Alaskan Way Viaduct Bored Tunnel January 2009

[BreakfastBentoBox]

This project is a fast track fraud. It has nothing to do with what voters wanted. Politics pure and simple.

[donnywal]

So no off-ramps to downtown? Why bother? This will never happen, mark my words. You cannot bore a tunnel next to the sea with no 10 X over budget, especially next to a decrepit sea-wall.

[MarketAndChurch]

@donnywal

yea the part about no off-ramps to downtown kinda irked me, there should be at least 2-3 off-ramps back into the city.

[shmuli9]

I liked the cut-and-cover alternative, after seeing it visualized. It doesn't seem o have a lot of the negative effects on traffic (like detouring ot Mercer Street from Ballard) does...

[dilaton1]

Earthquakes are too an issue. We live on the edge of the Cascadia Fault, one of the most dangerous on the planet. I'm glad to hear the train tunnel hasn't been damaged since 1905, but if it had been there in 1700 for the magnitude 9 earthquake that sent a tsunami to Japan, it would likely have been obliterated.

[kingpimpbob]

Seattle is disgusting me with its blatant destruction of character this city once had. As time has shown, the majority of truly epic and great parts of this town are bulldozed and filled with ghastly condos, apartments and yuppies who think they have the slightest clue about architecture. You will see everything that made this city special die in time, leaving it as a bland, tasteless gas station that carries zero possibility of what creativity really looks like. This is heartbreaking.

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@kingpimpbob I am curious. What are your feelings on this tunnel project? It has been a year since your comment. Were you caught up in media hype? Do you live in Seattle?; and if so, what area, in general? What is your alternative to this project?

[kingpimpbob]

@BreakfastBentoBox I think the tunnel is completely fucked. Forget the media hype, I've lived in this city long enough to really find what is actually more sensible, rebuiild the viaduct.

[SPS148669]

Seattle's "Big Dig" Tunneling is very expensive thouhg. Also Seattle and Boston both have Bus-Subway tunnels athough Seattle now runs trains as well.

[blissdvd]

Hey this sim is BS, its not raining.

[bimah320]

A tunnel in that location is likely to be full of water 20 years from now.

[Aleks0o01]

do you have proof? how do you know this? do you have proof that the tunnel will flood? because theres a thing called a seawall. and im sure people are thinking about ways so that it doesnt fail. unlike the one we have now.

[recto89]

I wonder how do we build a tunnel thats Earthquake safe. as in it can withstand a 6.5-7.5 or even a 7.9 quake.

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@recto89 Can't. Surface option prevails, yet again. Safer, cheaper, faster. And a sound decision as any board executive in Pioneer Square will reiterate!

[normalais]

Looks awesome! Seattle will be so much nicer with that big ugly mess of a highway underground! Small business will bloom in the waterfront

Bore baby bore!

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@normalais Do you still feel the same a year later? Just curious. WIn what area of Seattle do you reside?

[normalais]

@BreakfastBentoBox I'll be very happy when the tunnel is finished and the Seattle waterfront will be reclaimed by businesses and people, instead of some ugly ass bridge with crackheads sleeping under it.

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@normalais Reclaimed, huh? What area of Seattle do you live in? Are you a homeowner?

[normalais]

@BreakfastBentoBox Yeah reclaimed. I live in U district. If you love that big ugly bridge fucking up the entire Seattle water front, why don't you go fuck yourself 

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@normalais ahhh, super enlightening... let me guess, Sarah Palin voting Reblican't?

[normalais]

@BreakfastBentoBox lol no Scarah Failin voting republican'ts want that stupid ugly bridge to be replaced by another stupid ugly bridge.

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@normalais Jesus christ wearing a mini skirt on a fucking pogo stick. This is absurd. How bizarre is your lifestyle in the U district that you would want to turn Seattle into Bellevue? Aren't there enough snobs here already? Look, point of fact, that bridge aint safe, however, don't you find it a little strange how the politicians lit up like molestors on a playground when they realized how their Vulcan voting partners would benefit from property values? Everyone will pay for few's benefit.

[normalais]

@BreakfastBentoBox everyone will benefit from that ugly bridge being taken down.

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@normalais Your pretty is another person's ugly. How about this my meth-faced redneck neighbor, lay off the smack & get the Fremont Troll's VW out yer ass. FYI, everyone implies all people. Maybe just your circle jerk of friends would like to destroy the viaduct, but those who actually commute everyday on that POS would have a more valuable input, as in "everyone else". Do you really think anyone in the Dicks Burgerhood and Gasworks Park area really care? THEY DONT DRIVE IT EVERYDAY; I DO!!!!

