In January 2009, Governor Gregoire, then-King County Executive Sims and Seattle Mayor Nickels recommended replacing the viaduct's central waterfront section with the bored tunnel alternative, which would move SR 99 into a bored tunnel beneath downtown Seattle, reconnect the street grid at the ends of the tunnel and remove the viaduct along the waterfront.
With this recommendation the County and City envisioned other improvements as part of the viaduct replacement program. The City would build a new boulevard (funded by the State) and new public open spaces along the waterfront once the viaduct is removed, improve other city streets and replace the central waterfront seawall, and the County would invest in expanded transit service.
