King County Metro have released route and sailing time changes for bus and water taxi service during the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure in January.
Twelve bus routes will be impacted by the closure: 21x, 37, 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, and the C Line. Those routes will still have the same destinations and will travel through similar areas, but travel time is expected to increase, and the route will vary slightly from what it has been.
During the three-week viaduct closure, the buses that typically travel on the viaduct will run on a temporary path through SODO on Fourth Avenue South.
After the new SR 99 tunnel opens, the buses will move to a permanent route on First Avenue South.
The King County Water Taxi will add an additional vessel during the closure, which is expected to add at least 149 passengers per boat.
The boats will leave every 20 minutes and will offer 12 sailings during the morning and evening commutes with additional midday service. The crossing from West Seattle to downtown Seattle will take about 10 minutes during mornings and evenings and about 15 minutes midday.
This will be the Monday-Friday water taxi schedule from January 14-March 27:
Depart West Seattle at Seacrest Park:
6:15 a.m.
6:30 a.m.
6:50 a.m.
7:05 a.m.
7:25 a.m.
7:40 a.m.
8 a.m.
8:15 a.m.
8:35 a.m.
8:50 a.m.
9:10 a.m.
9:25 a.m.
10 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
12:45 p.m.
1:45 p.m.
2:45 p.m.
3:25 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
4:05 p.m.
4:25 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
5:05 p.m.
5:25 p.m.
5:45 p.m.
6:05 p.m.
6:25 p.m.
6:45 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
Depart downtown Seattle at Pier 52:
5:55 a.m.
6:15 a.m.
6:30 a.m.
6:50 a.m.
7:05 a.m.
7:25 a.m.
7:40 a.m.
8 a.m.
8:15 a.m.
8:35 a.m.
8:50 a.m.
9:10 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
11:25 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
1:15 p.m.
2:15 p.m.
3:05 p.m.
3:25 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
4:05 p.m.
4:25 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
5:05 p.m.
5:25 p.m.
5:45 p.m.
6:05 p.m.
6:20 p.m.
6:45 p.m.
Riders should note the route will operate on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and on Presidents Day.
The Alaskan Way Viaduct will close for good the evening of January 11. Certain ramps, including the northbound on-ramp from South Royal Brougham Way and the southbound off-ramp to Atlantic Street, will close January 4.
This will be the longest-ever closure of the viaduct, and it will be during the time officials have coined the “period of maximum constraint,” where a multitude of transportation projects will have an impact on traffic.
Drivers are advised to start planning for the closure as soon as possible. Consider working from home, asking your employer about a flexible schedule to commute during non-peak hours, taking public transit like light rail or the water taxi, biking, walking, or joining a vanpool or vanshare.
Join KING 5's Seattle Tunnel Traffic Facebook group to stay up-to-date on the latest Seattle tunnel and Viaduct news and get tips to battle traffic during the three-week Viaduct closure in January.