Alaskan Way

Project Status

ABOUT THE PROJECT

With the removal of the Alaskan Way viaduct, Waterfront Seattle rebuilt Alaskan Way between S King and Pike streets, and has built a new street, Elliott Way, between Alaskan Way and Bell St. The 1950’s era, double-decker viaduct was a highway that divided the central business district and downtown from the waterfront.  This highway was noisy, added roadway debris, and impacted views, and blocked sunlight.   

The new surface street is a total length of 17 blocks from King St in Pioneer Square to Bell St in Belltown, with two lanes of traffic in either direction for the majority of the street. This street has the honorary name Dzidzilalich. Click here for more information about the honorary name. 

The new park promenade, and two-way protected bike path are located along the west side of Alaskan Way.  On the east side of the street, users enjoy wider sidewalks with ample street trees and landscaping.   

The southern section of Alaskan Way includes dedicated lanes for transit in and out of downtown, as well as lanes for ferry queuing onto Colman Dock. The project also rebuilt Seneca St between Western Ave and Alaskan Way and Columbia St between 1st Ave and Alaskan Way with new parking, landscaping, and lighting. 

This project adds:  

  • Connections to park spaces, the promenade, restaurants, stores and neighborhoods
  • Raised street crossings and widened sidewalks on the east side for pedestrians
  • More than 500 new street trees, extensive landscaping, and green stormwater infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff on-site 
  • Pedestrian and roadway lighting 

In addition to Alaskan Way, the project built the Elliott Way, bridge.  This new connection between the waterfront and Belltown, from Alaskan Way near Pine St to Bell St, includes two vehicle lanes in each direction, sidewalks, and protected bike lanes. On its south end, the road connects to the new Alaskan Way near Pine St. On the north end, the road connects to Elliott and Western avenues between Blanchard and Bell streets. Landscaping and trees line the sidewalks and medians.  

ELLIOTT WAY

Elliott Way, which opened in spring 2023, has created a new connection between the waterfront and Belltown, from Alaskan Way near Pine St to Bell St, and includes two vehicle lanes in each direction, sidewalks and protected bike lanes. On its south end, the road connects to the new Alaskan Way near Pine St. On the north end, the road connects to Elliott and Western avenues between Blanchard and Bell streets. 46 varieties of plants, and over 46,000 individual plantings, were added along the sidewalk supporting the city and community’s desire to see more greenery in this area. 

This portion of the roadway has the honorary name Dzidzilalich. Click here for more information about the honorary name.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Elliott Way 

Design

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