Alaskan Way Viaduct, Seattle

The Alaskan Way Viaduct, an elevated section of State Route 99 in Seattle, United States, was a notable feature of the city's waterfront for over six decades. This double-decked highway bridge played a critical role in the transportation infrastructure of Seattle, providing a north-south route along the downtown waterfront.

Constructed in the early 1950s, the Alaskan Way Viaduct spanned approximately 2.2 miles and was designed to alleviate traffic congestion caused by the myriad of railroad tracks that crisscrossed the city's central business district. Over the years, it became an essential thoroughfare for commuters and freight traffic alike, offering unimpeded views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains to those traveling its upper levels.

However, the viaduct's fate was sealed when it was damaged during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. Concerns about its structural integrity and the potential for catastrophic failure in the event of a more significant seismic event led to calls for its removal. After much debate and public discussion, the decision was made to replace the aging viaduct with a tunnel.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct was permanently closed to traffic in January 2019, and its subsequent demolition marked the end of an era for Seattle's cityscape. The removal of the viaduct was seen as an opportunity to revitalize the waterfront, opening up new possibilities for public spaces, parks, and economic development.