Seattle Voters Say No To Two Viaduct Plans

Seattle residents roundly rejected two options to replace the city's crumbling double-decker Alaskan Way Viaduct highway. Though the vote is not binding, the politicians were listening closely to what the voters had to say.

1 minute read

March 14, 2007, 1:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg

"Seattleites cast a ballot for further political uncertainty Tuesday, as voters overwhelmingly rejected both proposals for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct -- trouncing the tunnel idea by a ratio of more than 2-to-1."

"The all-mail election, which was not binding, hands back to politicians the thorny debate over how to replace the earthquake-damaged, 54-year-old double-decker highway."

"The ballot asked voters separately what they thought of the state's proposal to build a $2.8 billion elevated highway, which Gov. Chris Gregoire supports, and a $3.4 billion four-lane tunnel that was being pushed by Mayor Greg Nickels."

"About 70 percent of voters rejected the tunnel proposal and about 55 percent shot down the elevated alternative among the nearly 99,000 ballots counted Tuesday night. It's unlikely that either measure can recover if officials' turnout projections are accurate."

FULL STORY: No and no: Voters rejecting both viaduct options

Wednesday, March 14, 2007 in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Transportation Washington

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