On Saturday, February 2, 2019, the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which had closed to automobile traffic in January, was reopened one last time so the people of Seattle could walk along its craggy surface and say goodbye.
The Seattle Waterfront Webcam owners were there documenting our 3 p.m. walk for posterity. Here are our favorite images from that very special day. The crowds were estimated at 70,000 people!
- Viaduct Walk February 2, 2019
- Seneca Street Sign, Off-Ramp, and Crowds February 2, 2019
- Viaduct Walk Overlooking Pier 55 and Pier 56
Viaduct Walk Overlooking Pier 54 and the Container Port Looking South
- Viaduct Walk City Block View Up Madison Street
- Viaduct Walk City Block View Between Spring and Seneca Streets
- The following four screen shots were taken from the Seattle Waterfront Webcam Timelapse Video the day after the Viaduct Walk. Historic photos of a once-in-a-lifetime event!
- 12:38 p.m.: Viaduct Walk Before Start
- 1:00: People Walking the Viaduct and Seattle Great Wheel
- 3:08: Viaduct Walk Dramatic Clouds, Ferry, and Seattle Great Wheel
- 4:50: People Walking the Viaduct, Ferry, and Seattle Great Wheel
On Thursday, May 30, 2019, around 2:00 p.m., Washington State Department of Transportation crews began demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct at the foot of Union Street, well within the eye of the Seattle Waterfront Webcam. The crews had been working north, so May 30 was the day they finally arrived.
We had watched with great anticipation as the big crushers, bulldozers, and hose machines started working on the top deck of the Viaduct at Union Street.
- Demolition Day 3:54 p.m.
Here is a “before” photo taken on the morning of May 30, six hours before demolition at the foot of Union Street began. You can see the big AQUARIUM sign in Day-Glo green.
- 8:38 a.m.: A Seagull Swoops in Six Hours Before Union Street Demo Begins
- 1:48 p.m.: Demo Begins!
- 2:16 p.m.
- 3:54 p.m.
- 4:32 p.m.
- 6:54 p.m.: Work on the First Demolition Day is Complete!
- 9:10 p.m.
- 11:00 p.m.
Here are dramatic before-demolition and after-demo detail shots taken one year apart.
Seattle Waterfront Webcam Detail Shot July 2018
Seattle Waterfront Webcam Detail Shot July 2019
If you want to see an amazing Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) time-lapse video of the demolition of the Viaduct from July 2019, click here.
In addition to watching the Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition taking place at the foot of Union Street, Spencer and I often walked down to Seneca Street to watch the take-down of the Seneca Street off-ramp.
As a reminder, here is the “before” shot taken on Saturday, February 2, 2019.
- Seneca Street Sign, Off-Ramp, and Crowds 02 02 2019
The photos below show the dramatic changes from Saturday, June 1 until Saturday, June 8. Not much is left of the old off-ramp!
- Seneca Street Off-Ramp June 1, 2019
- Seneca Street Off-Ramp June 8, 2019
- Seneca Street Off-Ramp and Great Wheel June 8, 2019
- Seneca Street Off-Ramp As Seen From Alaskan Way June 8, 2019
The following 10 photos show results of part of the demolition of the Seneca Street off-ramp during the Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition. We were fascinated by the big pieces of equipment that took down the giant structure as well as the resulting pieces of debris.The gnarled pieces of iron and chunks of concrete speak to the immensity and strength of the 66-year-old structure. And, if you look closely, they almost like pieces of art with their intricate patterns and varying textures.
It seems that others find beauty among the remains of the Viaduct, as several craftspeople in the Pike Place Market are making jewelry and trinkets from its pieces. Christina and Ron Sabando, owners of Sabando Design, select stone, rock, and cement, which they then polish and set as centerpieces of jewelry.
Patty Roberts (Falcorations Odyssey) uses pieces of the Viaduct to paint miniature creatures and scenes. These artisans can be found in the Pike Place Market daystalls on most weekdays.
While they are but remnants of what used to serve as a major roadway through Seattle, they are beautiful in their own singular way.
In photography, photographs of these sorts of structures are called ruins photography or ruin porn, which Wikipedia defines this way:
“Ruins photography refers specifically to the capture of urban decay and decline in the post-industrial zones of the world.”
If you are intrigued, you can find more examples on my Braiden Blossoms website in the category I call, “Remains.”
Viaduct Remains One
Viaduct Remains Two
Viaduct Remains Three
Viaduct Remains Four
Viaduct Remains Five
Viaduct Remains Six
Viaduct Remains Seven
Viaduct Remains Eight
Viaduct Remains Nine
Viaduct Remains Ten
RIP, Alaskan Way Viaduct!
And if you are interested in more detailed information about the Alaskan Way Viaduct project, have a look at WSDOT’s website.