Homeless to be swept away from Viaduct for construction

The state is beginning a sweep to push homeless people out of the space under the Alaskan Way Viaduct as tunnel-related construction moves north.

               For years, the viaduct has drawn homeless people because it offers miles of at least a little shelter.

Every year, volunteers spend a night counting people without shelter in King County.

               This year's count found nearly 2,600.

               Estimates for the number of people who sleep beneath the viaduct range as high as 150.

               A state Department of Transportation tunnel construction engineer told the Seattlepi.com that Monday morning's sweep will be for safety reasons in advance of the construction moving northward.

               Homeless advocates have criticized the fact that the $3.1 billion tunnel project contains no funds to help displaced homeless people.

Monday’s action begins with a cleanup.

Some construction equipment is already staged at Alaskan Way and Spring Street.