The $2B tunnel project for the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct crossed a major hurdle with the approval of a document that will allow the environmental studies for the project to continue. Mayor McGinn’s position is that more time was needed to evaluate the document and he was concerned that a tunnel option was a predetermined outcome of the study. He went even farther by alleging that WSDOT and the City Council conspired to ‘violate the city charter [regarding separation of powers] and state law’. Nevertheless, Councilman Conlin signed the document allowing WSDOT to continue their progress towards a construction contract in early 2011. [Source: Seattle Times Newspaper. Image: Seattle Times]
