SEATTLE—
The state says there's a one in ten chance a major quake could cause parts of the viaduct to collapse. It's those concerns that have the Washington State Department of Transportation or WSDOT planning a warning system for the structure. Construction Director Matt Preedy said "we don't necessarily like those odds so we would like to put a system in place that ensures that we can rapidly and safely close the structure almost immediately."That means flashing lights and nine gates at the on-ramps. They will be similar to the automatic gates you see at railroad crossings. "This system will prevent further people from entering perhaps an unsafe situation" Preedy explained.
Martin Duke with the Seattle Transit Blog worries "it doesn't do anything for people who are already under the viaduct, on the viaduct or in buildings next to the viaduct when an earthquake begins." Duke also points out the state could pursue other options to keep people safe including shutting down the viaduct before the replacement tunnel is completed.
The money for the project has also raised some eyebrows. The cost is $5.5 million dollars from the National Highway System fund. It means taxpayer money being spent to put a warning system on a structure set for demolition.
"The road is going to be open for another 5 years or so, it's just a necessary precaution to make sure people are safe for the next five years" WSDOT Assistant Regional Administrator Dave McCormick explains. Construction of the new system will start in August, it's supposed to be up and running by the end of the year. "If we can buy 15 minutes in closing the facility, and there's a catastrophe on the bridge that we need to shut the roadway down it's worth every penny" McCormick added.
