By David Rosen

The Alaskan Way Viaduct closed around 7:30 pm tonight to begin the first phase of demolition of a mile stretch during the first full week closure. The demo was supposed to have started around 8:00 pm but the crew was running late and it actually started at 8:40 pm.

A group of dignitaries watched from the roof of the nearby Silver Cloud Hotel as a large articulated ram device began hammering away at the one time exit to Connecticut Street, a portion of the "southern mile" of the viaduct that was originally intended to be part of a cross city freeway network.

Crews sprayed water on the dust clouds emerging from the demolition process.

Tomorrow, Saturday Oct. 22 the public will have a chance to witness the demolition process in person. They will be allowed to walk on the now closed viaduct from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

At 1:00 pm the two groups will take advantage of winning a special contest sponsored by WSDOT. The Rat City Roller Girls roller derby team and the Seattle Cossacks motorcycle group will take to the viaduct deck to each spend 30 minutes.

The Rat City Roller Girls, members of the first flat-track roller derby league in the Northwest many of whose members are in White Center and West Seattle, won with their proposal to speed skate and “bout” along several blocks of the viaduct.

The Seattle Cossacks are the well known motorcycle group who will use their 30 minutes to perform stunts on the viaduct with their vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

For more information and to see an interactive simulation of the project check out Washington Department of Transportation's website at http://wsdot.wa.gov/projects/viaduct/simulations/