Tunnel Project Moves Forward

Viaduct project plans will continue to move forward, as per the Seattle City Council voting results at Monday night’s hearing.  They voted 8-1 on three contractual agreements with SDOT on design, utility and street use issues.  Yet, the city must wait until the environmental-impact statement is approved before construction actually takes place.  There has been fervor of anti-tunnel protest around the city, including arguments about the cost, impacts on traffic and surrounding structures, and the loss of one of the greatest waterfront viewpoints in the city.  Mayor Mike McGinn is an avid anti-tunnel supporter and wants to veto the agreement, but it is likely the council will overturn.  Many supporters looking forward to tunnel construction job creation were also at the hearing.  At this point, the city is still expecting to see the tunnel within the next five years.  The only other option is a surface street project or one that would affect I-5.   The estimated tunnel completion date is 2015 with a cost of about $2 billion.  Although the city has funds for cost overruns, tunneling is a considerably risky form of construction so overruns are more likely.  Stay tuned for more information on the Alaskan Way Viaduct project.