Downtown Seawall & the tunnel

[captainDave]

I decided to start a thread about the downtown seawall issue as some had expressed concern about it in my posts regarding the Seattle Tube Alaska Way Viaduct replacement option. We don’t really address much about the seawall in our presentations because it isn’t near our proposed tunnel route under 6th Ave.

If the Seattle waterfront ends up being used for other purposes such as a park or promenade, is the downtown Seawall still a higher priority for people in West Seattle than the seawall on Beach Drive for instance? or the Seawall around Duamish head?

Personally, I think some of the material excavated from the tunnel project could be used to replace eroded beaches all over Puget Sound (but i am not an athority in that area). A high percentage of the shoreline on the eastern side of Puget Sound is lined with bulkheads and seawalls that have been holding back the natural supply of sand and rock that use to slough off from the surounding hill sides. Many beaches have dropped several feet to expose the once buried footings of theses structures – causing them to fail. I wrote an article about it in Puget Sound Magazine a while back. ( http://www.pugetsoundmagazine.com/articles/a001/10008.php ) Maybe time I do a followup on the subject if anyone has ideas to add.

Could be an interesting idea to take the tunnel material (which I figure could be about 100 miles of train cars) and strategically feed it to some of the beaches to maybe improve the health of Puget Sound? Any Puget Sound ecology experts out there who know the pros and cons of revitalizing beaches?

Share This

[JoB]

Captain Dave…

“is the downtown Seawall still a higher priority for people in West Seattle than the seawall on Beach Drive for instance? “

it is the seawall in downtown Seattle and the resulting interplay between commercial and leisure activities that makes Seattle the tourist destination that it is…

LOL… i suspect those along Beach Drive are as interested in continuing to attract those tourist dollars to Seattle so they can spill over onto the businesses on Beach Drive as they are in the health of their own seawall…

But you do bring up a really good question. What happened to all the tunnel material.. maybe only 30 miles of train cars.. that was excavated for the light rail tunnel?

Share This

[captainDave]

The seawall itself is not much of a turist attraction. Beaches actually make better attractions. :)

As I understad it, a lot of the bus tunnel material ended up near my house where the tenis courts and pea patch is by Lincoln Park.

Share This

[JoB]

captaindave..

in this case we have a disagreement that i think we can both live with.

while i love beaches… and consider it a minivacation when i get to drive around the point.. even if i don’t get to stop…

our big beautiful port is one of the major attractions in Seattle.. and so much more appreciated because the working parts of the port are off to the side giving you the benefit of all that incredible scenery and ship watching in the middle…

When you combine the scenery.. the interesting shipping traffic, the cruise ships, the recreation and dining areas along the waterfront, the accessibility of Seattle’s downtown core from the waterfront and the views available in most of that core and the hotels.. an incredible dynamic is produced…

Seattle is a true port.. you feel connected to what is beyond the bay by the food that comes from it and the imports at every price point… yet it is also one of the most urban of big cities.

Seattle is one of the few true big city port areas that manages to combine an active working port, a viable tourist destination and a thriving economic center all within walking distance.

Every ship that leaves port.. even the tourist cruises.. is an opportunity for adventure… You never know what will pop out of the ocean next to you… even while commuting on a local ferry.

In addition, the frontier surrounds you… by sea.. by rail.. by car.. you can literally see images of wilderness and adventure beckoning as you go about your daily business… not to mention the kayakers and bikers and sport fisherman and sailboats and….

There are real tourist dollars just itching to buy a even a weekend of what we take for granted as we rush on to out next commitment.

So for us.. the beaches beckon… requiring we slow down enough to see what is around us.

but surely.. as a visionary… you already knew all of that:)

is that really where the fill ended up? I hope it got put to good use. Since we didn’t move here until last year i really have no comparison to befores and afters.. but when we lived up on California.. that area was one of hubby’s destinations when walking the dog.

he failed to mention the p-patch though and i am very interested in those:( i would have made more of an effort to visit that part of the park had i known.

Share This

[Author]

Posts