Viaduct replacement costs skyrocket

[flamingyouth]

Costs for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct have skyrocketed, according to new figures released this morning by the state Department of Transportation.

Building a tunnel for commuters would cost $4.63 billion, compared with orginal cost estimates between $3 billion and $3.6 billion. To build an elevated replacement, officials said, the new costs would be $2.82 billion, compared initial costs of $2 billion and $2.4 billion.

Officials are deciding between building a new viaduct, and building a six-lane tunnel, favored by most council members and Mayor Greg Nickels.

A state-appointed panel of experts, however, warned in August that costs could change dramatically because of construction-cost inflation. The panel questioned whether the current cost estimates underestimated inflation, adding that materials costs could end up being four times as high.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/285811_via20ww.html