Viaduct to be closed this weekend for inspection

SEATTLE — The Washington State Department of Transportation will close the Alaskan Viaduct for its twice-yearly inspection this weekend.

The northbound lanes close Friday at 11 p.m. and will be closed all weekend until Monday at 5 a.m.

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Southbound lanes close from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, but will be open in the evenings.

The closure is between South Spokane Street and the north end of the Battery Street Tunnel.

Inspections happen every October and March ever since the 2001 earthquake that caused widespread cracking and about six inches of sinking to the viaduct.

WSDOT says the closure is a little different from past inspections.  The northbound SR 99 closure starts earlier and lasts longer than typical inspection closures. This will allow the SR 99 tunnel contractor, Seattle Tunnel Partners, time to complete tunnel-related work.

The viaduct was built in the 50s and WSDOT says it's outlived its lifespan.

Demolition is expected to happen next year, with the new tunnel designed to bypass downtown to open in 2019.

Cox Media Group