Tunnel in Bellevue -Lincoln Square to Bellevue Square

Jay_Z · #1 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 6:01 AM**

Eastside could get tunnel soon

05:25 PM PST on Wednesday, December 6, 2006

By ROBERT MAK / KING 5 News

BELLEVUE - As the debate over a tunnel rages on in Seattle, the City of Bellevue may get a tunnel first.

The Bellevue city council is being asked to approve a new tunnel under NE 8th Street. But who’s going to foot the bill?

Construction on the tunnel could start as early as next month.

At Bellevue Square mall around the holidays, finding parking takes a some skill. Across the street, there's a new parking garage under Lincoln Square with 1700 more free parking spaces.

It’s a secret that didn't last long and Lincoln Square’s garage can fill up pretty quickly.

So Kemper Freeman, the owner of both Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square is encouraging people to park under the Hyatt hotel at Bellevue Place, which he also owns.

KING

Construction on the tunnel could start as early as next month.

Most shoppers just never think about it. Besides, there really no easy way to get across NE 8th Street to that parking garage without going all the way around the block.

So that's why Kemper Development wants to build a tunnel below the five lanes of traffic of NE 8th Street that connects the two garages under Lincoln Square and the Hyatt.

Vice President Jim Hill says with the Hyatt expanding, and Eddie Bauer and Microsoft moving into Lincoln Tower, it makes sense to give drivers an easy option to use both parking lots.

Digging the tunnel would take six months, with small trucks hauling away the dirt through the parking garages.

Estimated cost: $4 million.

So who's going to pay for the tunnel?

"We are, 100 percent. Kemper Development," said Hill.

Kemper would build the tunnel, but it's under a city street, so the City of Bellevue would own it.

Hill believes the chances of this going through are very good.

Bellevue's mayor says a tunnel 45 feet below ground would be under utility lines and the city doesn't foresee building its own tunnel in the future, so construction could be approved by January.

"Bottom line is, we've worked very closely and very well with this developer for decades,” said Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger.

They get things done quickly in Bellevue. To bore the tunnel, it's going to take one week for every four feet. No street closures are expected. When it's done next summer, you'll be able to drive four city blocks from NE 6th Street up to NE 10th Street – all underground, searching for that parking space.

Under the lease agreement, Kemper Development would pay the city each year for using the right-of-way. The city would pay for the cost of tunnel only if it decides later to condemn it.

James Bond Agent 007 · #2 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 8:46 AM**

Bah, what a waste.

65MAX · #3 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 9:20 AM**

Um, this is a parking garage tunnel, not a rail tunnel..... not really comparable.

northface · #4 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 9:22 AM**

wasteee

jerremyl · #5 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 2:09 PM**

Who Cares, Let Kemper Freeman waste his money!

MarkDaMan · #6 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 5:12 PM**

how 'bout taming the 5 lane avenue making it more ped friendly?

Last Chance · #7 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 6:12 PM**

It's not a waste when you are trying to get people to come to your buildings to spend money. Make it easy for them to come and park. No one is riding the bus to come shop at the container store. No one rides the bus to go eat at Trader Vic's.

Make it convienient for people to come to Bellevue and park, and there won't be a reason to drive into Seattle. That will be great.

MrVandelay · #8 Posted **Dec 8, 2006, 1:18 AM**

He's just trying to create overflow parking from Lincoln Square to Bellevue Place. Its his two projects, he's paying for it, why not?

bgwah · #9 Posted **Dec 8, 2006, 2:26 AM**

It talks about building a tunnel and then near the end says you can go four blocks underground. Are there are already some tunnels, perhaps between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square?

And why does Lincoln Square even have its own name? They're the same mall...

Capitol Hill · #10 Posted **Dec 8, 2006, 3:27 AM**

The title of this posting is incorrect. It should read Tunnel in Bellevue - Lincoln Square to Bellevue Place.

Bellevue Place is kitty corner to Bellevue Square.

Last Chance · #11 Posted **Dec 8, 2006, 6:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgwah

It talks about building a tunnel and then near the end says you can go four blocks underground. Are there are already some tunnels, perhaps between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square?

No, just underground parking garages. Just have to tunnel under the city streets. But once a car leaves the surface, it won't have to come back if the garage they entered is full - they can just go to the other garages and find a spot. Should help out on the evening congestion in the area and make it easier for pedestrians up and down the street.

WolverineFan · #12 Posted **Dec 8, 2006, 8:36 PM**

I think it's a great idea! Keep the above ground parking garages to a minimum, keep the parked cars out of site and encourage people to get out and walk around. With all of the commercial and residential buildings being completed, there are going to be lots of cars and people in the downtown area..... this is one solution to just one of the challenges Bellevue will be faced with. Has anyone heard on the start date for the ped skybridge between Bellevue Place and Lincoln center? That is another good move! I thought it was scheduled for last September?

horatio_the_hermit · #13 Posted **Dec 9, 2006, 12:37 AM**

I heard the start date for the new skybridge was "early next year".

And i think the tunnel is a great idea. We need more crazy innovations to keep bellevue traffic bearable as this growth proceeds.

NW Mike · #14 Posted **Dec 11, 2006, 7:01 PM**

Every way of keeping the cars off the street gets my vote. If its a Sky bridge or a Tunnel, NE 8th has enough traffic problems already, Now add into that Microsoft and Eddie Bauer Employees is going to make it very difficult to get from one Garage to the next. Next Year When Hyatt Expands we will have thousands of more people moving around on the surface streets. Its Called thinking ahead. Thumbs up Kemper Freeman. The City wouldn’t think of it or Pay for it so lets have someone with Vision and capitol pay for it.

Hoodrat · #15 Posted **Jan 9, 2007, 2:37 AM**

Bump

Black Box · #16 Posted **Jan 9, 2007, 5:55 AM**

Tunnel Away.

Lostwave · #17 Posted **Mar 27, 2007, 12:36 AM**

The question is, will the tunnel be on every floor of the garage, or just one. That could become a tight squeeze.

benzz · #18 Posted **Mar 27, 2007, 12:55 AM**

Looks to me like they're going to start charging to park at Lincoln Square as well; manned pay kiosk things are going in at the entrance off 8th street.

Just random info.

horatio_the_hermit · #19 Posted **Mar 27, 2007, 1:07 AM**

Yeah, i noticed those. Kempers whole shpeel is that his parking is free. Charging would be a bad move.

Skian · #20 Posted **Mar 27, 2007, 1:38 AM**

The tunnel is to connect the 3rd floor parking levels in each garage.

They will have to put parking cashiers in Lincoln Square, to control the office worker parking. They will have generous parking validation (like they already do for Bellevue Place). From what I understand they have already started the project.

Lastly, they have a sketch of the Bellevue Place to Lincoln Square skybridge on display in the far back of the Thomasville showroom (right next to where the pedestrian walkway will be in Lincoln Square. It looks alot like the first skybridge, except it has only one tower (which is much taller) on the Bellevue Place side of NE 8th. This will give it much more of a suspension bridge look.