Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Project

A few years ago I had the opportunity to attend a Downtown Association sponsored event where the topic was The Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement project. It was early in the morning and I was not psyched about listening to some “fireball” from the WSDOT drone on about highway engineering. I wasn’t expecting to be so riveted.

The “keynotes speaker” was Ron Paananen, WSDOT Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Project Lead. After listening to a representative from former Mayor Nickels office romanticize the benefits of a tunnel and show pricy renderings of what our waterfront would look like without a viaduct, I was primed to hear A) how are we going to pay for it? and B) how long will our city be crippled with the loss of a major north/south thoroughfare? I walked out of that meeting with more questions than answers.

I learned that 25% of all north/south traffic through the city travels on SR99 and that the largest cost to any replacement and/or improvement is waiting. Mr. Paananen was prepared rather than political. This function was held at the beginning stages of community involvement so his purpose was to educate and inform. After listening to him, I decided that I would keep my ear to the rail. After all, I use the viaduct sometimes 4 times a day during the work week, and the real estate economy of the market areas I am responsible for is profoundly affected by this stretch of road.

I won’t bore you with how many times this plan has changed; I can’t keep up. Our politicians seemingly have us voting on issues just so that they can see how popular or un-popular they will be depending on which side of the issue they fall. Is that leadership? Not really. In January 2009 the Governor, King County Executive, Seattle Mayor and Port of Seattle CEO recommended replacing the viaduct between S. King Street and Battery Street. This is happening. Just like the sports stadium that we voted not built…now we have two. According to WSDOT, literature paying for the project will be the following cast of characters: $2.82 billion – Washington State (Governor Gregoire), $190 million – King County (Executive and Council), $930 million – City of Seattle (Mayor Mike McGinn), $300 million – Port of Seattle (5 Commissioners elected at large by King County voters www.portofseattle.org).

How long will our city be crippled by the ravages of construction? Well, construction has long since begun and projected to be completed in 2015 according to the “aggressive delivery schedule.” I was assured by a WSDOT official at the last West Seattle community forum that the viaduct will remain open during construction. That was a relief! I was also told that the quick and easy Seneca Street exit I take now to get back to our home base here at the Columbia Center will not be there. If I take the future SR99 tunnel into the city, the southern most exit would be at Mercer Street. That is not a change that I am looking forward to. The up-shot is that during the height of construction in 2013, construction of the tunnel will sustain more than 4000 jobs; additionally, the construction contract for the south end viaduct construction is expected to sustain more than 1000 jobs. Job creation is a huge part of what makes Seattle an attractive place to live and work. Jobs help families plant roots and buy homes.

In conclusion, I suppose I would have to say the best course of action is to stay informed. A second Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the viaduct’s central replacement will be published for review this fall according to the WSDOT. This will review the bored tunnel alternative as well as build upon the previous review of other replacement alternatives. To learn more visit www.alaskanwayviaduct.org or sign up for updates at www.wsdot.wa.gov