520 replacement to cost $4.5 billion

520 replacement to cost $4.5 billion

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Story Published: Nov 20, 2008 at 6:32 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 6:05 AM PDT

By Bryan Johnson & News Services

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SEATTLE -- The Washington Transportation Department says the rising cost of materials has pushed the estimated cost of a new Highway 520 floating bridge to $4.5 billion.

A deputy department secretary, Dave Dye, said Thursday that's the most likely cost of the project, but variables include the design of the interchange near the University of Washington.

Earlier this year transportation officials estimated the 45-year-old pontoon bridge could be replaced for less than $4 billion.

But now, add another $500 million to the cost of the new Highway 520 floating bridge. The new estimate has some residents breathing fire and threatening lawsuits.

The state says the 520 bridge pontoons leak. Maintenance can't keep it safe forever. But the new cost estimate of 4.6 billion dollars means the state doesn't have the money.

"We'll have to see if all of the project elements that have been identified need to be there. Because we've got a case where we've got too much project and not enough finance," said David Dye with the state DOT.

The new cost estimates are bad news for people who live around Seattle's Montlake and who hate all the concrete spaghetti. They'd like it gone, buried, the exit changed. They want their streets back.

The residents joined hands around an alternative -- a tunnel. Now the state says that would cost even more, $2 billion more, and may be unaffordable.

A citizens group fired off a warning shot.

"What you have to figure out is how many angry people are going to sue," said Paige Miller, who opposes the cheaper plan.

Miller wouldn't say whether she'd be one of those who sue, but said, "what I can tell you is there are people with lots of resources who will."

They'll sue for their tunnel, which the University District community council says is a plan that would swamp their neighborhood with traffic. Will the the council sue?

"I can't speak to that because I have not discussed it with my community council. We are confident they will put it on the right side of the cut," said Jorgen Bader of the University Community Council.

There was no laughter at a so-called mediation meeting on Thursday; just a feeling someone will sue. But that's not what worries the state most.

There's another problem. There's not enough money, even with a $10 round-trip toll to finance any of these plans.

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