Program Overview

Waterfront Seattle Program began as a community vision to remove the Alaskan Way Viaduct and reconnect the city to its waterfront. The City of Seattle, through it’s Office of the Waterfront & Civic Projects, worked with many public and private partners to rebuild and transform the central waterfront with spaces for gathering, recreation and play, cultural activations, and programming as well as transportation options for all users.

Program Overview

Our central, historic waterfront is Seattle’s front porch and a gateway for residents and visitors alike. The City of Seattle, through its Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects, rebuilt and transformed the waterfront into a gracious promenade with spaces for gathering, recreation and play, cultural activations, and programming.

With the removal of the aging, elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct, we implemented $806 million in infrastructure investments known collectively as Waterfront Seattle: creating a park promenade along the water, constructing a new surface street along Alaskan Way, rebuilding Pier 58 and Pier 62, building an elevated connection from Pike Place Market to the waterfront, and improving east-west connections between downtown and Elliott Bay.

The 1950’s era, double-decker Alaskan Way viaduct highway represented a physical barrier to non-vehicular east-west travel and a psychological barrier due to its noise, roadway debris, and the impacts to view corridors and sunlight. Key east-west access improvements were built to strengthen connections between downtown and the waterfront by joining different neighborhoods. Each of these connecting improvements have a unique character designed to be accessible, comfortable, and welcoming.  

The Seattle Waterfront Program represents a unique set of projects that reconnect people to the waterfront in the downtown core following the demolition of a highway that historically divided this community. We are striving to make the right of way accessible to all modes and not just for vehicular travel. 

Guided by the Community

The Waterfront Seattle Program began as a community vision to remove the Alaskan Way Viaduct and reconnect the city to its waterfront. In 2010, we selected two consultants to begin developing a comprehensive framework and design for the construction of 1.5 miles of Seattle’s Waterfront, spanning 26 city blocks. Working with a multidisciplinary team and engaging with various stakeholders and agencies, the team aimed to create a new “waterfront for all”.  Over 10,000 people have participated in visioning sessions, community meetings, walking tours, and environmental reviews to shape this program. 

Project Partners

Many organizations had to work closely together with a shared vision to bring this project to life.  Waterfront Seattle was led by the City of Seattle's Office of the Waterfront and Civic projects.  Changes to the waterfront also coordinated with concurrent projects led by Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Ferries, Seattle Aquarium, Port of Seattle, Pike Place Market, and Friends of Waterfront Park, Downtown Seattle Association, King County Metro, and Seattle Center.

Waterfront Seattle projects are shown in yellow. Other projects that we part of the waterfront redevelopment are also shown. 

Waterfront Park Boulevard

Ordinance 126444 designated portions of Alaskan Way, Elliott Way, Railroad Way, and Union Street as Park Boulevard(s) and authorized the transfer of jurisdiction over portions of the right-of-way from the Seattle Department of Transportation to Seattle Parks & Recreation. See Waterfront Park Boundary. 

Construction Progress

The program maintained the following real-time construction progress cameras.  Click on the links below to view a timelapse video: 

• Real-Time Construction Camera: SOUTH END
• Real-Time Construction Camera: OVERLOOK WALK
• Real-Time Construction Camera: NORTH END

Program History

The Waterfront Seattle Program was delivered over several phases: