Close the Viaduct already

The Viaduct's closing this weekend for repairs and we should keep it closed. We're never going to decide anything while traffic is flowing freely because the problem isn't apparent enough. The Viaduct isn't safe. We're going to replace it with a tunnel or a bigger viaduct or maybe nothing at all, but we'll vote on that for the first time at the end of 2007 and who knows how long it'll be after that. We'll be zipping around with jetpacks and hover cars before we decide anything so either an earthquake is going to bring it down or we're going to decide it's time to shut off traffic.

Mayor Nichols, you've compared yourself to Mayor Daley in the past. Remember what he did at Meigs Field? You gave it a little trial run with the trees at Occidental Park but this time do it for reals. Declare it unsafe. Bulldoze it. Accidentally back a truck into it. Turn off the Viaduct and we'll see how quickly we decide what to do next.