Ballard residents attend Viaduct open house

Posted by Geeky Swedes on February 23rd, 2009

More than 100 people attended an open house at Adam’s Elementary Monday evening to learn more about plans to replace the Viaduct with a deep bored tunnel. The open house was organized by representatives from WSDOT, the City of Seattle and King County, who answered plenty of questions.

Phinney Ridge resident Robert Douglas wanted to know how he’d be affected. “I use the viaduct all the time,” he tells us, “So I was kind of curious to see how it was going to impact me, obviously, and my traveling back and forth from here to Sea-Tac, to West Seattle, to other destinations I go to.” WSDOT provided this map explaining how Ballard and other North Seattle commuters will access the tunnel (see larger map in .pdf format).

Gene Hoglund, a Ballard citizen, said he’s concerned about the negative affects of the tunnel. “A lack of access from the tunnel exit to the Ballard industrial area will have a devastating effect on the maritime and fishing industries and family jobs,” he said. “Connections to and from Ballard/Interbay, Magnolia and the cruise ship terminals are not addressed in this design.”

After touring the open house and speaking with representatives on hand, Douglas said he supports the tunnel. “This was the solution that I thought made more sense because it minimized the amount of time that we’re just cut off altogether and helps the general in the long term,” he said. Bob Powers, the Deputy Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation tells us that construction of the bored tunnel is expected to begin in 2011 and be open to drivers in 2015. Added transit service will begin in 2010, and the Spokane Street and Mercer Street projects are slated to be complete by 2012.

Also: City council OK’s funding to rebuild Mercer Street
Plus: WSDOT renderings of the tunnel | Video animation

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flexi

I think the options you mention, Ryan, are worse than what we have -- much worse. The viaduct is a bypass around the traffic congestion. Mercer has for years been one of the most notorious traffic messes in Seattle. Trucks that are now able to travel on 15th to Elliott to the viadcut will add time to their trips by going through Fremont instead. Some trucks will not be allowed in the new tunnel , depending on their cargo. Those trucks would have to travel on downtown city streets. For people who drive for a living -- repairpersons, gardeners, housecleaners, delivery people -- adding 15 minutes to every trip is a problem. During rush hours the viaduct is almost always passable now, while there are often problems on I-5 or in Fremont. One blocking accident in Fremont ties up traffic for a huge area. A city the size of Seattle needs a bypass like the viaduct. And we need to support the kind of businesses that depend on a bypass. Otherwise, we end up with a much less diverse city, without jobs for a variety of income levels. Not everyone just needs to get downtown or to the U dristrict from Ballard and Magnolia.

Ryan

I guess my question would be, why can't the industrial traffic that currently uses the Western Ave. onramps use either 39th street, Mercer Street, or Alaskan Way to access the Rte. 99 corridor? It doesn't seem like any of these options are really any worse than what we have today.

gurple

I agree that the tunnel is the best option, but it's definitely a step down in access for western Ballard. To go to the airport right now, I go over the Ballard bridge, cruise down Elliott, and hop on the viaduct south of Denny. The tunnel will mean going Market or 39th to Aurora instead.

I don't care so much about less access for people like myself, especially after the train to the airport comes in. But all the industrial use of the viaduct along Shilshole is going to have to find a new route, and that's a pretty big deal. Queen Anne is going to be swamped.

Mondoman

J&R, from what I heard the access issues are:
1) Unlike the I90 tunnels, "hazardous" cargo will not be allowed in this tunnel, but will instead have to take either I5 or Alaskan Way.
2) No more direct access from Elliot/Western; traffic will have to head through on Mercer (through a section with only 1 through lane each direction) to get to/from the tunnel entrance.
3) No intermediate exits downtown from the tunnel, so if you want to get somewhere downtown, you will have to go on surface streets.

I agree that it's the best available option, and it IS a lot better than the previous tunnel and surface-only options. The benefit of continuing to use the current viaduct while boring the new tunnel is a big one.

Ryan

I think access for Ballard is just as good as before, if not better. Being able to access via an improved Mercer Street is a great option. Either way, I access the viaduct via Market or 39th as it is, I don't understand all the fuss.

The tunnel isn't perfect but it's clearly the best of the options on the table. Let's start the digging.

Joey

I guess I don't understand how access to the tunnel from Ballard is different from access to the viaduct. Market to 99 seems to be the case in both, what am I missing?

gurple

The open house was well-run and had a lot of good information. They were very frank about the fact that the tunnel means reduced access for Ballard, and they came prepared to talk about it.

A lot of the people who attended were in Full Crank Mode, though. People would walk up to someone from an organization that had nothing to do with their pet peeve and start ranting away at the top of their lungs.

I was impressed with the professionalism of the representatives that I talked to. I wouldn't have kept my cool nearly as well.