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Seattle city leaders discuss replacing West Seattle Bridge with tunnel

VIDEO: Stress cracks endanger West Seattle Bridge Stress cracks endanger West Seattle Bridge

SEATTLE — The West Seattle Bridge has been closed for more than two months and now the city is discussing a new kind of replacement option.

City leaders have discussed replacing the bridge with a tunnel or more traditional bridge options after engineers discovered growing infrastructure cracks in March.

>>RELATED: SDOT making contingency plans in case West Seattle Bridge becomes in danger of collapse

That proposal would involve laying pre-cast sections of concrete. They would go in a trench along the bottom of the waterway.

The concept also includes running Sound Transit through the tunnel.

Last week the city announced that it is soliciting engineering companies to compete for up to $150 million for a construction contract.

The city has yet to determine whether to replace or repair the cracked bridge.

The bridge will be closed to traffic until at least 2022.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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