SEATTLE - The Washington Department of Transportation has released a powerful simulation of what could happen to the Alaskan Way Viaduct in the event of a powerful earthquake.
WSDOT has been working on the simulation for two years, and initially thought it was too alarming to release to the public, but a recent citizen's public disclosure request required the agency to release it.
"It's just a graphic representation of what may happen in an earthquake," says Ronald Paananen, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program Administrator.
The video shows what could happen in the event of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
"It was frightening at first," says Washington State Bridge Engineer Jugesh Capur. "But I said to myself, this is what it's really going to be if there's another earthquake like that."
Less than a minute after the simulated earthquake hits, the seawall fails first. Parts of the viaduct begin to collapse, steam lines fail, along with gas and power lines.
"It tells us a lot about the viaduct and the sea wall itself how the different parts of the viaduct are vulnerable," Paananen said.
With the Seattle Mayor's race and the controversy over costs surrounding the bored tunnel, Paananen says timing is coincidental.
"People will try to make arguments on one side or another but we're simply complying with a public disclosure request and by law we have to release it."
WSDOT says it hopes this simulation will not breed fear but show the urgent need to move forward in replacing the viaduct.
"It is weak at its core and we must replace it as soon as we can," said Capur.
