How To Use The New SR 99 Tunnel In Seattle

SEATTLE, WA - It's a tunnel, how hard could it be? It turns out, the new SR 99 tunnel is going to change a lot about the way you drive, even if you don't use the highway.

The most important thing to remember: there are no exits once you're in the tunnel. So if you get in the wrong lane, you might end up at the other end of the city. Access to SR 99 and the tunnel will also change. Luckily, WSDOT has created a few good videos to show you how to navigate into or around the tunnel.

Here's an overview of how access and egress will change with the opening of the SR 99 tunnel.

From the north

If you're coming from Shoreline or Edmonds, you'll have two choices when you get to South Lake Union. Once you cross Mercer Way, you can exit LEFT for Denny Way and downtown Seattle. The right two lanes will take you into the tunnel and spit you out at the stadiums.

When you leave the tunnel at the south end, you can either exit in the left lane for Royal Brougham Way and the stadiums or keep right for the West Seattle Bridge and all points south.

From the south

If you're coming up SR 99 from the south, you'll have a choice to make near the stadiums. You can keep left to go into the tunnel - and remember once you're in, the next exit isn't until South Lake Union - or you can exit right to Pioneer Square, the stadiums, and downtown Seattle.

Tunnel access from Seattle streets

What if you're leaving Seattle on SR 99? It's similar to when the Alaskan Way Viaduct was open.

For northbound access, you can use either Royal Brougham or Atlantic Street to get into the tunnel. Those are the same two streets that allowed northbound access to the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

If you're heading northbound from the South Lake Union area, head down Denny Way and then make either a left or right turn (depending on whether you're coming from east or west) onto Aurora Avenue - just like in the old days. Then you'll be on your way north toward North Seattle and Shoreline.

If you want to go south through the tunnel from South Lake Union, use either Denny or Harrison to access 6th Avenue. Near the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation building, you'll be able to take a right into the tunnel. You can also use Mercer to access 6th Avenue.

Image via WSDOT