The elevated stretch of waterfront highway called the Alaskan Way Viaduct closed on Thursday night, for two weeks. It is as a precaution for the digging of the new tunnel for State Route 99 that goes under the Viaduct at this point. (When the tunnel has been completed, the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be demolished). On a typical weekday some 90,000 drivers used the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and for the next two weeks there will be a lot of extra traffic using the downtown Seattle streets. For those that can : use the bus, use the light rail, bike, walk. Driving around in a car in downtown Seattle should only be done if there is no other option.