Oregon Public Broadcasting

News Monday of an agreement to replace Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel received a cool reception among state lawmakers.

The Governor, Seattle Mayor and King County Executive have reportedly agreed to support a deep-bored tunnel along Seattle’s waterfront.

Washington lawmakers seemed to be caught unaware by the deal. House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, a Democrat, says the state can’t afford to be on the hook if there are cost overruns during construction.

Lynn Kessler: “I don’t think they have a clue – personally – how much it’s going to cost and I don’t think we should sign up for something that has a money pit at the end of it. There should be some maximum we would be responsible for.”

Lawmakers worry about a Boston-style “Big Dig” that costs millions more than expected and takes years longer to complete.

House Speaker Frank Chopp of Seattle has proposed his own Viaduct replacement. It involves an above-ground tunnel with retail on the bottom and a park on top.

Chopp would not comment on whether his proposal is now effectively dead.