They call it “Viadoom” and the beginning of the “Seattle Squeeze”, as if Seattle doesn’t already have enough traffic woes. Friday January 11, Highway 99 (aka the “Viaduct”) will officially be closed to traffic for good.The road has been a Seattle treasure–affording priceless views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. Because of earthquake instability concerns, it was determined to be a safety threat and couldn’t remain. The governor chose the tolled “tunnel option” as a replacement, which won’t open until a full 3 weeks after this main thoroughfare will be closed (and then demolished). We will soon see what happens when a road is closed that carried hundreds of thousands of cars daily… and how the recommendations of walking or biking to work (or just take a vacation for 3 weeks) just isn’t going to suffice!

This was one last journey for me on the beloved I-99 road, as seen through the windows of a quickly moving bus (both northbound and southbound). Unfortunately the mountains weren’t showing that day, but still what a splendid ride that I will miss.

(You can read all about this upcoming Seattle transportation Armageddon here “…road users will endure the longest highway closure in Seattle history, until the tunnel opening aimed at Monday, Feb. 4.”)