In your Sunday editorial (“County has much to lose if Initiative 912 passes”) about the Alaskan Way Viaduct, you stated: “Problem is, no one has decided what a replacement will look like (a new viaduct? a surface road? a tunnel?), or how much it will cost. That’s worrisome. Our preference is to demand that anything beyond this $2 billion investment come from city or federal sources. Otherwise, design a $2 billion fix and make it work.”
Let me add some clarity. There are two options being considered to replace the viaduct. The top choice is a tunnel. Because it is expensive, WSDOT and the city of Seattle are also continuing engineering work for a replacement viaduct.
The $2 billion in the gas tax package has clearly been defined as the state’s contribution toward the project. Members of the Legislature have been very clear that it is Seattle’s responsibility to find the additional funding to build a tunnel. Finally, the $2 billion, combined with federal funds, is enough to replace the structure with something similar to what is there today, unless voters repeal the gas tax.
Linda Mullen
WSDOT Communications Director
Olympia
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