What happens after a city removes a freeway?

In Seattle , the Alaskan Wave Viaduct, a double decked Hwy. was removed in a tunnel, replaced it.

The city hopes the project will reconnect downtown Seattle to the water and bring people from nearby tourist attractions like stadiums and Pike Place Market .

Portland and Rochester offered two possibilities for how to replace a freeway with a park or use it for more buildings.

Seattle retained the freeway but buried it underground.

The plan for the roadway part of this waterfront project is 2 continuous car travel lanes in each direction.

The old Alaskan Way also had two car lines in either direction, but none of the other great bus, bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

This configuration will dedicate much of the newly freed up land to more transportation and potentially undermine the destination program.

A parking garage, self storage, steam plant, and other nondescript buildings aren't much to look at.

But hey, redevelopment may occur if the waterfront promenade is a successful public space in other ways.

An overly wide Blvd . with crossing distances so long that a median resting point is needed may not provide ease of access.