[normalais]

@BreakfastBentoBox Seattle will benefit economically, culturally and will be a better place to live in with a nice new waterfront without the bridge taking up space. I'm sure your commute will improve once the whole project is finished

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@normalais i wonder if your small brain understands the difference between commuting and driving from Sodo to Magnolia. Commuting is driving from Burien to Everett... yeah 1 hour on I-5. Why should it take 45 minutes from Sodo to Ballard? Tolling the only highway thru the city won't solve that quality of life issue. And btw, all those quaint repblican friends of yours on the waterfront who want to evade taxes and get rich quick, their businesses will suffer when real ppl say fuk commuting!

[normalais]

@BreakfastBentoBox You're pretty ignorant. Business will bloom on the waterfront once that ugly monster is gone.

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@normalais The only "busines benefit" is our Port of Seattle. Throwing money at unions for east afrikan short haul truckers that drive recklessly already! There will be more tolls, more taxes, more fees, w/ less service and less access. This tunnel project is a wet dream for overpriced contractors, the DOT fraudulent bidding processs & ppl who own property on the waterfront. There's not a single benefit for the working class ppl who commute on the only viable option from W.Seattle to Ballard!

[chlngr1970]

Once again, Gov't ignoring the will of the people. It will only end when the bums are thrown out of office

[BlameRepublicans]

The will of the people or the greed of fucking idiots? The greedy have had too much to say for too long and our infrastructure shows it. Fuck the rich fuck the greed. Don't like it? Move to Mexico for less taxes.

[dumbass1984]

neither do rural state politicians want this, neither to city people want this. the only people who want a tunnel are suburbanites who wont bear the brunt of the cost. what up with that? We need a surface option. It can work, it did in San Francisco.

[BlameRepublicans]

only asshole are against this.

[biggodhead]

That ugly, ugly (and noisy) viaduct has got to go!

This is a great chance to correct a bad mistake done a half century ago. Seattle needs a better waterfront.

Bore baby, Bore!

[SoberKennedy]

I have a love-hate relationship with the viaduct. Whenever I drive across it, I can't help but see pictures of the Cypress Viaduct (destroyed by the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989). It's also ugly and noisy...but it's the easiest access to downtown Seattle. I can't wait for this tunnel.

[dhillman33]

Wow, I think the project looks great. Fabulous graphics which show the project. Also seems to address the main issues of replacement for safety, handling the current traffic and then some, did I see a bike path?, and opening up a people-friendly waterfront. Congratulations WSDOT and Seattle!

[ColonelSamatoshi]

Funny thing is, that was predicted in a RPG game over 10 years ago. :))

[bleistiftmann]

The most expensive and riskiest option to replace the Viaduct.  Why? Because 27 "stakeholders" (not the same as "bagholders--taxpayers) convinced the Gov that the tunnel is what is right. The stakeholders (special interest groups) are interested in removing the Viaduct so that waterside real estate values will go up. The voters of Seattle voted down the tunnel. Now, because of the Gov's endorsement, taxpayers in Seattle and King County will be paying higher taxes for something they don't want.

[collywobble43]

Not exactly true... we voted down ALL options that were presented. Then they went back, made it better and got it done. That's progress.

As far as the viaduct goes... it was a bad idea 50 years ago and had WADOT made the same mistake again I would have moved.

Seattle has some of the most underutilized real estate of any major city. The waterfront is crap because of the viaduct. Pioneer square is crap because it's dirty and full of drug traffic. It's about time they did something about it.

[jeremyjenkins07]

I like it as far capacity goes, I think four lanes should be plenty considering that those people who work downtown will exit before they enter the tunnel. I personally would feel much safer in a tunnel than an elevated highway during an earthquake and I think the most horrible excuse for people who want to remodel/redo the viaduct is "I will not have the pretty view", that's sad...Maybe there will be less wrecks now, Just sayin...

[eatwhatcom]

This tunnel does not have enough capacity. only 4 lanes, really? No capacity to add rail/mass transit. Why not connect to the bus tunnel to add more transit capacity? In the end, people in Seattle will never agree. A bad idea is better than no idea I guess......

[wsdot]

Hey all, you are welcome to comment on, provide discussion or vent frustration with the decision made on this project. I will have to ask that you keep your comments clean.

Any comments that use vulgar, offensive, threatening or harassing language will be removed.

Thank you for your understanding.

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@wsdot After these past two years of of misleading & offensive propoganda, would it be prudent to hire a new monitor of your Youtube postings? Albeit at a recession salary, of course...

[LPGfan]

it looks good, but I wouldn't want to be in the tunnel when the big one hits--one crack and everybody drowns.

[coaster36]

I agree with allsburg - they made a decision ! The main problem with Seattle is that we DISCUSS shit for 20 years. Anyone notice that the Mercer mess has not been solved? Because we've discussed it for 20 years instead of fixing it. These people at least had the balls to do something that will Improve our valuable waterfront etc even if not the perfect answer for everyone. My only concern is that it's only 2 lanes each way instead of the current 3

[freesk8]

Think about Boston's "big dig."

It wound up massively over budget and opened many years after they planned.

It is almost universally regarded as a fiasco.

Whatever they tell you this will cost, multiply the number by ten.

Taxpayers fleeced again.

