1950s.

The demolition work began in mid-February, and is supposed to take about six months, putting the completion date sometime in August.

Here's a new video WSDOT product about the demolition contractor, Kiewit.