Deep-bore tunnel OK'd for viaduct, with a dig from Chopp

AFTER years of wrangling about the design and cost of replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the Legislature approved a deep-bore tunnel. The old viaduct will be replaced by a tunnel and surface and transit improvements.

This is a big moment — a milestone accomplishment. That is especially true considering the sparring among elected officials and passion separating tunnel supporters from elevated-replacement backers from surface-transit-only advocates.

House and Senate blessings came with a considerable hitch. House Speaker Frank Chopp, who voted against the tunnel, inserted language in the legislation that says downtown and waterfront property owners must be responsible for overruns above $2.8 billion.

Chopp's petulant stance is precedent-setting in a negative way. The language not only socks it to Seattle, but also signals Bellevue, Ritzville and Walla Walla that the state will pay overruns on future projects only to a point. Then, the locality is responsible.

This is highly unusual but approving this plan became the only practical way to get the legislation through the House.

Chopp is right to question costs and overruns. No matter what state officials say now, there will be extra costs. But he is dead wrong to pretend Seattle is the only jurisdiction with a project that will exceed early estimates.

House and Senate versions of the bill will be reconciled, but Chopp's language likely will not be removed.

That should not be the end of it. Next year, Gov. Chris Gregoire, the city and Legislature must work to remove this ill-considered provision.

The goal, of course, is no overruns, but most projects have them. The state should be responsible for the tunnel work it is managing, and the city should be responsible for items it is managing, such as surface improvements and utility relocation.

For now, hurrah to the House, Senate and Gregoire for getting the legislation passed. Final agreement on a tunnel represents momentous progress for Seattle and the larger region.