Update: "We Didn't Intend to Spin!" Says WSDOT

The latest chapter in the drama (using the term loosely) around WSDOT's updates of the Alaskan Way Viaduct article on Wikipedia. Wiki administrator Crzrussion posted on the article's talk page this explanation from Amy Grotefendt at WSDOT :

No offense was intended in providing updates to the Wikipedia page, and we want to abide by the expectations and guidelines involving the Wikipedia community. The Wikipedia page was updated on October 27, 2006, to correct inaccuracies about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Project and project cost estimates. Below is the information we wanted to correct – we invite others to make these updates or we would like to make these changes, if no one objects.

• Under the Options section, the page read that seven replacement alternatives were studied in our Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and what followed was a bulleted list of eight replacement alternatives (this discrepancy has since been corrected). In our DEIS, released in 2004, we only studied five alternatives. We did not study retrofitting the viaduct, a series of cable-stayed bridges, or a Transit+Streets alternative in the DEIS. These alternatives have been considered at other times and in separate studies, but since the discussion was already framed in terms of what was studied in the DEIS, we wanted to show the five alternatives that were actually studied in the DEIS.

• Cost information: In September 2006, WSDOT updated cost information for the Tunnel and Elevated Structure Alternatives, in order to account for national trends of rising inflation rates and construction costs.

All of this information can be seen in more detail at the project Web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/viaduct, and is based on technical studies completed by subject-matter experts.

Our goal was to present accurate information about this complex project. We think sites such as Wikipedia are a great way for people to get information and engage in dialogue about replacing the viaduct and seawall. We value the time and energy users spend on providing information to each other on this site and want to meet the expectations of other participants.

Crzrussian's take on the controversy, posted in the comments to an earlier post: "Tho it's undoubtedly a conflict of interest for them to edit the article, that does not mean their changes must necessarily be reverted." (And he's in Jersey, so doesn't have a dog in this fight.)

The talk page also reveals the article's previous major controversy: whether or not it should contain a link to the song "Alaskan Way Viaduct" by Kenji Beatbox.