Walking in the cooler shadow cast by the AK Way pier structures, a blind man could justifiably tell you that there is no view from ground level. This is the view from ground level. None. Do not need to mention a tunnel.
When I see how tunnel happy certain some ones are in Washington, I often reflect upon the below ground proletariat depicted in the classic film, "Metropolis." The spoilt riche live in the glorious light and clouds above, while the workers get to scramble around the dank underworld.
The Alaska Way Viaduct is the evener of that dichotomy. It is a public view of Olympic sunsets on the west and gleaming glass on the eastern side. To steal this momentary glimpse of the natural world and the rich cityscape from all citizens of the region, and lock up access to these views in condos for the already privileged is equivalent or greater , than bull dozing Central Park in New York and putting up shoulder to shoulder residences of great height and density.
Seattle is about Water and Air and long views of distant mountains that feed and fire up the imagination of every person. Do not privatize what is now public.
How wonderful that this ‘park’ of vistas is also one of the most effective movers of industrial, residential and recreational traffic in the region. The same forces that would obliterate the family wage- working parts of our fair city would make more personal money for themselves by the uneven process of buying, selling, tearing down and building up (a process that merely generates redistribution of wealth without regard to the real need for the structures and projects).
The original structure is neither ugly nor fragile. We can only hope that the new addition near the stadium is as elegant and strong. By the way, the Viaduct doesn't sit on liquid soil, but upon piers that rest firmly in bedrock. As for design, I am a world traveller who has seen no other structure that is so visually light and air filled. Because the old girl hasn't had a dime spent on her to remove grime and soot, I must admit, she is a dirty girl. Nor to my knowledge has anyone photoshoped her clean and publish it. No one has mocked up the type of sexy new structure sketches or real estate curb appeal visions of a cleaned up and restored Viaduct.
A few more comments. It is one of many viaducts in town. Portians of I-5 crossing through town are often much higher. Few know a portion of the AK Way viaduct rests within the federal Pioneer historic district, and serves to keep the scenery from those architectural gems secure. More is the shame that the public stadiums are not considered in this regard. Speaking of the stadiums. On the great pylon at Quest field a work of art by an Apache is seen by many, but remarked upon by few. The giant discs represent, the man made world (a cityscape in grey), the natural world (green world), the sun (life energy) and clouds (spirit world).
The Alaska Way Viaduct, be it from the cab of a working truck, or an exultant crowd of fund raising runners, affords splendid access to see all of these worlds.
Preserve an elevated roadway there for this and future generations.
Submitted by egoboy
