Republicans React to Governor Gregoire's Missed Deadline on Viaduct

Austin Jenkins
01/01/2009

A delay in deciding what to do about a key transportation artery in Seattle is generating heat in Olympia. A key Washington Republican is blasting Governor Chris Gregoire. At issue: Her failure to meet today's (Wednesday's) deadline to choose a replacement plan for Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

WHY DOES THIS ONE TRANSPORTATION PROJECT GARNER SO MUCH ATTENTION? THE HIGHWAY 99 VIADUCT IS A DOUBLE–DECKER FREEWAY THAT EXPERTS SAY COULD COLLAPSE IN AN EARTHQUAKE. THIS $3 BILLION MEGA–PROJECT ALSO WILL AFFECT THE PORT OF SEATTLE, A KEY REGIONAL TRADING HUB. BY STATE LAW, GREGOIRE WAS SUPPOSED TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THE VIADUCT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. NOW SHE SAYS SHE WON'T ACT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THE OFFICIAL REASON: TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS NEED MORE TIME TO REVIEW THE VARIOUS REPLACEMENT OPTIONS. BUT MINORITY REPUBLICANS IN OLYMPIA CALL THE GOVERNOR'S DELAY A PUNT. STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN ROACH IS THE RANKING REPUBLICAN ON THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. HE SAYS THE GOVERNOR HAS FAILED TO ACT FOR THREE YEARS.

ROACH: "The taxpayers expect to get results and to find out that the governor has delayed multiple times on this project there should be some public outcry about this."

THE GOVERNOR, SEATTLE'S MAYOR AND KING COUNTY'S EXECUTIVE SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION NOT A RUSH DECISION ABOUT A VIADUCT REPLACEMENT. I'M AUSTIN JENKINS IN OLYMPIA.

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