Seattle City Council votes to proceed with tunnel

The Seattle City Council has voted unanimously to move forward with a plan to replace the aging Alaskan Way Viaduct along the Seattle waterfront with a deep-bored tunnel.

The vote authorizes the state Department of Transportation and the city to begin working on the tunnel project, which is expected to cost more than $4 billion. The council's vote Monday means the city is ready to work with the state and agrees the new tunnel replacement should open in 2015. Councilman Bruce Harrell says the vote is simply a policy statement, and not contractually binding.

Seattle mayoral candidate Mike McGinn previously said he'd fight to stop the project. But he said after Monday's vote that although he disagrees with the decision, it would be his job to uphold the agreement if elected.

Mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan has expressed support for the tunnel and praised the council vote.

---

Information from: KOMO-TV, http://www.komotv.com/