Seattle's SR99 Tunnel opening pushed to early 2019, viaduct to close 3 weeks ahead in early Jan.

Seattle's long-awaited state Route 99 tunnel, the underground highway that will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct through downtown, will not open by year's end.

Officials announced on Monday that the tunnel was expected to open the first week of February next year, months later than had been projected by both the state and the tunnel contractor since at least late 2017. But the state Department of Transportation refused to call the change in plans a delay.

"It was always our plan to open the tunnel in early 2019," said Brian Nielsen, project administrator for the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, at a news conference Monday near the tunnel's south end.

That opening will only come about three weeks after the viaduct closes permanently starting Jan. 11, to allow crews to connect state Route 99 to the new roadway. WSDOT said in press materials that it would be the longest major highway closure in the region's history, a closure that will likely make travel through and around downtown Seattle nightmarish.

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/Seattle-s-SR99-Tunnel-opening-viaduct-closure-13236441.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletterspi&utm_term=spi