SEATTLE (AP) — The tunnel to be bored under downtown Seattle to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct would pass under 137 buildings.
The Washington Transportation Department is worried that one of the buildings could settle a couple of inches. It’s the six-story, century-old Western Building in the Pioneer Square area. It sits on fill dirt and rotting pilings about four blocks from one end of the tunnel.
The Western Building is filled with lofts and studios for about 100 artists. The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce reports they’ll have to move out.
The Transportation Department is deciding whether to tear down the building or reinforce it to withstand construction of the 57-foot diameter tunnel about 80 feet below.
