Inspection
November 7, 2010
UBIT
I was able to get a first-hand look at the Alaskan Way Viaduct during the semi-annual inspection on October 16 & 17. WSDOT led the media and public on tours during the closure and completed necessary maintenance and preservation work on the road. Inspection crews use a fascinating piece of equipment called a UBIT to get a closer look – that’s an Under Bridge Inspection Truck to anyone not in the industry.
In the report released on October 22, survey crews found no new structural damage though a column near Yesler way had settled a half-inch since July 2010. The settlement is considered to be very minor and well below the safety threshold of six inches. Alaskan Way Viaduct Program Administrator Ron Paananen said “While this settlement is minor, it’s a reminder that we must press on with replacing this vulnerable structure.”
UBIT truck examines the Viaduct
Closed
Media & Public Tour
Alaskan Way Viaduct
March 8, 2010
Seneca street off-ramp
Aerial View
Deconstructing the Viaduct
March 8, 2010
As Seattle prepares to finally demolish the viaduct, I’m working on a project on the city’s long and complex relationship with the controversial highway. The Bakun building, at the foot of Pike Place Market, was built in 1925 – the Alaskan Way Viaduct, completed in 1953 extends overhead.
The Bakun building built in 1925
