12/30/2009 1:38:00 PM GUEST COLUMN | Viaduct on the lake?
■ This drawing shows how high the pontoons are above the lake, as well as the height of the underside of the bridge. (The 520 Coalition inserted the text into the drawing.) courtesy of Washington State Dept. of Transportation
Visualize the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Now put that viaduct in Union Bay and in Lake Washington.
IMPACT ON MADISON PARK
The roadway base at Foster Island will be about 10 feet higher than the island. It will then slope upward to about 30 feet above the water in front of Canterbury Shores and Edgewater and rise to 45 feet and possibly higher at the west high-rise of state Route 520. The bridge will slope down slightly from the high-rise to about 30 feet above the water. The top of the roadway will be 8 feet higher than its base.
This will be a significant visual blight and blocks all views north and northeast at the north end of Madison Park - not to mention its impact on Union Bay.
From Foster Island to the west high-rise the bridge will remain where it is currently, but it will be north of the existing floating bridge from the west high-rise across the lake.
It's not just height - it's noise. Because of the west high-rise, truck noise will significantly increase as they power up and brake down the new grade. No viable noise-abatement plan exists.
The bridge will not only be higher, it will be wider. It will have six 11-foot lanes, a 10- and 4-foot shoulder and a pedestrian/bike lane for an interior width of 88 feet and an exterior width of 90 to 100 feet.
This is essentially the new Plan A+ recommended by the Legislative Work Group, which was charged with making the final SR520 design recommendations. This plan was announced on Nov. 17; the group's final proposal went to the governor on Monday, Jan 1.
The original Plan K (now Plan M) was one of the most favored plans developed by a mediation group appointed by the Governor. It included a tunnel under the Montlake Cut and kept the bridge at 4 feet above the water, rather than the 30 to 40 feet as proposed. It had the support of the Bay Area Communities (BAC), including Portage Bay, Laurelhurst, Roanoke, North Capitol Hill, Montlake and Broadmoor/Madison Park.
Plan A+ eliminates the tunnel, adds a new drawbridge over the Montlake Cut and calls for the purchase and removal of several residences.
The current drawbridge opens and closes 90 times per day; another four-lane drawbridge will not solve that congestion problem.
FUNDING
Rebuilding SR520 involves major transportation changes on both sides of the lake. Most of the available money is currently dedicated for the floating (pontoon) bridge. But even with tolls from SR520 and Interstate 90 for the Interstate 5-to-Redmond segment, plus federal and state funds, the overall project still has a $1 billion shortfall.
Consequently, the BAC recommends only safety repairs be made now. Any expansion must be based on securing the necessary funds and a design acceptable to the BAC along the lines agreed upon earlier.
MAKING DECISIONS
The process is particularly disturbing. Decisions about the bridge impact not only local neighborhoods, but individuals and businesses on both sides of Lake Washington. Consequently, the governor appointed a mediation group that has met for 18 months. Maurice Cooper, Broadmoor resident and former president of Madison Park Community Council, was our representative on the Mediation Committee.
After long months of negotiating and community meetings, the Mediation Committee could not reach a consensus. However, the Bay Communities did: Plan K. It kept the bridge at its current height, required noise abatement, moved the interchange, includes a tunnel immediately east of the Museum of History & Industry and had a Foster Island lid.
The BAC's recommendations were ignored. Worse, the Legislative Work Group's new proposal had virtually no public input - only two public hearings between Nov. 19 and Dec. 4. Such major decisions require meaningful time for public comment. Most Madison Park residents have not had a chance to review and comment on the design; many are totally unaware of the changes.
WHAT CAN BE DONE
We are lucky to have a solid 43rd District delegation when it comes to SR520. Sen. Ed Murray, House Speaker Frank Chopp and Rep. Jamie Pedersen are solidly opposed to Plan A+. Both Pedersen and Chopp were on the Work Group, but their "no" votes were outgunned.
They need to hear from all of us now. Call or e-mail them and share your views. Write or call the City Council and the mayor. While the state has the final decision, the city issues the permits.
The Madison Park Community Council is on record against Plan A+. (See the letter on our website: www.madisonparkcouncil.org.)
Please visit our website and sign up to receive updates, or e-mail us at council@madisonparkcouncil.org.
Our community is only as strong as our collective engagement. Act now! We don't want a viaduct on Lake Washington.
Ken Myrabo is president of the Madison Park Community Council, and Kathleen O'Connor is a member-at-large on the council.
