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The Tunnel

(28 posts)

Started 2 years ago by Nora Charles
Latest reply from pennygirl

Nora Charles

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"The Stand" - my teeth chatter thinking about that story.

Do you realize how the landscape of the entire Cascade neighborhood is about to change? Talk about BUSY...lotsa traffic coming out around the brand spankin' new Gates Foundation Campus, the Seattle Center, McDonalds and all the businesses and apartments north of Denny, east of the Space Needle and West of Dexter Avenue. Uh huh...a bustling with movement 24/7.

I work over there - WDOT has condemned our building - its going to be the site of the light rail sub-station. Not too far away from our building location the tunnel will end and cars will be back out on the open road...probably in droves...just like always and then some - I-99 like traffic...all the time. Busy, busy, busy.

The tunnel project is moving along...WDOT is on our street drilling for soil samples. Makes a TON of noise and I can feel the building vibrate from the drilling they are doing. Slightly unsettling.

I'm one of those ones against the tunnel...some say its a done deal and others sound hopeful it wont happen. What do you think?

Posted 2 years ago #
acass206

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Well, living in Ballard I oppose it. I'm hoping it won't happen, seeing as how it would be a real non-improvement for anyone from the neighborhood, among a myriad of other reasons. But I'm also too much of a realist to assume that there's really anything that can be done to stop it at this point. Gregoire and the entire state government are set on it. McGinn isn't going to be able to stand alone forever against the city council and the Governor and legislature. The state has already started putting too much work into the early stages of the project to stop now. Some miracle would have to happen to turn a 180 at this point IMHO.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mondoman

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One of those "worst solution except for all the others" people, am I.

Posted 2 years ago #
cd6

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I take 99 every day, and hate the tunnel, especially if they toll to make up for the ridiculously high cost. I'm all for a viaduct replacement.

We used to live in south lake union, its crazy how different it looks with all the mercer buildings knocked down

Posted 2 years ago #
teigyr

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I take 99 four days a week and I vote for most cost effective, least impact to environment and neighbors, and most efficient and safe. Is that too much to ask for? I do think that when this all goes down, it's going to make my commute really evil while it's being built, no matter what they go with. It is seriously time to win that lottery.

Posted 2 years ago #
Gilman Girl

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http://www.scatnow.com/

No one has secured catastrophic insurance for the tunnel.

Posted 2 years ago #
jburgh

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Gilman Girl, that is what concerns me. Granted, I spent the first 30 years of my life in Chicago, but isn't a tunnel a bad thing in an earthquake prone area? What is wrong with a nice surface option? Chicago has Lake Shore Drive, and it works fine, has exits to downtown, and preserves the city view for drivers.

Posted 2 years ago #
Gilman Girl

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I believe, The city bought a portion of the deep boring machine already, illegally as its up to the contractor to make that purchase. And I think, the sole bidding contractor is hedging out.

I have a good friend very involved in this, but 'I' don't always remember the facts.
Wish I could point you in the right direction for the best coverage.

Posted 2 years ago #
volvoguy

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I've posted this before;

Tunnel:
1. No downtown exits.
2. Loss of that great view.
3. Way too expensive.
4. I HATE TUNNELS; fear of vehicle accident with fire, fear of being trapped/buried.

Can't be stopped? Think about the Monorail. We should abort this very bad idea right now. McGinn isn't standing alone - he's got lots of us with him. If the Council doesn't listen, they just might go bye-bye.

Posted 2 years ago #
marigold

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The tunnel is a done deal. McGinn is just spreading fear. See volvoguy #4.

Posted 2 years ago #
rodmunch

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how's that brightwater tunnel working out?

Posted 2 years ago #
SPG

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I went to the DOT dog and pony show for the tunnel last year and I came away with fewer major concerns, but still not sold on the whole thing. Since more details have come out since then, I'm feeling more and more opposed to the whole thing.

Pro:
We don't lose 99 while it's being built.
We get a nice waterfront promenade.

Con:
Holy Carp is this thing expensive!
No downtown exits. (What? Nobody goes downtown anymore?)
Loss of the view. (Crackhead Park by Pike Place is not a substitute.)
Tolls. $7.50 round trip!
Reduced capacity over what exists now which will push more traffic to the streets.

