Originally published September 19, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified September 19, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Bellevue taking traffic below ground
Crossing Northeast Eighth Street in Bellevue on foot or by car can be a challenge, but workers are nearing completion of an underground...
Seattle Times Eastside bureau
Crossing Northeast Eighth Street in Bellevue on foot or by car can be a challenge, but workers are nearing completion of an underground tunnel that should ease the journey.
Workers broke through on a final wall Tuesday, connecting two parking areas beneath Bellevue Place and Lincoln Square.
The privately funded tunnel, which cost $4.5.million, is unusual because it combines both pedestrians and cars, city officials have said.
When the tunnel opens to the public in November, it will connect Lincoln Square, on the south side of the street, with Bellevue Place, on the north side. The tunnel will connect level P3 at Bellevue Place with level P3 at Lincoln Square.
The Bellevue City Council OK'd the tunnel last year, and work started in January.
The tunnel, about 45 feet below street level, is two traffic lanes, or 36 feet, wide and includes a pedestrian walkway. It measures 17 ½ feet high and 96 feet long.
Kemper Development and city officials calculated how many vehicles would use the tunnel and figured it would come to about 800 vehicles daily, including shoppers, workers and hotel guests. It will result in 234,733 vehicle trips being taken off the street each year, according to their figuring.
The tunnel is expected to provide customers with more parking options, especially during busy seasons.
Peyton Whitely: 206-464-2259 or pwhitely@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Electronics
just listed
Adorable Bull Terrier puppies for good home...
AKC Great Dane Puppies Ready
AKC PAL/ILP Registered Labs
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
497 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
389 - Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
324 - AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule
303 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
108 - Rough road again
108 - A few late-night notes
84 - USA Today further spells out how Mariners, handful of clubs next in line for huge cash windfall
75 - Marijuana legalization initiative set to go on Nov. ballot
72
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- Bellevue College adds a third bachelor's degree program
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
