Don't curse your kids with another viaduct

Last year, the Nisqually earthquake damaged the Alaskan Way Viaduct so severely that the state Department of Transportation determined that it is penny wise and pound foolish to repair it and that a new highway must be built. Though no one is excited about having to pay for it, the task of replacing the viaduct fell upon our generation of Washingtonians. So now the question is: What do we want for the future of our downtown Seattle waterfront?

To make a smart decision, we need to understand what is important to our region as well as our options. Most people agree on two goals for the waterfront: It needs to serve as a major transportation corridor and be a place that is enjoyed by everyone.

It's good that people can travel through the waterfront, but replacing the viaduct is more than just a transportation project; it is a historic decision. In fact, replacement of the viaduct is unique compared to all other current transportation projects in Washington. This project alone will directly affect more pedestrians than all other highway projects combined currently under consideration by the Department of Transportation.

Imagine building a double-decked freeway on Alki, Shilshole or the Kirkland waterfront. For that matter, imagine building a double-decked freeway within 100 feet of any natural treasure or landmark. The community members and political leaders of those communities wouldn't dream of building a 62-foot-high, 2.3-mile-long concrete barricade in any of those neighborhoods. And for good reason: The idea of a viaduct on any waterfront is tragic. It's bad for our quality of life, it's bad for our economy and it's a curse on future generations.

Every town and city in our region makes its own contribution to the spirit of the Northwest. Seattle's contribution is that of the "big city." Big cities provide amenities to the citizens of their regions such as major-league sports teams, historic landmarks and high quality arts. Seattle's waterfront should be an amenity for Puget Sound, like Mount Rainier, Pike Place Market or the Seattle Mariners — something that we all take pride in and visitors come to see.

Without the viaduct, the waterfront will help our economy because it will be a destination. Recently, San Francisco, Portland and Tacoma made significant investments in their waterfronts. In each of those cities, new businesses opened near the water and created new jobs. Once the viaduct is gone, people will be more likely to spend time downtown. Families will be more inclined to eat on the waterfront and then go to a Mariners game or shop downtown before visiting the aquarium or enjoying a concert on the pier.

Likewise, the construction process of building a tunnel will be much easier on businesses than a new viaduct. The viaduct-replacement option requires that a temporary viaduct be built over Alaskan Way, next to the current viaduct. Then, after years of construction, the old viaduct would be torn down and a third viaduct must be built for permanent use. That means years of ongoing construction nightmares for waterfront businesses.

Conversely, a cut-and-cover tunnel will be constructed mostly under the shield of a road-top lid.

After construction workers dig a one-story-deep trench, two or three blocks at a time, they'll cover the trench and make it ready for traffic. Underneath, they'll then dig down three to five stories and build the tunnel. Up on the surface, business, traffic and pedestrians will find mobility relatively easy compared to the ongoing pain of building two new viaducts.

The viaduct makes the waterfront dirty and noisy — a new viaduct would be even worse. Because of current freeway design standards, a new viaduct would be roughly 50-percent larger than its predecessor — casting even more of a shadow and noise cloud over the waterfront. Seattle deserves a waterfront that everyone can use — not just cars.

A true waterfront, without a viaduct, will be a treasure for generations. Like the Pike Place Market, Seattle Center and Pioneer Square, we have an opportunity to create a place that draws a cross-section of residents and visitors, old and young, for business and pleasure.

Thirty years from now, our children, as parents and working professionals, will make decisions about where they want to live based on the quality of life that our region has to offer. When they look back and judge the choice we make today, we'll want them to say "thanks!" — not "thanks a lot."

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It isn't often that, with one decision, a generation gets to dramatically improve the profile of its city. Yet, that is the crux of our decision. By replacing the viaduct with a tunnel, we can reunite Seattle with Elliott Bay and create a waterfront that will make us the envy of cities throughout the world.

David Yeaworth is president of Allied Arts of Seattle, an organization devoted to enhancing the cultural livability of Seattle. Allied Arts is a founding member of the Waterfront for All coalition.