What about the Viaduct

[KT2000]

With all this talk of infrastructure - what is the latest on the viaduct?
As I understand it, it needs to be replaced because of insufficiencies but there is a big stall going on while people figure out what to do.
Is that right?

[ManiacJoe]

1. Pretty much, yes.

The big stall is from politicians not wanting to make a decision on how to replace it.

[KT2000]

2. Thanks

Live on the Olympic Peninsula so my knowledge on that is spotty.
But I do know that viaduct is a disaster waiting to happen and have friends who drive it.

[Norrin Radd]

3. They are worried about what the poor condo owners will think.

I say they hurry up and reinforce it, at the least.

[sneakythomas]

4. My take on it

I've worked in the area for years. I was in the pioneer square area for the last earthquake. I fully expected to see the viaduct flat when I ran out of the office. Like way too many other things in this city the people in charge are gearing up to talk about it until it really does fall down - then there will be a lot of hand wringing over what went wrong.

I think the tunnel is a wonderful idea - if our schools worked fine, everybody had health insurance, the salmon runs were restored, and we all had money burning holes in our pockets. Since we don't and 110,000 people a day drive on it, we need to fix it and move on.

Sorry Mr Mayor et al, your pet project won't fly.

[KT2000]

5. Stalling as tactic

is not going to keep people safe so there should be a legal obligation to "make safe" within a certain time period after a deficiency report.
Ha!
When it goes down, it should be renamed Eyman's Folly!

[uppityperson]

6. I REALLY hate how they detour ferry traffic under the viaduct.

If you follow the signs to the ferry, you end up driving a couple blocks under it. Just go straight ahead onto the main road and you will get to the ferry fine.

[eridani]

7. Maybe Minnesota will teach us something

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/326283_rtidsolong03.html

It has taken five years and $7.4 million to get a controversial tax plan to pay for regional road improvements on the fall ballot, and, until this week, many people believed it would be a tough sell at the polls.

But that was before Wednesday's interstate bridge collapse in Minnesota.
As was the case in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, voters this fall will once again be marking their ballots with images of destruction potentially caused by aged infrastructure vivid in their minds.

Some experts say that may be enough to firm up support for a $16 billion tax package that will be essential to paying for a replacement of the state Route 520 bridge and other highways in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.


"I think the chances of the fall ballot passing have improved about 100 percent," said state Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle.

[maxsolomon]

8. gregoire pulled it off the table because seattle & WSDOT can't agree

WSDOT wants a rebuild. period. so does gregoire, but she can't shove it down our throats.

they must fail. any city in europe would consider a rebuild insanity.