[sirhcdeer]

Un-frickin-believable! I hope all of you know that this "dog and pony" show that Nickels, Sims and Gregoire did at the press conference was only to give the appearance that this project is "shovel ready." It is more than obvious that they want to appear ready to dig, so they can get some of the infrastructure money that Obamha is proposing to pass out to states. I think this decision is foolish given the current economic situation. Look for more taxes folks! Government is not free, but god!

[BreakfastBentoBox]

@sirhcdeer how do you feel now, after two years have gone by?? There is talk of Tolls and no downtown exits, wth?! How do you feel now??

[putittogether]

Jesus Christ, that is going to cost a f$%king fortune.

[abutzek]

Gives new meaning to the term 'traffic sewer'.

[wbrproductions]

The train tunnel in Seattle has been in continuous operation since 1905, meaning earthquakes are not an issue. Didn't know there was a rail tunnel through downtown Seattle? Well, how about that?

[savegondor]

please, just move to Canada where everything is perfect.

[savegondor]

for being a city of progressives, Seattlites show a remarkable ability to be short sighted. the tunnel infastructure makes the most sense. clearly. since democracy couldn't make a rational decision let the elected leadership do it.

remember, seattle will grow, like it or not. we need to plan ahead instead of being so gall-darned reactionary.

[emenemenem]

Awesome, I'm so happy it's going to be a tunnel!

[kaultc]

Didn't the public vote this thing down already? I really like the streets/transit option that was being worked on. It would be just like the Embarcadero in San Fran which gets people where they need to go without costing billions and is actually a cool waterfront area to walk around.

[crunchypudding13]

A tunnel is actually the safest place to be in an earthquake. Just thought you should know.

[godawgs06]

Really? A tunnel is safer than a field? This tunnel will be built directly on top of the fault, not kidding.

[crunchypudding13]

Think about it. in a tunnel, everything above you is sturdy, and connected. On an open street there are plenty of things that are unsturdy and can fall off of buildings and hit you/your car. Barring a 10.0 earthquake that cracks open the seattle waterfront, a tunnel is very safe.

[freesk8]

How 'bout filling up with water.

Will it be 160' below sea level?

I can see the disaster movie now.

[LPGfan]

crunchy: tunnels are very safe when there are no earthquakes and there are no construction flaws as there were in the Big Dig in Boston. If *one* load of bad concrete is used in the tunnel or one bad weld is made and then the quake hits, then it becomes a death tube.

[allsburg]

You people are crazy!  YOU are the ones responsible for the bottleneck of decision-making by our state representatives. You elect someone to represent your interests, but then you second-guess their decisions and expect to micromanage the process. Let it go. At least they made a freaking decision. 40% of the people wanted a tunnel, 40% wanted a new viaduct, and 20% wanted neither. Better a tunnel in six years than nothing in ten, which is what you would have if you tried to build consensus.

[Moe997]

The Blunder Down Under. Apologies to Aussies.

[dlm1129]

This would have been soooo much more realistic if they had shown tons of brake lights in front of the car as everyone creeps along for ten minutes or more in this grey monstrosity. Seattle will hate this just as much as that "beautiful perfect" Kingdome we used to have. I'm generally not one for claustrophobic feelings but this sure brings it on. Horrible idea.

[rebekahanncurtis]

Are we going to let Gregoire be a dictator and tell us what we have to do and how we're going to be taxed?

[crunchypudding13]

shes about as far from a dictator as you can get. shut up and shape up. deal with it.

[rebekahanncurtis]

I don't think this 'plan' has been well thought out. They're going BELOW sea level, which mean that they will have to deal with a LOT of water related problems. The projected cost of the tunnel is far below what it'scost is going to be. The proposed taxes are insane, NO TAXATION without REPRESENTATION. If the existing viaduct is a problem now, just use a 4 lane highway until a feasible solution is reached.

[savegondor]

YOU DID VOTE for these taxes by voting for said representatives.

[msinon]

A Slurry TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) will be used under constant pressure. How do you think they went from Great Britian to France? This has and is being done all over the globe. The technology and construction is getting better each year. Although you're right about the cost.

[sonofboone]

Lot of people that grew up with the Viaducted are Pissed about this potential idea. What happened to just rebuilding/remodeling. And Yeah, if your gonna build a tunnel all of a sudden, why not just build a whole new Subway System.

[narbeg]

There's a railroad tunnel? If we're building tunnels we should just go all the way and make a subway system.

[skymotel]

Neat video - yay tax dollars! - but what about the ramp from 1st Avenue, the entrance on Columbia, and the Seneca exit? Is there an equally spiffy video to demonstrate the new alternatives?

[RandyGTL]

wothless without exits to downtown. Seattles mayor has no repect for the voters

[HorseCaak]

Needs a shoulder lane for all those POS cars that break down all the time. Or for those fender benders... Or for emergency vehicles.

[MStock57]

Great until the part where the simulation hits the wall.