Pike Place Market officials concerned about surface-street option to replace viaduct

The decision by transportation planners to possibly map a replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct along Western Avenue worries those at the Pike Place Market who fear it could damage the Market's historic character.

"We're disappointed this was chosen," said Carol Binder, executive director of the Market. "We're going to have to change and look at some of the ways we operate."

Transportation officials on Thursday narrowed a list of eight potential viaduct proposals to two: another elevated structure like the existing viaduct and a so-called "couplet," involving three lanes southbound on Alaskan Way and three lanes northbound on Western Avenue.

The $3.3 billion couplet proposal would route Western through a 20-foot-deep tunnel under Stewart and Virginia streets. It would eliminate Western as a surface street between the Market and Victor Steinbrueck Park, effectively expanding the park right up to the back side of the Market.

While the idea of an expanded park pleases the Market, officials fret about getting delivery trucks and farmers' trucks to the Market with Western Avenue gone.

Binder said putting Western underground would make trucks drive up steep Virginia Street to connect with First Avenue. While the street that runs in front of the Market, Pike Place, would remain, access would be difficult, Binder said.

"The historical character of the Market has always had vehicles there, beginning with the horse and buggy. We'd hoped this [viaduct-replacement option] wouldn't be brought forward."

Ron Paananen, viaduct project manager with the state Department of Transportation, acknowledges that there are issues surrounding the Market. He said the state will work with the Market to try to come up with a solution.

In a letter to Paananen, Jackson Schmidt, chairman of the Market's Public Development Authority (PDA) council, said the proposal that changes traffic patterns on Western Avenue has raised serious concerns among the PDA council.

"The proposal to restrict Western to northbound traffic only severely restricts vehicle traffic from the north, a growing Market entrance point due to the residential development in Belltown," said Schmidt. "Many people still need to drive to the Market.

"It is also critical to maintain and improve safe pedestrian crossings at Union, Pike, Pine and along Western Avenue," he said.

Paananen said one other change on Western will be on Yesler Way, where a historic building that houses the Al Boccalino restaurant and Runberg Architecture Group will have to be moved 50 feet to accommodate the new roadway.

Brian Runberg, one of the owners of the 104-year-old building, said he was just told about the street alignment on Friday. "It looks like the couplet goes right through our building," he said.

"I'm shocked no one ever contacted me."

Runberg is not happy about either of the two remaining viaduct-replacement options. He was a tunnel supporter.

"There's two schemes and neither of them are very good." he said.

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