JAKE,
JAKE, GOOD MORNING. >> Reporter: GOOD MORNING.
THESE NEW DELAYS NOW PUSH THE
TUNNEL PROJECT TO MORE THAN
THREE YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE.
IT IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
YOU HAVE ALL OF THE WATERFRONT
CONSTRUCTION DOWN HERE.
NEW SIGNALS ARE READY FOR WHEN
THE PROJECT IS OVER.
THE VIADUCT, WHICH IS JUST
SITTING HERE , THE DELAYS IN
TESTING IS CAUSING A LOT OF
ISSUES PUSHING THINGS BACK.
CREWS DON'T WANT TO PUSH BACK
THE DEMOLITION OF THE VIADUCT
INTO THANKSGIVING AND
CHRISTMAS.
CHRISTMAS. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE WAITING
UNTIL JANUARY PAST HOLIDAY
SEASON.
SEASON.
SEASON. OTHER THAN THAT, THIS NEW
UPDATE THAT WE HAVE REVEALS 80%
OF THE TUNNEL TESTING IS
FINISHED.
FINISHED.
FINISHED. MANY OF THE STREETS, INCLUDING
ALASKAN WAY, HAVE NEW
STOPLIGHTS.
STOPLIGHTS. THEY HAVE IT FENCED OFF AND
READY TO GO.
THE SERVICE OF ALASKAN WAY WILL
BE SHIFTED WEST FROM THE SHADOW
OF THE VIADUCT AND WE OPENED
WITH TWO LANES IN EACH
DIRECTION.
DIRECTION. THAT WILL GIVE PEOPLE A BETTER
PLACE TO GO WHEN THAT JANUARY
11 DATE ROLLS AROUND.
THE VIADUCT SOUTHBOUND BY THE
STADIUM WILL CLOSE A WEEK
BEFORE THAT VIADUCT CLOSES
FOREVER, SO THAT CREWS CAN
COMPLETE TUNNEL CONNECTIONS
THERE.
THERE.
THERE. AFTER THE TUNNEL OPENS,
CONSTRUCTION CREWS WILL NEED
TWO MORE WEEKS TO COMPLETE A
NORTHBOUND OVERPASS NEAR
DEARBORN STREET.
DEARBORN STREET. ALL OF YOU DRIVING FROM WEST
SEATTLE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH
SOUTHLAKE UNION BEFORE YOU CAN
GET OFF.
GET OFF.
GET OFF. IT IS A MASSIVE PROJECT.
RAIN COULD CHANGE THE DATES
HERE, BUT THE RAINY SEASON IN
OUR AREA, THE BULK OF THE RAIN
IS IN NOVEMBER.
THERE ARE NOT AS MANY DELAYS
POSSIBLE IN JANUARY.
THE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION SAYS
THERE IS A LONG-STANDING
TRADITION OF NOT HAVING
CONSTRUCTION DOWNTOWN DURING
THE HOLIDAYS.
THE HOLIDAYS. >> IT IS IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW? YOU HAVE LOTS OF HOLIDAY
PARTIES AND PEOPLE SHOPPING.
YOU HAVE LOTS OF FOLKS COMING
TO SPEND A WEEKEND OR A FEW
NIGHTS DOWNTOWN DURING THE
HOLIDAYS.
HOLIDAYS.
HOLIDAYS. >> IS GOING TO BE A BIG IMPACT
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY
ARE READY TO GO AND PREPARING
FOR REALLY THE MADNESS THAT CAN
HAPPEN.
HAPPEN.
HAPPEN. AGAIN, IT IS THREE WEEKS
WITHOUT A VIADUCT AND WITHOUT
A TUNNEL AS CREWS CONNECT
EVERYTHING TO PREPARE FOR THE
FINAL PROJECT.
FINAL PROJECT. CREWS SAY PREPARE FOR ANYTHING.
START THINKING ABOUT YOUR PLAN
NOW.
NOW.
NOW. >>>
NOW. >>> THOSE OF YOU IN WEST
SEATTLE HAVE PROBABLY BEEN
DREADING THE HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE
AND EYING THE WATER TAXI
WONDERING IF IT IS A GOOD
OPTION FOR YOU.
I WAS WONDERING IF THE COUNTY
IS PLANNING ON ADDING ANY
ADDITIONAL BOAT AND IF THERE IS
ANY CAPACITY AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW
. THE KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION SAYS ON THEIR
EXISTING VESSEL, WE ARE SHOWING
THAT WE WOULD HAVE 50 TO 60%
AVAILABLE CAPACITY ON OUR 278
PASSENGER VESSEL.
PASSENGER VESSEL. WE WILL BE PROVIDING A SECOND
VESSEL DURING THE CLOSURE, AND
IT WILL HOLD 148. THEY WILL
LEASE PARKING LOTS TO MAKE IT
EASIER TO PARK AND GET TO THE
WATER TAXI.
WATER TAXI. IT COULD MAKE THINGS A LOT MORE
PLEASANT.
PLEASANT.
PLEASANT. >> SO, THINK ABOUT THE WINTER
MONTHS.
MONTHS.
MONTHS. THERE CAN