The Park My Viaduct campaign theme is "Visualize the Viaduct". We kicked things off with a week of events from March 22 - March 30th. Architect and planner, Kevin Peterson, gave an inspirational presentation on the opening day event at Alki Arts at the Harbor Steps. Kevin designed the Integrated Alternative in just a few weeks in 2006. The Integrated Alternative became known as Choppaduct because Speaker of the House Frank Chopp promoted it as an option to the other choices being considered at the time - a tunnel, a viaduct retrofit or a surface highway. The Integrated Alternative suggested replacement of the viaduct with a mixed-use layered structure with a park on top, an enclosed highway on the mid-level, and transit as well as retail on the ground level. Powerful iconic connections from the structure to both downtown and the waterfront were essential to the plan.

1. Let’s step back a half dozen years……planning for the
replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct…..might it be
possible to integrate an elevated roadway into Seattle’s
waterfront
Visualize the Viaduct
March 22 Workshop
Kevin Peterson

12. University Street View Corridor
At Fourth AvenueAt Third AvenueAt Second Avenue

43. Pioneer Square Area

50. Celebrate and tie together the Aquarium and Pike Place Market. Make
the resultant fusion of Seattle and Elliott Bay one of the most exciting
urban contexts on this earth.

51. Respect the retail core’s perception of proximity to the waterfront. This
linkage is now perceived as possible when the viaduct is removed. Inform
this perception with strong pedestrian connections advantaging the view
platform of an elevated park to associate the waterfront with the retail
core.

52. Make the ferry terminal a world class transportation hub – a great place to
step ashore into the urban core. Landscaped rooftop parks where people
watch ferries, waters, urban context views is a wonderful way to celebrate
Seattle’s relationship with Puget Sound. Consider extruding buildings east
west to fuse the city fabric with the waterfront.

53. Historic Pioneer Square needs to rebind with the waterfront. This is best if the
ground level is a rich historic setting. Let the solution speak to a time when
Seattle was a walkable city just a couple steps from an active waterfront.

54. Industrial and sports areas to the south are poised to become a great area
to live. This now awkward city edge can be an upscale and contemporary
place to live - bringing people to the waterfront whose financial
contribution helps sustain waterfront businesses, civic spaces and future
generations.