The Seattle City Council approved an ordinance Monday which lays out a timeline for the demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
The Council unanimously approved the language, which calls for teardown to begin in early 2019.
The contractor will be asked to focus on the portion between Pike and Columbia first.
The City has also asked the Washington state Department of Transportation to limit road closures to 30 days.
The entire teardown is expected to take nine months.
The ordinance allows permitting of the work to begin after the deep bored tunnel opens, now expected in late 2018.
Patricia Gray of the Pike Place Market Foundation cheered the news while standing on the sun drenched new deck outside the Market.
“It is going to be incredible,” she said.
In fact, the Foundation is selling charms to hang on what will be the new walkway connecting the market to the waterfront.
That is expected to open shortly after demolition is complete.
