Scare tactic? Mailer shows fallen viaduct in California

Opponents of a new, elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct are trying to grab voter attention with a photo of a California viaduct that collapsed.

The mailer features an 8-by-14-inch photo of Oakland's Cypress Viaduct, which was built in 1957 and shattered in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing 42 people.

The mass mailing, sent this week to about 95,000 Seattle households, ignores the fact that any replacement here — whether a viaduct or a tunnel — would be designed to withstand the worst quake predicted in a 2,500-year period.

The mailer was sent by Not Another Elevated Viaduct, which reports $536,609 in campaign contributions, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. The Downtown Seattle Association, LMN Architects and Washington Mutual lead the donor list.

The text on the full-color ad does not claim a new viaduct would fall apart. But the word "FAILURE" appears next to a second, smaller image of the ruined Oakland highway.

"What are they trying to do, scare people?" asked Gene Hoglund, manager of the rival No Tunnel Alliance. "Why don't they show a tsunami inundation of a tunnel?"

Kelly Evans, campaign manager for Not Another Elevated Viaduct, said: "It's a pretty urgent situation with the viaduct, and we want to convey urgency. ... We're operating a campaign in an environment where people are questioning whether the vote matters. People need to vote in this election."

Ballots were sent this week to Seattle voters for a pair of advisory measures on how to replace the existing viaduct, which was damaged by a quake six years ago. Ballots in the all-mail election must be postmarked by March 13.

Evans pointed out that a second mailer doesn't mention the Oakland collapse. Instead, it features an image showing how a new viaduct would be much larger and cast huge shadows near Pioneer Square.

Gov. Christine Gregoire and several legislative leaders said Feb. 13 they support a $2.8 billion elevated structure. Most City Council members and Mayor Greg Nickels back a $3.4 billion, four-lane tunnel; the tunnel's shoulders would be used as exit lanes during peak traffic.

Some activists encourage voting "no" on both the tunnel and the elevated structure, in hopes of simply removing the waterfront highway and instead relying on surface streets with improved transit.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com