No one says it's a bad idea

A local blog notes the possibility that we might simply Retrofit the Viaduct?:

The tunnel still seems like the best bet (but let's secure that extra dough, Greg.)  I'm surprised how many folks in liberal Seattle are lashing out at Mayor Nickels plan to open the waterfront for the first time since the Truman Administration.

I don't think that anyone is against a fine waterfront. And no one is lashing out at the Mayor.

The issue is priorities — money. If the money was available the Tunnel would be under construction now.

But the money is not there unless we starve every other part of Seattle and devote the marginal cost of the tunnel (at least an extra +$2 billion) to the central waterfront.

A lot of people question such a priority. It's not that the Tunnel is a bad idea. But there are many other very significant ways to spend that >$2 billion on other parts of the city. It's a matter of weighing costs and benefits and I don't think the tunnel offers enough in relation to the cost.