My name is Bob Fleming, and I am very interested in seeing a greatly improved transportation system for Seattle and the surrounding region.

Current System

The portion of the highway in Washington State is now a state highway known as SR99. In Downtown Seattle the highway passes along the waterfron on Elliott Bay on an elevated structure known as the Alaskan Way Viaduct because it is built alongside a street named Alaskan Way.

Current Problems

The Alaskan Way Viaduct was built in the 1950s, so is quite old. Wear and tear from traffic and weather is showing in cracked concrete and other damage. A few years ago a strong earthquake caused some damage to the structure. Repairs were made, but engineers fear that another major earthquake could result in collapse of the structure. Engineers and the state highway department urge replacement as soon as possible.

There has been a major controversy over what to do about the Viaduct. Various plans included:

• Tear it down and replace it with a better elevated roadway
• Tear it down and replace it with a tunnel
• Tear it down and replace it with a surface boulevard
• Tear it down and do not replace it with anything
• Make major repairs to the existing structure

A few months ago state, county, and city leaders agreed on a plan for a deep bore tunnel to pass under downtown Seattle to replace the Viaduct, which would be torn down.

News

STATE HOUSE APPROVES TUNNEL PLAN — (Thursday, 23 April, 2009) Today the Washington State House of Representatives voted in favor of a plan to build a deep bore tunnel under downtown Seattle to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Next the Senate must consider the issue.

My Opinions

I do not feel that the deep bore tunnel is the best solution, but at some point the debating must end and we need to go ahead with a project. I believe that the deep bore tunnel is a satisfactory solution, with reservations, and that the political agreement means we can probably finally begin work on a solution to the Alaskan Way Viaduct controversy.

One of my objections is the high cost, but if it means we can get the project done then I think we just have to find a way to pay for it.

My main objection to the current design is that it has no direct connection to Elliott Ave. and other streets leading to the Interbay, Magnolia, and Ballard neighborhoods. I believe that a supplemental project should be a major improvement to Mercer Street from Elliott Ave. W. to I-5. My concept is a cut-and-cover tunnel with an expressway in the tunnel and an improved surface Mercer Street on the lid of the tunnel.

The underground Mercer Street Expressway would include an interchange with Aurora Ave. N. and the new bored tunnel, which is planned to emerge into Aurora south of Mercer Street, so the interchange with Aurora would provide easy access from Mercer to the tunnel. Click here for more about my proposal for Mercer Street improvements.