Central District News looked at how R. H. Thomson Expressway would have walled off the Central District from Lake Washington. This was posted in May of 09, but we just came across it. The report shows how walkability in Seattle almost took a big blow due to over-ambitious freeway construction. A freeway master plan shows a Seattle criss-crossed with pedestrian-impeding highways. One in particular would have sliced through the Central District and included crossings only at a few major intersections:
View Thompson Expressway in a larger map
Head over to Central District News to read more and find out how activists were able to stop the project.
Looks like my house in Maple Leaf would have been cleared away. I remember the epic battles over the expressway, but knew little of of the actual routes planned. Thanks for the link and summary.