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The second phase of the Seattle Squeeze is almost over


The second phase of the Seattle Squeeze is almost over (KOMO photo)
The second phase of the Seattle Squeeze is almost over (KOMO photo)
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The second phase of the Seattle Squeeze is winding down but that doesn’t mean traffic will improve.

The Washington State Department of Transportation says there’s only a few weeks of viaduct demolition left.

“Our goal is to be off the waterfront by the end of the summer,” said Laura Newborn, a spokesperson for WSDOT.

The demolition is transforming Seattle’s waterfront as the iconic viaduct has been torn down.

Work is swiftly underway on the south end of Alaskan Way where crews are removing concrete that’s only 12 inches from a nearby building.

Drivers traveling along the waterfront have felt the squeeze.

“What used to take 10 minutes to get from Broad to Yesler now takes 30 minutes,” said Stephen Gibbons who spends all day behind the wheel of his car.

That’s because Alaskan Way as been reduced to one lane in both directions.

But on Wednesday there was good news for drivers: Yesler and King Streets reopened to traffic.

But Washington, Main and now South Jackson Streets are closed, forcing drivers to enter Colman Dock from only Alaskan Way.

“You’ll be able to access the ferries going north-south,” said Newborn. “You’ll be able to make a right-hand turn going south and you’ll be able to make a left hand turn if you’re are traveling north.”

WSDOT has extend turn lanes to minimize overflow traffic around the Colman Dock.

But these last few weeks of demolition will be bumper to bumper for drivers.

“That’s why we call it the Seattle Squeeze that we’ve talked about that for so many months,” said Heather Marx, the director of downtown mobility for the Seattle Department of Transportation. “We are building the infrastructure for the city we have already have become.”

As old Seattle begins to reveal the new, drivers could likely soon forget what it took to get to where Seattle is now going.

“People just have to look at the big picture and be patient and know that’s part of progress,” said Gibbons.

WSDOT has uniformed police officers helping direct traffic along Alaskan Way.

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