Poll Says Seattle Divided Over Deep Bore Tunnel
It matters a good deal what question the poll asked, of course, but if the Seattlepi.com knows, they ain't tellin'...ah, here we go: "Currently, there is a plan to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel. Do you support? Or oppose? That plan?"
Overall, 49 percent of respondents are for the tunnel, and 43 percent oppose it, which doesn't sound like consensus, or even offer a simple majority (given the +/- 4.5 percent margin of error).
We are a little tired of debating the tunnel on cost, given that we suspect the current $4.2 billion estimate represents a cynical political assessment of what the highest sell-able number was--when what really matters is what the contractors who have to build the thing think it will cost. We think those bids are expected to come in January 1, 2010, but after calling four people at WSDOT this afternoon, we haven't found anyone who knows. You'd think that'd be on a calendar somewhere.
UPDATE: Kristy from WSDOT just got back to us with the contracting schedule. The top three qualified contractors will be notified this December, and a January draft RFP issued for "Design and construction of a large-diameter bored tunnel with an approximate interior diameter of 51 feet and approximate length of 9200 lineal feet," built "in a complex geologic environment, comprised of a heterogeneous mixture of glacial deposits, including a full spectrum of clays, silts, sand, gravel, cobbles and boulders below the groundwater table. The tunnel alignment potentially impacts a large number of existing buildings and utilities, including historic structures and fragile pipelines." A final request goes out March 2010.
About a year from now, the rubber will finally meet the road, as contractors will be asked to produce a lump sum estimate for tunnel construction, and in December the State will announce the lucky winner. But we should hear as early as spring whether or not contractors are chuckling over the Legislature's magical reduction in tunneling cost for a tunnel that hasn't been designed.
