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Roger's Home Journal

Are We Ready For Another Earthquake?

By Roger Faris

May 29, 2001 -- News flash: The parapet wall of a historic Fremont building just fell onto the sidewalk in the middle of the night on May 23. A similar incident occurred in Pioneer Square a day earlier. What's going on, and what else is lurking out there?

We were incredibly lucky that nobody was killed by the tons of masonry that came crashing down during the Nisqually Earthquake. During these most recent incidents we have, once again, been spared from injury or death. How long will this luck hold? Perhaps it's time to get serious about making the investments that could save our lives and protect the economic health of the region.

I think that Seattle's Mayor has shown courage, as well as wisdom, in suggesting that we consider all possible alternatives for dealing with the Alaska Way Viaduct problem. He is aware that the structure has many passionate defenders, in spite of being dangerous, ugly, and noisy (the viaduct, not the defenders). People who love the viaduct use it as a regular transportation link, and as a vantage for breathtaking views of Seattle, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains. I entirely understand those sentiments, but doubt that retrofitting or replacement with another elevated structure is the best answer.

There are serious problems with the options of retrofitting the viaduct to withstand earthquake forces, or replacing it entirely. The expense of either option would be enormous, and a long period of terrible traffic disruption would be unavoidable. An additional nightmare is the possibility that we would need to replace the concrete seawall defining the boundary between Elliott Bay and the land. That ancient structure was built to protect the shoreline and hold hydraulically deposited fill material on the inland side. Failure of part of the seawall, during an earthquake or at some more arbitrary time, could cause the collapse of a retrofitted or new Alaska Way Viaduct.

The option of doing nothing is no longer acceptable. We know that the viaduct was not built to an adequate standard for seismic safety. In addition, engineers are now doing a careful evaluation to estimate its remaining useful life, irrespective of earthquake forces. The preliminary findings are not encouraging. Five to ten years is my prediction.

I share the Mayor's view that the option of a tunnel may be feasible and highly desirable. If we remove the elevated highway we could create open space, plant trees, and have pathways for everyone to enjoy. It would absolutely transform our waterfront. Have you been there (out of your car) during one of the emergency repair closures of the viaduct? It's amazing to hear waves lapping at the shore (eroding the seawall), and the fantastic variety of birds and ducks communicating with each other.

The tunnel concept is the only option to avoid traffic disruption during construction. It could be built while we continue to get the last bit of use from the old viaduct. A tunnel certainly presents its own serious challenges. Paying for it could require both taxes and tolls (not particularly popular). It might have fewer direct connections to the downtown core, although that could be considered a good feature.

For scenery while motoring through that stretch, we'd have to settle for a few murals. (I promise to write a guidebook to help motorists discover the many places to pull over, get out, and really enjoy the views.) What are the prospects for actually accomplishing such a large and complicated project? Last time I wrote about this subject, I pointed out that we built the Grand Coulee Dam, and a lot of other big things, during the Great Depression.

We don't have an economic crisis now, but we do have quite a collection of skeptics and cynics who speak right up, but rarely offer useful alternative solutions. I've already heard a bizarre assertion that waterfront open space would only benefit wealthy condo residents. I hope our elected officials and citizens can work through this, and keep our region moving. Thanks again, Mayor Schell, for making the effort.


Roger Faris is the director of the Phinney Neighborhood Association Well Home Program and Project Impact Earthquake Retrofit Program. He can be reached at (206) 789-4993.


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