Originally published Saturday, March 3, 2007 at 12:00 AM
The Reader's View
Which way to the bridge?
It has been with some interest (and some amusement) that I have been reading and hearing about the Alaskan Way Viaduct-vs.-tunnel controversy controversy. The Times...
Special to The Times
Today, a map to the future
It has been with some interest (and some amusement) that I have been reading and hearing about the Alaskan Way Viaduct-vs.-tunnel controversy. The Times recently published "Viaduct fight: Could streets be the answer?" [page one, Feb. 15], about "thinking outside the viaduct" box, which concerned various improvements in the downtown Seattle area.
One idea is a bridge over Elliott Bay, essentially parallel to the waterfront. This bridge could be a floating bridge, or a pier-and-span bridge. Either one would need a retractable section or a high-rise section, to allow waterborne traffic to pass through to and from the waterfront.
A high-rise section would allow bridge traffic to continue in spite of waterborne traffic. A floating bridge would probably be less expensive and construction would probably take less time.
Such a bridge would allow the viaduct to remain in use until the bridge were complete enough to carry automotive traffic. Once the bridge is usable, then, tear down the viaduct and reshape the waterfront as desired. It seems this approach would minimize traffic disruption during the entire process and would allow Seattle time to agree on the improvements to be made to the waterfront area.
The bridge could leave Highway 99 in the area of south Massachusetts Street or the west end of Atlantic Street and then reconnect to surface streets at the foot of Broad Street. Make Broad Street part of Highway 99 — the highway would then continue on Aurora Avenue, as at present.
With additional improvements, the interchange at Aurora Avenue could include access to Mercer Street, and Mercer could be modified to make access to Interstate 5 much better.
Australia has the Sydney Harbour bridge as a world-recognized landmark. Perhaps an Elliott Bay Bridge could become a Seattle landmark.
This project would take time, as will any effort to rebuild or replace the viaduct, and the cost would need to be estimated and compared with other alternatives. I think it is worthy of consideration and some serious thinking.
Glen Nickerson lives in Federal Way.
NEW - 5:04 PM
A Florida U.S. Senate candidate and crimes against writing
NEW - 5:05 PM
Guest columnist: Washington Legislature is closing budget gap with student debt
Guest columnist: Seattle Public Schools must do more than replace the chief
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: The peril of lower standards in the 'new journalism'
Neal Peirce / Syndicated columnist: How do states afford needed investment and budget cuts?

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Electronics
just listed
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
- Drivers face lengthy detours around I-5 bridge collapse
- Officials explore use of temporary, portable bridge as quick fix
- Murder suspect son of former Bush aide
- As car sinks, young man keeps cool, finds escape
- Mariners battered again
- W.Va. town transfixed by teen girls' murder plot
- Why the Mariners have gone from pitching rich to pitching fits | Jerry Brewer
- Judge: No bail for parents in second faith-healing death
- Green River faculty: no confidence in college president
- UW softball advances to College World Series
- Game thread, Mariners vs. Rangers, May 25 (plus more notes)
435 - Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment
272 - Mariners find new, old ways to lose their seventh straight
95 - Inslee: State looking at possible quick fix to bridge
89 - Judge: Arizona sheriff’s office targets Latinos
78 - Triunfel starting at second for Mariners
55 - ‘We don’t need another lawyer,’ says businesswoman running for mayor
44 - Protesters march against Monsanto in 250 cities
36 - Mariners battered again
34 - Judge: No bail for parents in second faith-healing death
31
- ‘Miracles’: 3 survive I-5 collapse
- More applicants make getting into UW tougher this year
- Drivers face lengthy detours around I-5 bridge collapse
- Bridge collapse will cause holiday travel headaches
- Span wasn’t built to take critical hit
- McNerney: Boeing will squeeze suppliers and cut jobs
- Officials explore use of temporary, portable bridge as quick fix
- Green River faculty: no confidence in college president
- As car sinks, young man keeps cool, finds escape
- Shopping-mall kiosks are little gold mines



