Seattle -- Crews demolished the first of several segments of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, an elevated freeway that has cut through Seattle's waterfront for the last five decades.

 

Years of wear and tear, earthquakes and the salty marine air have taken their toll on the structure and supporting seawall, which engineers concluded is too costly to retrofit.

 

“After a decade of talking about it, we’re starting to bring down the vulnerable viaduct before Mother Nature does it for us,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a news release. “This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the Nisqually earthquake and this significant milestone represents great partnership and progress for our region.”

The demolition kicks off a planned rejuvenation of Seattle's waterfront.

Seattle will replace the viaduct with a controversial bored tunnel running beneath the city.  It will also use the new space to make significant improvements to Seattle's waterfront, a design that is being headed up by James Corner Field Operations.

 

The waterfront will have over nine acres of new public spaces as well as improved pedestrian, bicycle and public transit access to the waterfront. To follow the project visit waterfrontseattle.org.