bay freeway seattle bay freeway referred proposed elevated freeway south lake union neighborhood seattle washington mile long freeway run parallel section interstate aurora avenue north seattle center planning freeway began proposal freeway later streets added city comprehensive plan funded bond measure passed seattle voters plans drawn newly renamed serve multi purpose stadium elevated structure citizen groups voiced opposition project public hearings forcing consider designs determining cut cover tunnel feasible second series public hearings discuss impact elevated option held leading widespread controversy civil suit launched opposition freeway lawsuit ended november king county superior court judge ruling major voter approved plan occurred forcing referendum held continue project february bay freeway project rejected vote margin municipal referendum alongside repeal later undergo projects attempted provide congestion relief promised rejected freeway culminating widened street boulevard route description mile long bay freeway proposed lane elevated freeway curved box beam bridge measuring feet widest point freeway begun seattle center lower queen anne lanes broad street roadway immediately merged ramps connecting roy parking garage stadium later relocated built south downtown form bay freeway lanes turned southeastward park passing feet avenue north feet avenue north splitting ramps interchange located feet north planned right way moved structure replaced additional park space earlier plans called extension traveling southwest broad street including tunnel 5th avenue proposed northwest expressway extension existing way waterfront extension deferred remained possible future plan entire project canceled history expansion city seattle began planning bay freeway planning studies determining streets northern east west link proposed downtown freeway system adopted city comprehensive plan proposing major highway vicinity streets foot anticipation bay freeway aurora avenue north broad streets completed july funds bond issue construction arterial roadways special municipal election concerning million bond measure traffic improvement held march passed voters funds matched million state washington federal government distributed projects comprehensive plan including million century exposition hosted grounds april october generating heavy traffic equivalent rush hour loads street city owned stall parking garage located use street primary routes selection sites proposed multi purpose stadium convinced city officials construction bay freeway necessity exit partially opened november northbound ramps open traffic southbound ramps remaining closed design team led formed bay freeway project intending blend freeway surroundings encourage mixed use development lower impact south lake union neighborhood public hearing project held february city engineer said mess solved opening bay freeway proposed elevated alternatives criticized public local architects blocking views forcing reconsider designs despite declaration depressed roadway freeway require excessively steep traffic grades freeway proposals project officially designated bay freeway april ordinance renamed state route officially named proposed freeway second public hearing held june city council endorsed million elevated option bay freeway amid appeals local architects proposals considered cut cover tunnel rejected million cost steep grades larger disruption local businesses railroads selected preferred site multi purpose stadium assuming bay freeway built prevent event congestion forcing project redesigned years design report bay freeway project published february subsequently distributed project report featured new design freeway including ramps parking garage serving stadium aesthetic standards meant complement existing seattle center additional public hearings held support proposed freeways subject highway revolts similar american cities april hearing director spoke bay freeway predicted cause traffic rush hour voters rejected forward thrust initiative built proposed stadium seattle center removing main reasons build freeway forcing city council consider scaling proposal june hearing resulted removal comprehensive plan widening bay freeway lanes support expected drivers rush hour city council approved million bay freeway proposal matched additional million federal government vote december right way acquisition began following march million appropriated purchase condemn properties seven blocks valley streets civil suit special election lane proposal caused opposition groups led launch civil suit halt planning bay freeway citizens groups opposed claimed improper planning financing described series procedures hearings design rubber stamp approval project conform voter approved proposal street connection named case funds largely anonymous single donor originally meant opposing king county superior court judge ruled november bay freeway major voter approved plan cost increasing seven fold original proposal million forcing city seattle reconsider plans project unanimously voted following month hold special referendum seeking approval bay freeway endorsement city council decision cancel scheduled february final environmental impact statement project published city january weeks election included alternatives elevated valley streets aurora avenue construction begin following spring completion date early rapid transit alternative deemed probable near future corridor express bus service considered depressed roadway rejected outright achieve grade feet required larger right way acquisition relocation utilities located water table making expensive feasible referendum sought approval bay freeway rejected margin february effectively project aftermath vote opponents project urged city council look alternate solutions street mess officially terminated bay freeway project passing ordinance halt condemnation proceedings related properties freeway proposed corridor aftermath subsequent proposals result vote february transferred million trust funds meant bay freeway expanding route state highway director warned dual cancellation bay freeway having defeated day far design capacity particularly serving freight traffic near seattle mayor predicted congestion continue stating real alternative bay freeway criticizing rejection nationwide reaction freeways concrete previously split westbound traffic diverted block north temporary solution congestion city seattle studies proposing methods reducing congestion street rejected notable proposals include block million tunnel supported mayor late 1980s broad street plan lower broad streets add park lid south end lake union failed levy proposed building acre km2 urban park neighborhood included plans grade freeway street estimated cost million secured million early fund corridor project proposed improving traffic flow restoring westbound lanes street groundbreaking ceremony held following september construction project starting shortly hoping reduce congestion street years construction expanded lane street opened traffic august allowing way traffic carried time years way segment extended west 9th avenue north removing final section way traffic street permanently closing broad street preparation way replacement tunnel project exit list list reflects final incarnation bay freeway proposed referendum entire highway seattle
Bay Freeway (Seattle)