Gov. Chris Gregoire, Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond and other officials turned over ceremonial shovels full of dirt Wednesday in Seattle to mark the beginning of construction on a tunnel that will replace a viaduct on the downtown waterfront.

Gregoire says the Alaskan Way Viaduct will fall down if it's not taken down. She says the project will give Seattle a world class waterfront.

KIRO-TV reports ( http://is.gd/bBowSO) drilling will start next year on the 2-mile tunnel that will be more than 50 feet in diameter. It should be carrying traffic under downtown Seattle in 2015.

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Information from: KIRO-TV, htthttp://www.kirotv.com/index.html