Rebuild it

Thanks to the Nisqually earthquake, we have been exposed to the flaws and weaknesses of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

This highway is crucial to Seattle, carrying about 106,000 vehicles on a typical weekday. Something must be done to fix this viaduct, but the question is what will that be?

The state has been hinting that it wants to replace the viaduct with a tunnel, but this high-costing and long process of building a tunnel just isn't the smartest decision.

With the war in Iraq, we are already spending endless amounts of money in places where we shouldn't be: $2 billion a week on a war where nothing is getting accomplished.

Reconstructing the viaduct should cost as little as possible, but still be a major provider for the transportation system of Seattle.

Building a tunnel would cost between $3.4 billion and $4.1 billion, which is about $1 billion more than simply reconstructing the existing viaduct. While both options would carry about the same amount of traffic, the elevated railway would still allow for the views of our beautiful emerald city. Rebuilding the viaduct is the best resolution.

--Melissa Geiss, Seattle