The SR99 Alaskan Way Viaduct is in dispose and City of Seattle officials have proposed a new tunnel under down town to reroute traffic off the busy surface streets. Citizens of Seattle are apposed to the project due to the high costs and for the way that funding was obtained for the project.
The article discussed how a tunnel would provide citizens with an enhanced downtown environment, a place for them to recreate, and a place where business would thrive. The project would not only redirect traffic but would include new transit lines that could further reduce traffic on the busy streets of Seattle. The article also discusses how it is the only option that would significantly reduce traffic loads on surface streets now and into the future.
After reading the article do you feel that a tunnel sounds like a good idea for Seattle? Keep in mind that it will be the largest diameter tunnel ever bored and there are no American contractors with the necessary experience in large diameter tunnels.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008610476_opin11phillips.html
I think it would be neat to see a tunnel underneath Seattle. I believe the benefits would greatly outweigh the cost of the tunnel, and be good for an American contractor to gain some experience with this magnitude of tunneling.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be interesting and something new for them to put a tunnel in Seattle. But at the end you say that there are no american contractors with the necessary experience in large diamter tunnel, which to me would be the number one problem for them to even start with this project.
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