Hindrance frustrates both vehicles and pedestrians

Maeve Gallagher, Staff Reporter
Originally published October 15, 2014

The West Emerson Overpass, currently residing over 15th Avenue, will be under construction for the next 12 weeks due to the damage of the overpass over the past 50 years.

Starting Oct. 9, the connection between Nickerson Street and West Emerson St will be closed for vehicles and pedestrians.

The Seattle Department of Transportation has chosen to replace the northern girder of the overpass along with the repair of the road surface. The resurfacing is intended to protect the road from further corruption.

This change has resulted in an inconvenience for commuters,  having to pursue alternate routes. “[The overpass construction] directly affects me because there’s a lot of traffic on the way to school,” junior Alexis Jimenez said. “It’s just a hassle.”

Alternative routes include Dravus Street and West Emerson St with a different turn- around point.

SDOT is planning on the final reconstruction being complete around Jan. 1, 2015.