They are deciding on whether to do that in favor of a community grid here in Syracuse, Ny. The other options are a rebuild or a tunnel.
I was in Seattle a month ago and saw that going on. Big big job. Also, there are a whole lot of property owners whose land is suddenly getting a lot more valuable thanks to less noise, better air, and drastically improved views.
All of the above. Widen Alaskan Way, turn lanes, bike lanes. They are putting a new pier next to The Aquarium for concerts. Lotsa green space for the bums to pitch their tents! Seeing as I spend 40 hours a week looking out there, should be nice!
I haven't been down to the waterfront in a few years, no reason for me to go there. It will be interesting to see the changes when I do make it that way. This city is ever changing and not for the better. However, that viaduct did need to go though. Don't need Northridge 2.0 happening to that thing.
Boston did what Seattle is doing starting in 1991. The big dig as it was known was super-expensive, and a huge source of taxpayer money for the many people and companies who ripped the taxpayers off. Having said all that, getting rid of the central artery viaduct and replacing it with a tunnel made the city a much more attractive place. Much of the land that was under the old viaduct was turned into green space and is heavily used by tourists and other pedestrians. The project was definitely poorly managed and had major issues, but in the end, Boston is a much nicer city then it was prior to the project.
I will be there seeing that in about 3 weeks (my son live's there). Every time I go there, they are doing major changes. And talking about bums, holy smoke, I've never seen so many in one place! They are living lined up on I-5 like literally next to each other, like apartments but made out of cardboard. yikes!
The original Boston central artery did have its southern end in a tunnel (late forties/early fifties) Almost as if they realized their mistake, and buried part of it during its' construction. They could have depressed the rest of it, and built the Inner belt and all the radial expressways once planned circa 1970 for a fraction of what the later big dig eventually cost.
Well if you do visit the waterfront, stop by and I'll give you a tour of the steam plant! If the Big Wheel rolled off its perch it would run right into my plant!