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Wednesday, August 27, 2003 |
The post below is straight from the pages of the WSODT. This project is going to cost between $3.1 and $4.5 billion dollars or more and will do all that it is supposed to do. It will pump the exhaust fumes of 110,000 cars per day into the air and homes of every person along its route. The environment will be further degraded. Because of the increased capacity, Elliot Avenue, Western Avenue and NE 15th will be inundated with noise.
The seawall does need to be repaired so that the residents along the waterfront can enjoy a clean, noise free and pleasant day. A coalition of industrial interests in Seattle's Duwamish, Interbay and Ballard areas worries the proposed replacement of Seattle's crumbling viaduct, with some combination of tunnels and surface streets, may harm a vital transportation link for its businesses. The gridlock will not be alleviated but will be moved to Aurora Avenue north and south.
When the viaduct was built 50 years ago the waterfront was not bounded by expensive condominiums and apartments. The many parking lots are now gone, replaced with businesses and homes. The waterfront is now teaming with tourists from cruise ships, walking and jogging along the shore are now commonplace. An exciting new Seattle Art Museum Sculpture park is stalled because of the unknown direction the viaduct will take. The viaduct or any variation must not be built. Alaska Way should be a pleasant quiet parkway with little or no parking. Seattle needs an idyllic setting for these times. Maybe someday 50 years from now, the new residents of Seattle’s waterfront will think of something better.
WSDOT, The City of Seattle, and King County should use the limited funds to fix the I-5/SR-520 interchange, the SR 520 Bridge, the Mercer Mess, I-405 and the many more transportation problems.
We don’t need more cars and trucks going through Seattle, we need people stopping in Seattle and spending money.
8:14:23 PM 
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Urgent Need, Unique Opportunity
We face an urgent need to rebuild the 50-year old Alaskan Way Viaduct and 69-year old waterfront seawall.
Experts say there is a one-in-twenty chance that an earthquake could permanently close the viaduct in the next ten years. An earthquake could cause the seawall to fail as well. The seawall supports Alaskan Way and fill soil underneath the viaduct. Failure could lead to permanent damage to the viaduct and Alaskan Way, as well as adjacent property and buildings. Playing a critical role in our transportation system, the viaduct carries 110,000 vehicles each day - one quarter of the north-south traffic through downtown Seattle. It was originally built to carry 65,000 vehicles per day. Congestion following the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake made clear this is a critical route.
In addition to maintaining capacity for traffic, opportunities for other improvements are part of the project. Improving pedestrian and vehicle access to the waterfront and downtown, improving freight mobility to cargo terminals, and reconnecting the street grid over Aurora in the Seattle Center area are being considered.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), City of Seattle (City), and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have joined together to lead this project. Together, they will decide on a plan to replace the viaduct and seawall, with advice from the Leadership Group and natural resource agencies. Washington State Ferries, Port of Seattle, and other entities are also involved.
What Happens to Traffic if the Viaduct is No Longer Usable?
WSDOT, through computer modeling, estimates that if the viaduct is no longer usable due to an earthquake, travel time through downtown Seattle area will double. The likely effect will be total gridlock. The gridlock formed on downtown streets will back up on to I-5 ramps, and reduce I-5 travel speed through downtown Seattle from 20-25 miles/hour to 10-15 miles/hour during the afternoon rush hour. This in turn, will affect traffic on I-405 and other roads. The traveling public will encounter an additional 15,400 hours of delay during rush hour each day. The sooner the structure is replaced, the less likely this will happen.
Environmental streamlining in action
Both WSDOT and the City are committed to environmental stewardship, such as better management of stormwater runoff for the benefit of salmon and other marine species. The project will protect public health and safety while meeting all environmental requirements in the most expeditious possible manner. To move quickly, WSDOT and the City have requested to be a participant in a new law passed by the Legislature last year, which will streamline environmental review.
Financial Information
Many sources are providing funding for the design of viaduct and seawall replacement plans. In 2003, the Washington State Legislature passed a nickel-funding package, which raised $177 million for this project. Other funding has come from the City of Seattle ($5 million), Puget Sound Regional Council ($1.2 million), the Corps of Engineers ($100,000), and the federal 2003 budget ($2 million). This funding means project development can be completed and some early construction work can begin. Additional funding will be needed to begin major construction. In July 2003, WSDOT released updated cost estimate ranges for the plans being considered to replace the viaduct and seawall. These updated estimates reflect new information about the plans and take into account risks and opportunities that may affect cost or schedule. For more information about the Cost Estimate Validation Process and the cost estimate ranges.
7:14:03 PM
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© Copyright 2003 James R. Smith.
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