Guest commentary: Deep-bore tunnel is best replacement option

The Washington state House of Representatives is currently considering a bill that would replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct on State Route 99 in Seattle with a deep-bored tunnel and transit alternative. For the casual observer living here, that may seem a long way from the Yakima Valley. But for our local economy and its growers, shippers and other businesses, it is actually very important.

SR 99 connects the north and south accesses to the Port of Seattle, including that from Interstate 90. It is therefore a vital artery when it comes to shipping our agricultural and industrial goods. That is important for my organization's members and many others in Eastern Washington.

Our organization -- the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association -- has represented the tree fruit industry in the southern portion of Washington state since 1917. Today, this association's primary membership is made up of 42 tree fruit packer-growers who annually provide half of the apples consumed in the United States, and return from these sales nearly $2 billion to the state economy each year.

Every single week, association members provide in excess of $15 million in paychecks to people in Central Washington. Each and every week, association members deliver 70 million pounds of food to the world.

Export markets purchase 30 million cases of apples annually from Washington tree fruit growers (when the Yakima and Wenatchee districts are combined) and receive in excess of 70 to 750 containers shipped for export every week from these growers. Nearly one-third of Washington's tree fruit crop is consumed outside the United States. Exports are highly valued, not just because of the dollars they return, but also because they provide extra demand for crops when harvests surpass domestic demand.

Consistent, efficient and uninterrupted access to the Port of Seattle (not only for export markets, but other, coastal domestic markets) is absolutely critical to our industry as well as others located on this side of the Cascade Mountains. And SR 99 is a critical link to the port.

Since 1959, the Alaskan Way Viaduct has served traffic going to and from the port. In 2001, the 6.8-magnitude Nisqually earthquake shook it and severely damaged it. Though temporary repairs have allowed the viaduct to be reopened, state leaders are now seeking a way to replace it.

Several proposals have been considered, including the use of surface streets and transit only (surface option), replacement with another elevated structure, and the deep-bore tunnel and transit option now under consideration by the Legislature.

There are several significant flaws to both the surface-only and elevated options. The surface-only option would eliminate one of only three north-south transportation corridors in the Puget Sound area (i.e. the gateway to the port), thus paving the way for gridlock on those streets, as well as Interstate 5 and I-405. The elevated option would involve tearing down the Alaskan Way Viaduct and gridlock for up to six years while the replacement structure is built.

On the other hand, the deep-bore tunnel could be built while the reinforced Alaskan Way Viaduct continues to function. This will keep our truckers going to the port and the economic benefits flowing to Central and Eastern Washington.

For these reasons, our association believes that the proposed Seattle deep-bore tunnel is the optimal solution in providing a clear access to and from the port via Interstate 90 and other routes. This proposal provides a reconstruction plan that minimizes traffic congestion during construction and provides an efficient travel path to and across SR 99 for years to come.

We encourage the Legislature to support the deep-bore tunnel as the best available solution to this transport issue.

* Keith Mathews is the executive director of the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association.