On a fall day in 1987, the rock group U2 gave an impromptu concert at San Francisco's Justin Herman Plaza on the Embarcadero. During one of U2's rock renditions, front man Bono spray-painted and sang, "Rock & Roll Stops the Traffic," and, indeed, the Embarcadero freeway traffic came to a stop.
Ironically, two years later a different type of rock and roll stopped the traffic. It was the Oct. 17, 1989, Loma Prieta earthquake, which collapsed Oakland's Cypress Structure and rendered the Embarcadero Freeway unsafe.
Both structures were similar to Seattle's viaduct. Unfortunately 55 lives were lost and scores more were injured.
The Embarcadero freeway was originally planned to connect traffic to the Golden Gate and the San Francisco Bay bridges. But that plan was nixed, and the structure ended at North Beach near Kiko's Girls A Go-Go, Fenoccio's and the Condor, where big Davy Rosenberg could be seen hawking the topless go-go dancer Carol Doda. This era has since passed.
FIERCE POLITICAL BATTLING
During the two years following the Loma Prieta temblor, a fierce fight erupted between the various political and self-interest camps over what to do with the Embarcadero freeway's structure. The powers that be finally came to a mutual decision to permanently tear down the structure and redevelop the area. Of course, not everyone was happy.
Commuters were forced to find alternative surface streets or opt for public transportation. In due time, commuters and commerce were able to adapt, which they would have had to do anyway during the many years of construction if the structure were to be rebuilt. Municipal and private commuter services realized increased rider ship, and surface-street traffic was restored to within tolerable limits.
WATERFRONT REVITALIZED
The city's waterfront revitalization achieved several things, all of which were beneficial: It restored once-divided neighborhoods and views, a downtown ballpark became a reality and contiguous downtrodden districts were redeveloped. Subsequently, higher property tax revenues enhanced the public treasury, and money that would have otherwise been slated for freeway reconstruction became available for other projects.
All of this created more jobs, increased sales tax revenues and created a better, long-term dynamic for the city and future generations.
In Seattle, we have a similar situation. The two-tiered Alaskan Way Viaduct has been damaged and is vulnerable to collapse during a significant earthquake, which experts predict can happen at any time. Knowing this potential public safety hazard, you can bet that tort salivation would run rampant if the structure collapsed with inevitable loss of life and limb.
The potential for large civil money damages substantially draining the public treasury would almost be assured. Like the Embarcadero Freeway, perhaps the structure should be condemned, not only for the public's safety but also for the preservation of the public's tax money. We might as well deal with it now, rather than tempt costly catastrophic fate.
6-7 YEARS TO BUILD REPLACEMENT
A replacement structure will take at least six to seven years to build, during which time alternative routes and modes of transportation will become necessary anyhow.
Olympia's political agenda dictates that replacement of the viaduct is "the ... only viable option on the table" to prevent the I-5 corridor from becoming a "parking lot." Initially, I-5 may turn into a stop-and-go quagmire.
But fortunately, unlike migratory wildlife's instinctive dependence on internal magnetic headings, the human species is capable of cognitive thought processes and can formulate alternatives.
The state's posture placates to the single-occupant commuters who have alternatives available to them but who refuse to get out of their automobiles for some profound psychological reason. This is at best amoral and without regard to community and environmental interests.
The Embarcadero freeway and the Cypress structure were not rebuilt for good reasons. The community learned from their past experiences, and as an extra benefit realized increased tax revenues and the restoration of aesthetics that so well defines the area.
The same positive and defining characteristics could be realized in Seattle by not replacing the viaduct and revitalizing the waterfront, at a great savings to the taxpayer.
In any event, only you can decide for yourselves what makes sense and what is best for the community and the generations to follow. Let your elected representatives know what you think. After all, their mandate, as public servants, is to serve the public and not their own or other's self-interests.
The Seattle connection to "Rock & Roll Stops the Traffic": U2's "Rock & Roll Stops the Traffic" scene was edited into their "Rattle & Hum" videocassette and DVD. It was merged into the group's rendition of Seattle's own Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower." Let's hope that this Seattle connection doesn't find us in a Rattle & Hum situation that stops the traffic due to structural failure of the existing viaduct or its replacement due to a severe shaker.
Earl Reilly is a Magnolia resident.
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