Posted 2 years ago #
wally

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The Brightwater tunneling is coming along. Several of the tunnels are complete, and there is a plan for completion of the last tunnel. Yes, they had some major issues, but it's a pretty huge project, so that's to be expected. And, no, I don't work for the County or any of the tunnel contractors.

That said, I like the viaduct. I'd prefer to replace it than put in a tunnel.

Posted 2 years ago #
great idea

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isn't the 'plan for completion' trying to fix a huge machine that's broken and stuck underground a few hundred feet?

I don't have any faith in local geotech engineers' ability to accurately predict what they will encounter when they dig.

Posted 2 years ago #
Ballard Dad

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@rodmunch: "how's that brightwater tunnel working out? "

Not to worry, this tunnel is bigger and more complicated than that silly old blightwater. This one should work out just peachy.

Posted 2 years ago #
whitman

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@ greatidea: Seattle has some of the best geo-technical engineers in the nation. They, however, can only do as many test borings as wash dot will pay for. This is the reason why team #2 drop out of the running for contract. That team felt that there were not enough test borings and not enough contingency money provided by wash dot for the uncertainty in the soils.

Posted 2 years ago #
erryn77

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My gut says bad idea.
I have been reading the articles in the Stranger about the tunnel. I find it hard to believe that the city would agree to this project. Risky does not even begin to describe it.

Posted 2 years ago #
ballardmike

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Use the viaduct every day... will miss it when it goes. Will likely use surface streets more. 4th isn't too bad coming north from south end overall.

Yeah... monorail. HA HA HA!! Voted (and approved) Twice. Yep. That'll happen.

Posted 2 years ago #
Dweezil

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Hopefully this will get delayed over and over again like the monorail so that in 2013 the next small quake hits and the old viaduct will squish me into paste.

Lols aside, I see mention of the "loss of view". Is this the view while driving on the viaduct? I don't think removing the distraction for drivers during rush hour is all that bad.

Posted 2 years ago #
Edog

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"2. Loss of that great view." I thought the replacement viaduct had median walls so high most would not be able to see the view anyhow, so how is this a consideration between the alternatives?

Posted 2 years ago #
marigold

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Yes Edog, you are correct. Because of safety standards which are more stringent when it was first built, a viaduct replacement would be bigger, beefier and have higher walls blocking views. Not to mention that even more of downtown would be in its shadow and some buildings would have to be delomished. Between replacement, tunnel or surface, replacement is the worst option. No one wins that hand.

Posted 2 years ago #
BriarRose

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Yes marigold. In fact a new viaduct would destroy views not create a nice one.

I've never quite understood that issues anyway. Maybe if more people got out of Ballard and out of their cars they would realize there are wonderful views without driving on a cement monstrosity.

When when the thing comes crashing down those who pushed delay will be crying the loudest that no one did anything.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rudy

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marigold +1

Posted 2 years ago #
great idea

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is it true that the higher barricade would just block the view from a small car, while giving SUV and truck drivers an unimpeded panorama?

Posted 2 years ago #
Edog

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"No one has secured catastrophic insurance for the tunnel." Is it standard to have policy like that at this point in the project?

Posted 2 years ago #
old_lady

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I always use Elliot to get into town and go to Fremont to get on 99 to go through town. I just hope we don't end up with the surface alternative. Have you ever tried to go anywhere near Seattle Center when the tunnel is closed or there is a big event at the Center? It can take 30 minutes to go a few blocks. The same happens on the waterfront when there's a game- and God help you if there are big ferry crowds as well.

Posted 2 years ago #
Nora Charles

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I believe the tunnel exit comes out somewhere near Denny and Broad or maybe even Taylor. Just think of it...rush hour...people coming out of the tunnel, by then the Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation will be complete and populated with esteemed employees (and LOTS of them)... more traffic.

By the time the tunnel is complete my office will be in a further south location...I'll be in the thick of it with everyone else. I loath the thought of driving in tunnels. I'm not as scared to ride in tunnels but driving in them...uhhh...not so much.

Did anyone here ever read Stephen King's The Stand?

Posted 2 years ago #
pennygirl

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I did Nora. I don't like tunnels either.

Posted 2 years ago #