SEATTLE (AP) — Sure, the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle will reopen a day and a half early, ending the traffic congestion dubbed ‘Viadoom.’ But first, drivers faced a Friday evening rush hour bedeviled by heavy rain, heavy traffic volumes and, yes, Viadoom.
At 4 p.m., the Washington Transportation Department advised that southbound Interstate 5 traffic from the north Seattle suburb of Mountlake Terrace to downtown Seattle was backed up about 14 miles, with an estimated travel time of more than 90 minutes. A longer evening southbound commute — from Everett to Seattle — typically takes 40 to 45 minutes.
I-5 and the viaduct are the two main north-south highways through Seattle.
Demolition and other work on the south part of the viaduct started last Friday evening. It’s now expected to reopen at mid-day Saturday, rather than early Monday.
