Waiting for a "gold plated" tunnel option to replace the endangered Alaskan Way Viaduct would be "irresponsible," says City Councilman David Della.

After a resolution was adopted in support of Mayor Greg Nickels' preferred tunnel option to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, some Seattle City Council members are now leaning towards the option the simply rebuild the troubled structure.

"In talking with my colleagues, I can tell you that we are all over the map," said Della.

Last year the council gave its support to the mayor's estimated $4 billion tunnel option, with one dissenting vote belonging to councilman Nick Licata.

He favored the rebuild option then and prefers a rebuild now, due to cost considerations, said Newell Aldrich, Licata's aide.

The resolution also stated the city should look at other options if adequate funds for the tunnel could not be obtained, said Della, who recently said the city's attempt at cutting the cost of the tunnel option or depending upon the federal government for additional money is no longer a viable option. The federal government has promised $231 million towards the project.

"Those funds are coming," said Aldrich. "However, on another front, Licata has said there should be a deadline, that if we do not get funding for a tunnel, we should move forward with the rebuild, and has said in the past that he favors late 2006 as a deadline."

How long is too long to wait for more funds?

"Yesterday," said Della.

Waiting for the funds to pay for the tunnel would be putting jobs, businesses and the safety of residents at risk, he said.

"(The viaduct) has shifted 4.5 inches since the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake," said Della. "Another two inches or even a minor earthquake and it will be out of commission."

The council has been "told there is a one in 20 chance that an earthquake could permanently close the viaduct if it occurred during the next 10 years," said Aldrich. "In general, the longer we wait, the greater the threat to public safety, and the greater the risk people could get hurt."

"We realize a plan must be reached soon," said Patrice Gillespie Smith with the Seattle Department of Transportation. "People really feel the momentum around here."

The city estimates that rebuilding the viaduct would cost between $2.7 to $3.1 billion, while the tunnel option is estimated at $4.1 to $4.4 billion, said Della. The city already has $2.4 billion.

"We are entering a new reauthorization bill in 2009, I wouldn't close any doors just yet," said Smith. "We got $231 million from the (federal government), and there is nothing that says we can't get more."

But the city is committed to building the tunnel, said Smith.

The city has been trying to reduce the tunnel's price tag by removing the replacement of the Alaskan Way seawall from immediate construction plans, reducing the cost to about $3.5 billion, said Smith. Evaluations for other possible cost reductions are underway as well, she said.

Money will be pulled in from the city, the Port of Seattle, the federal government and the Army Corps of Engineers, said Smith. She said she is confident they can make it add up.

"It's all within reach now," she said. "We are really cobbling this together. We are moving full-speed ahead, and we realize that we can't wait too long for a plan."

But whatever the fate of the viaduct, the traffic corridor it supports remains vital to the more than 110,000 people who drive it everyday.

Many West Seattle residents depend on the viaduct for commuting to downtown or to North Seattle.

"The lack of a monorail complicates matters for getting from West Seattle especially," said Aldrich. "The city is studying options such as additional bus service, or streetcars, or light rail. As for freight, that is a difficult question."

"We need to work out the construction so it doesn't completely disrupt the flow of traffic and congest I-5 and the city surface streets that are already heavy with traffic," said Della.

The city is looking at two options for construction.

"It could be intense construction where we completely close the viaduct for concentrated construction, or keep a few lanes open and work it piece by piece," she said.

She said they are in the beginning phases of discussing these options with businesses.

"Phasing the construction will be important to the success of the project, said Della. "There cannot be total construction. There should be a few lanes open for traffic and we should definitely explore increased bus service during that time."

This debate is sure to be one of the largest transportation issues among city officials in the coming year, said Della, but he hopes they can pull together for a compromise quickly.

"The bottom line is that the viaduct is not safe, " he said. "I hold my breath every time I drive on the viaduct. It's time to stop holding our breath."

Rebekah Schilperoort can be reached at rebekah@robinsonnews.com or 932.0300.