Dear Editor,

We are ratcheting up the opposition to the I-99 tunnel in Seattle that is planned to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. We think it is time that some honesty and responsibility came to this matter, including that the State of Washington and the city of Seattle have buried a reasonable alternative to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a cable stayed bridge, six lanes (in contrast to the four planned for the tunnel) in the right-of-way of the Viaduct, that will provide access to Northwest Seattle and Downtown, but most importantly costs $450 Million, and with ramps and utility replacement barely breaks a $1 Billion in total cost (see the full story and the documentation for this at www.yesviaduct.com).

Many might say, "oh it's elevated," "oh it's a bridge," but we think who cares? It is functional, it maintains all the aspects of the present Viaduct, access to all points north, south, east, and west, maintains through-put capacity, vehicle capacity, and opens up the central waterfront just like all the supporters of the tunnel want.

This alternative was thoroughly vetted by WSDOT, in fact they prepared engineered drawings for it, and yet it has never seen the light of day - the drawings and report were marked - "Not for Public Disclosure."

Now we know the cost of this option, why was it not thoroughly disclosed to the public, the the blue ribbon commission, to the various stakeholders committees? In a word, corruption. Corruption of not just the political process, but corruption in WSDOT and in the city of Seattle. Remember, a Seattle councilmember, the deputy mayor of Seattle and others conspired to come up with the famous election on viaduct replacement alternatives that nullified itself.

In the end, why are we the taxpayers supposed to ante up four times the money for a project that should really cost 75 percent less, that benefits less than half of the present users of the viaduct, and that wholesale disenfranchises a third of Seattle's residents? Fact of the matter - is we should not!

We think it is time that the people of Eastern Washington, the people in outlying areas of Seattle, and the people in other areas of Western Washington learn how their tax dollars are being spent, disproportionately first, and wantonly second, for a needless Seattle transportation project that creates transportation problems, not solves them!

Thank you for your time and we will be happy to answer any questions you have about this matter.

Elizabeth Campbell
YesViaduct.com chair