SR 99 Bored Tunnel Video - August 2009

[mrseattlesavvy]

lol

[tudorjason]

I personally like the tunnel idea. The viaduct is an eyesore and allows us to continue to pollute the atmosphere. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a tunnel clean the exhaust and CO2? There could be a great public space on the lid to increase tourism.

Of course it will be more expensive, but why bother arguing with that point; we didn't want Safeco Field, yet we have it. So the only problem is that the tunnel will carry less traffic, even though Seattle was built with the car in mind.

[apartment777]

no exits to the downtown corridor?!!! what the hell are they thinking? this is going to be a nightmare!

[onlinevideocritic]

This video surely was costly to produce and while this tunnel looks nice and all, it surely is extremely expensive not including all of the inevitable cost overruns.

If you build a tunnel with a toll people will avoid it, and if it only has 2 lanes those that can afford or brave the toll could be subject to traffic backups and may avoid it as well.

To say that a non-tolled surface level boulevard isn't viable is crazy. Sure people will avoid it, people would also avoid a tolled tunnel.

[jakeroot1]

@onlinevideocritic I understand your comment is old, but I think you'll understand this video probably cost next to nothing to produce. It's simple really. The 3D thing though may have been a little expensive, but it may have been archived footage from before this was produced, making this very cheap to make.

[DaDailyBread]

Phe-NOM-enal 3-D imagery ... AMAZING WORK!!!

[jakejeckel1]

Yeah, the video looks nice, but I hope that it doesn't detract from the amount of work that this is going to entail. Don't get me wrong, I am ALL FOR the tunnel option, just don't want to see fancy 3D cloud the scope of this project! :)

[Eisenmond]

That is what $80,000 tax dollars buys you... I hear PIXAR could have done it for 1/2 the price and added cool space robots too!

[Kenrietto]

Like the tunnel... Short sighted not to have light rail in it! I agree it is a bad idea to skip a central (ie. Seneca) and Bell town (ie. Western) exit. Mercer is a nightmare!

Light Rail would make it a much longer term solution.

[daubnsplatter]

Hugely helpful videos, and I'm impressed at the cityscape design around the tunnel entry/exit and waterfront areas. It's clear that we downtown residents will lose some of the convenient access points to 99 (the tunnel won't have them), but in exchange we'll lose the entire slummy under-the-viaduct drug fest. Fair trade, especially since the surface street stays. And wow, my tax dollars will finally provide a city traffic benefit (instead of another traffic-clogging sports stadium)!!

[fuzzbeans]

I never saw any better options on the table. I lived in W Sea for 4 years and now Ballard for 6. If you must drive and 99 no longer cuts it, then use Alaskan Way.

Or explore: bus, bike, water taxi

[tomseattle]

Thanks for the simulation, WashDOT. It really helps imagine this much more effective bypass of downtown.

May I point out that when the i-90 bridge fell down, it was replaced in record time. Also, that the recent joint replacements on the same bridge were repaired in record time, and that the joint replacements on I-5 last summer were completed in record time. This is not like the Big Dig (it's smaller and far less complicated), plus it doesn't include Bechtel as a [terrible] contractor.

[scottyx76]

Yes, let's have I-5 AND 99 both dump off on to Mercer street and adjacent avenues. This is, quite possibly the worst idea I've seen yet. Do you know how many people use the Seneca and Western Ave (northbound) exits? Now, to head back toward West Seattle I have to go all the way back up to the Mercer St. area just to get back on it southbound? This is a terrible, terrible design that's just going to congest the Aurora/Mercer/Broad St. area to a level worse than the miserable state it's in now.

[scottyx76]

This just seems like a big middle finger to not only the voters who've said no multiple times to this this overpriced and extremely shoved-down-our-throats plan, but also a middle finger to West Seattle/Burien/South Park/major users of NB SR99. You're effectively removing two rather convenient off-ramps to get into two differing sections of downtown for one, catch all traffic-fest to the has-been-touristville that is Seattle Center.

Hooray whiny waterfront condo owners, you get your wish!

[themadraven]

though I agree with your points...we certainley need to get ride of the Alaska Way Elevated Hwy..that thing is going to come down in a Cascadia Event Earthquake...

[normalais]

do you smoke crack under the viaduct? cuz I think those are the only people saddened to see it go.

and if you think the cheapest solutions always are the best, move to afghanistan. or one of those southern redneck republican states that have a quality of life like in a developing country.

[bfayer]

tunnel is going to rock, the light rail is awesome too, I can't wait until it gets up to UW

[propagandada]

The tunnel will be a disaster for Seattle traffic. Higher taxes and toll roads will be how it gets paid for. It will never be completed in the projected time, run far over budget and do little to improve already poor traffic flow through downtown. The waterfront will become a loud, busy boulevard just like it is now. Dream on dreamers and lovers of the tunnel!

[daubnsplatter]

Hey propagandada, instead of an unfocused and barely literate rant, how about citing specifics to show us that you've actually read a viaduct/tunnel planning document, attended even on public hearing, and participated in even half of a city planning decision before. Go ahead. We're waiting....

[A930]

The current viaduct is extremely loud and if you are on the waterfront - it is a sucky place to be. Looks like crap, sounds like a jet.

[FatoDrunkoAndoStupid]

WTF, they have an off-ramp for Republicans (2:27) but no off-ramp for Democrats?

Even their highway system is partisan.

[putittogether]

That's it spend money you don't have, when you are bankrupt.

[ComicConBooBoo]

its nice to see the mayor and govenor screw the people over after they voted no. its great to see that govt does its own thing like wasting 8 billion on a stupid idea. but thats why shes the govenor. she only has 4 years left to screw the state as best she can

[kimpossibleFF5]

Hey I live in boston. MassHighway is a little Different than WSDOT.

[pepsiqueenofn]

i thought my big dig years were over. then i moved to seattle. ugh. dont do it....

[pepsiqueenofn]

can we say the central artery all over again?!?!?!!!

[dickieflicks]

looks great...but TRAFFIC IS LIKE CHILDREN IS GROWS UP...All that money, and hard work...and your only making it...*** 2 LANES**** sweet 10 years from now we will all be stuck in a

co2 box...make it four lanes each way!!! just a thought!

[mrroper]

Very cool. I can't wait, the tunnel is the best option and money well spent.