Engineering firm to study proposal for viaduct retrofit

For months the state Department of Transportation has dismissed proposals to repair, not replace, the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

But now, the state plans to hire an engineering firm to study a retrofit plan crafted by retired structural engineer Victor Gray of Port Townsend.

Gray, along with engineer Neil Twelker, has proposed bracing the viaduct with steel beams. While Gray claims his plan is much cheaper than the $2.5 billion to $4 billion replacement cost, the fact it could be done without major viaduct closures gives the idea clout among business owners.

Gray claims the viaduct could be repaired for $800 million.

"We don't think it's a good idea," said Ron Paananen, viaduct project manager.

"But they've gotten some attention from their latest proposal, and it seems reasonable to give it a look and see if it works technically."

The state has hired T.Y. Lin International to study the retrofit idea, the same company the state hired in 2001 to look at viaduct options. The company found a retrofit wasn't wise or cost-effective. Paananen, who expects the report to be completed in about six weeks, acknowledged the decision to study a retrofit option is a victory for Gray.

"We recognize there's a lot of people out there who still believe it can be retrofitted," Paananen said. "Let's see what the experts tell us."

The state says a retrofit would cost 80 to 90 percent of replacement costs, something Gray disputes.

Replacing the viaduct with a tunnel is projected to cost from $3.7 billion to $4.5 billion. Rebuilding the viaduct with another aerial structure is estimated at $2.5 billion to $2.9 billion.

Jugesh Kapur, the state's bridge engineer, said Gray just provided the state with drawings and his proposal needs to be vetted by engineers.

"We'll take what [Gray] proposed, analyze it, and then decide what to do," he said. The driving factor in the study, Kapur said, is the notion that the viaduct could remain open.

But he said he can't imagine the city would ever agree to Gray's proposal because it would be a mesh of columns and cross bracing under the viaduct. Not only would it take out parking, it would be an eyesore, Kapur said.

After T.Y. Lin finishes its work, the state plans to assemble a panel of engineers to look at the Lin report and determine whether a retrofit is possible.

Paananen said he'd like the panel to be similar to the team of engineers, organized through the American Society of Civil Engineers, that looked at Gray's retrofit idea in 2002 and found it wouldn't be worth the cost.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com