Voters snub viaduct options
SEATTLE – Voters were turning down both options for replacing the earthquake-damaged Alaskan Way Viaduct in early returns from a citywide advisory ballot, complicating an already messy struggle between city and state leaders.
With about half the expected ballots counted Tuesday night, voters were turning down a tunnel option by 70 percent to 30 percent. A proposal to rebuild the viaduct was losing by about 55 percent to 45 percent.
The results are not legally binding, but they could put pressure on political leaders to delay action on the viaduct replacement.
The vote also could give momentum to a third option: replacing the viaduct with beefed-up surface streets and bus service.
Mayor Greg Nickels and most of the City Council have pushed to replace the viaduct with a tunnel in hopes of opening up the city’s waterfront.
Gov. Chris Gregoire and key state lawmakers have advocated replacing the old viaduct with a larger version, saying there is not enough money to pay for the more expensive tunnel.
The tunnel’s price tag is at least $3.4 billion. The Legislature has said it will not cover more than the estimated $2.8 billion cost of the rebuild.
Nickels, who said he would abide by the voters’ decision no matter the result, told rebuild opponents he wanted to work together with other leaders to find a solution for replacing the viaduct.
“He said that (voters) sent a strong message tonight that they want something better for their waterfront than a freeway,” Nickels spokesman Marty McOmber said.
The 50-year-old viaduct runs between downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay. The elevated highway was seriously damaged in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, and its towering concrete decks could come tumbling down in the next big quake.
“We finally defeated the rebuild,” said City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck, a surface-street supporter. “I think it also puts a nail in the coffin for the tunnel, and it’s time to move on.”
Gregoire, who was scheduled to meet today with Nickels and King County Executive Ron Sims, declined comment through a spokeswoman. Sims also supports the surface-street option.
The surface and transit option has not seen as much scrutiny as the tunnel or rebuild. But it has been mentioned as a potential fallback option by Nickels, the City Council and House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle.
Indecision, however, could prompt a raid in the Legislature on the nearly $3 billion lawmakers have set aside for the viaduct. Other looming mega-projects, including the State Highway 520 bridge across Lake Washington, could use the money.
State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, was among the lawmakers looking to Gregoire for a signal Tuesday night. But Brown said the surface option needed more study to become viable.
“I want a solution with more political consensus then we have right now,” Brown said. “I’m open to surface option if it meets our needs, and I’m not sure we know that right now.”