Western Washington Problems Put A Kink In Gas Tax Talks

The 520 Floating Bridge

Washington State lawmakers last week said that issues with the State Highway 520 bridge and Alaskan Way Viaduct replacements — including whether Seattle should pay for tunnel cost overruns — will make discussions on potentially raising the gas tax even more difficult.

Negotiations ended in December without settling on a new tax package to fund transportation projects. Now, it was announced last Wednesday that another $170 million is needed to complete the Highway 520 bridge replacement over Lake Washington due to a design error. Tunnel digging for the Alaskan Way Viaduct has also been hung up for over a month, which could mean cost overruns. This has many lawmakers from the east and central parts of the state worried that taxpayers are going to end up footing the bill for facilities they don't even use.

KATU.com has more on how this could throw a wrench in gas tax talks.