King County exec pushes for tunnel construction

King County Executive Dow Constantine, saying highway projects will create needed jobs, called Monday for prompt construction of a deep-bore tunnel to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

"A contract's been signed. Let's get the job started and put people back to work," Constantine said in his annual State of the County address to the Metropolitan King County Council.

Constantine singled out the viaduct replacement, along with construction of a new South Park Bridge and Highway 520 floating bridge, as part of what he said is the county's highest-priority task this year: "to build prosperity and get people back to work."`

Breaking with a long tradition of delivering the message at the County Courthouse in Seattle, Constantine spoke at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

His pro-tunnel position aligns him with the Seattle City Council, which on Monday overrode Mayor Mike McGinn's veto of agreements with the state for construction of the tunnel. McGinn opposes the agreements, saying Seattle may be forced to pay for overruns on the state project.

The county executive also proposed a $1.4 million revolving loan fund — using federal grant money — for small businesses, and plugged a bill sponsored by state Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, that would allow proceeds from several stadium-related taxes to be used for expansion of the Washington State Convention Center.

Constantine said repairs to the Howard Hanson Dam have reduced the risk of flooding along the Green River to the point that King County Elections will move back to its Renton headquarters in June.

"Elections Director Sherril Huff and I now agree: It is safe and it is time for King County to move Elections back to its state-of-the-art facility in Renton," he said.

The office moved to temporary quarters at Boeing Field in the fall of 2009 because damage to an abutment of the Hanson Dam increased the risk of floods in the downriver cities of Kent, Renton, Auburn and Tukwila.

The Army Corps of Engineers began temporary repairs at the dam in 2009, and Congress last year appropriated funds for permanent repairs, which are now under way.

The executive also announced King County and Kent have reached a tentative agreement under which the county would sell the Aukeen Courthouse to the city for $6 million and move county District Court operations to the Regional Justice Center.

Kent needs more space for its municipal courts, and purchasing the courthouse would be less expensive and more efficient for the city than building new courtrooms, Constantine said. Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke, sitting in a front-row seat in the audience, pumped her fists in the air in support of the deal.

Asked about suggestions that he may run for governor in 2012, Constantine said that although he would "at some point be interested in an opportunity, I have on my plate a few matters in King County government and I'm going to remain focused on that this year."

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com