Jay_Z
Dec 7, 2006, 6:01 AM
Eastside could get tunnel soon
05:25 PM PST on Wednesday, December 6, 2006
By ROBERT MAK / KING 5 News
BELLEVUE - As the debate over a tunnel rages on in Seattle, the City of Bellevue may get a tunnel first.
The Bellevue city council is being asked to approve a new tunnel under NE 8th Street. But who’s going to foot the bill?
Construction on the tunnel could start as early as next month.
At Bellevue Square mall around the holidays, finding parking takes a some skill. Across the street, there's a new parking garage under Lincoln Square with 1700 more free parking spaces.
It’s a secret that didn't last long and Lincoln Square’s garage can fill up pretty quickly.
So Kemper Freeman, the owner of both Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square is encouraging people to park under the Hyatt hotel at Bellevue Place, which he also owns.
KING
Construction on the tunnel could start as early as next month.
Most shoppers just never think about it. Besides, there really no easy way to get across NE 8th Street to that parking garage without going all the way around the block.
So that's why Kemper Development wants to build a tunnel below the five lanes of traffic of NE 8th Street that connects the two garages under Lincoln Square and the Hyatt.
Vice President Jim Hill says with the Hyatt expanding, and Eddie Bauer and Microsoft moving into Lincoln Tower, it makes sense to give drivers an easy option to use both parking lots.
Digging the tunnel would take six months, with small trucks hauling away the dirt through the parking garages.
Estimated cost: $4 million.
So who's going to pay for the tunnel?
"We are, 100 percent. Kemper Development," said Hill.
Kemper would build the tunnel, but it's under a city street, so the City of Bellevue would own it.
Hill believes the chances of this going through are very good.
Bellevue's mayor says a tunnel 45 feet below ground would be under utility lines and the city doesn't foresee building its own tunnel in the future, so construction could be approved by January.
"Bottom line is, we've worked very closely and very well with this developer for decades,” said Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger.
They get things done quickly in Bellevue. To bore the tunnel, it's going to take one week for every four feet. No street closures are expected. When it's done next summer, you'll be able to drive four city blocks from NE 6th Street up to NE 10th Street – all underground, searching for that parking space.
Under the lease agreement, Kemper Development would pay the city each year for using the right-of-way. The city would pay for the cost of tunnel only if it decides later to condemn it.
05:25 PM PST on Wednesday, December 6, 2006
By ROBERT MAK / KING 5 News
BELLEVUE - As the debate over a tunnel rages on in Seattle, the City of Bellevue may get a tunnel first.
The Bellevue city council is being asked to approve a new tunnel under NE 8th Street. But who’s going to foot the bill?
Construction on the tunnel could start as early as next month.
At Bellevue Square mall around the holidays, finding parking takes a some skill. Across the street, there's a new parking garage under Lincoln Square with 1700 more free parking spaces.
It’s a secret that didn't last long and Lincoln Square’s garage can fill up pretty quickly.
So Kemper Freeman, the owner of both Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square is encouraging people to park under the Hyatt hotel at Bellevue Place, which he also owns.
KING
Construction on the tunnel could start as early as next month.
Most shoppers just never think about it. Besides, there really no easy way to get across NE 8th Street to that parking garage without going all the way around the block.
So that's why Kemper Development wants to build a tunnel below the five lanes of traffic of NE 8th Street that connects the two garages under Lincoln Square and the Hyatt.
Vice President Jim Hill says with the Hyatt expanding, and Eddie Bauer and Microsoft moving into Lincoln Tower, it makes sense to give drivers an easy option to use both parking lots.
Digging the tunnel would take six months, with small trucks hauling away the dirt through the parking garages.
Estimated cost: $4 million.
So who's going to pay for the tunnel?
"We are, 100 percent. Kemper Development," said Hill.
Kemper would build the tunnel, but it's under a city street, so the City of Bellevue would own it.
Hill believes the chances of this going through are very good.
Bellevue's mayor says a tunnel 45 feet below ground would be under utility lines and the city doesn't foresee building its own tunnel in the future, so construction could be approved by January.
"Bottom line is, we've worked very closely and very well with this developer for decades,” said Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger.
They get things done quickly in Bellevue. To bore the tunnel, it's going to take one week for every four feet. No street closures are expected. When it's done next summer, you'll be able to drive four city blocks from NE 6th Street up to NE 10th Street – all underground, searching for that parking space.
Under the lease agreement, Kemper Development would pay the city each year for using the right-of-way. The city would pay for the cost of tunnel only if it decides later to condemn it.
